Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the key things determining whether your spinal cord injury is more serious or permanent is whether you have suffered a complete or incomplete injury.

A complete spinal cord injury means that the spinal cord has been completely severed, preventing any passing of information and sensation from the point of the injury down. These injuries may be permanent and can cause permanent paralysis.

An incomplete spinal cord injury means the spinal cord was damaged but not completely severed. In these spinal cord injury cases, you may experience some resulting paralysis below the point of injury, but you may still have some sensation and ability to move and feel things.

Below are just a few of the specific incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries you may have suffered in an accident:

• Cervical injuries
• Spinal stenosis
• Damage to nerve roots
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Fractured vertebrae
• Posterior cord syndrome
• Anterior cord syndrome

Signs of a spinal cord injury or paralysis include incomplete motor function or a complete loss of motor function, which can lead to permanent disability. You may need ongoing treatment for issues with your pelvic organs, which can impact bladder control and bowel control. You may need frequent care and observation from medical professionals when permanently disabled and maintaining your health with any of these conditions.

Common Causes of Spinal Injuries

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you may be due compensation for the suffering you have experienced for a spinal cord injury case. However, the laws that affect your claim including who is at fault for your claim can vary depending on the type of accident you suffered. For example, motor vehicle accidents have different laws that impact them than medical malpractice injuries.

Because of this, our team understands that we must determine exactly what Florida law impacts your personal injury case. Reach out if you have suffered any of the following accident types or if you need more information about whether we cover your type of accident:

• Car accident in Fort Lauderdale
• Boating accident
• Motorcycle accident
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Construction accidents
• Truck accidents
• Workplace accidents

In some of these cases, you may have to deal with the involvement of an insurance company. They may help pay for your medical expenses and other lifetime costs, but they are still for-profit businesses. That means they may try to avoid paying everything you need for your medical costs.

Who Is Liable for a Spinal Injury?

When you have suffered a spinal cord injury, determining who is at fault for your injuries is one of the most important steps you can take immediately. Until you know who is financially liable for your suffering, You may be unable to file personal injury lawsuits and get the maximum compensation you were due. Because of this, it is essential to act now and pinpoint who is liable for your injuries.

In many personal injury cases, the answer is simply the person who injured you. For example, if someone was driving drunk and hit you, they may be responsible for your drunk driving or reckless driving spinal cord injury. However, if a driver acts within the scope of their employment, such as a delivery driver, the company who hired them may be responsible for your injuries.

Your responsibility may fall on a manufacturer, doctor, or government agency in other cases. The answer depends completely on the details you provide to your spinal cord injury lawyer, so reach out and talk to your lawyer about the details of your claim if you are unsure who is liable for your injuries.

Partial Blame for a Spine Injury

When you have suffered a spinal injury, the at-fault party may try to place the blame on you rather than pay for the damages they caused. Because of this, they may claim that your own carelessness and not someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Unfortunately, this can cause a decrease in the compensation you receive.

That is because Florida has comparative negligence laws that state you May have your compensation reduced by the percentage of fault you accept. For example, if your damages are worth $100,000, but you are found 20% at fault, you may only receive $80,000 for your damages. That leaves you paying out of pocket for the other $20,000 you need to recover.

That is why having a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale on your side is so important when you have suffered a spinal cord injury. Fort Lauderdale spinal injury accident victims can seek out the support of a lawyer who can present evidence in their favor and avoid losing the compensation they are due.

Compensation for Fort Lauderdale Spinal Injury Victims

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating because they are expensive and emotionally traumatic. You may be facing lifetime expenses and severe emotional suffering because of the losses you have suffered. Because of this, you need to know what your economic and non-economic damages are worth.

For example, economic damages are the financial suffering you experienced from your accident. You may have rehabilitation costs, surgery, other medical bills, future medical care, medical treatment, and household accommodations. If you cannot work, you may have lost wages, both current and future. You may need a lawyer to help you add these expenses up.

Your non-economic damages should cover all the intangible and emotional suffering you’ve experienced because of your accident. These damages can be difficult to calculate because they are intangible, but damages such as pain, suffering, or emotional trauma should be calculated and included with your lawyer’s help.

In severe cases, you may have grounds for punitive damages. These damages are only awarded for accidents caused by wanton negligence or malicious intent. If you have been left with permanent damage that leaves you unable to do basic tasks, these damages may not compensate you for those losses but may punish the at-fault party. Talk to your lawyer about seeking out these damages.

How a Back Injury Attorney Can Help You

Taking on your claim alone can be challenging when a serious injury occurs. You may not have legal experience, and your injuries and a complex legal claim can be difficult to juggle.

That is where a personal injury attorney specializing in spinal cord injuries can help you recover. Your lawyer can help you gather evidence, calculate the full value of your compensation, and provide legal representation in the courtroom so that you do not have to worry about making the proper steps in front of the judge. Our legal team can ensure you take the right steps to get the compensation you need.

Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

Recovery can be tough when you have suffered a severe spinal cord injury. You may have a long road to overcome your serious injuries or simply struggle to acclimate to a different lifestyle if you have suffered permanent injuries.

At Tucker Law®, we understand how difficult it can be to overcome your injuries and get compensated fairly for your losses. Your Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorney is here to help if you have suffered from one of these accidents. Our law firm offers free initial consultations to anyone who has suffered a catastrophic injury and needs help recovering.

Ready to learn more? Reach out for a free consultation by calling our law office or filling out our online contact form.

Tucker Law’s main office is located at 800 SE 3rd Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, about 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Beach, less than a mile away from Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk, and about 5 minutes away from the Museum of Discovery and Science. Port Everglades is only 15 minutes away. Matthew Sean Tucker, the principal attorney at Tucker Law, is your trusted source for addressing both personal injury and intellectual property matters. With a proven history of expertise and success, Tucker Law ensures your legal representation instills confidence in every aspect of your case. Call Tucker Law today at 1-800-882-5379 with further questions.

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