Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis Lawyers in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Legal support when catastrophic injuries drastically change the course of your life
Few injuries are as catastrophic as those that impact the spinal cord. When these injuries result from someone else’s negligence, the victims may have ways to hold the at-fault person accountable while recovering compensation that can allow them to better care for themselves.
At Prince Glover Hayes, we represent those who suffer these life-altering injuries and fight to secure them the funds they need for a brighter future. If you or your loved one suffered one of these injuries, contact us to learn how our dedicated team can help you.
Free Consultation
How can we help
- Why choose Prince Glover Hayes for your spinal cord injury case?
- Spinal cord injuries: an overview
- The impact of different types of paralysis
- What causes spinal cord injuries in Tuscaloosa
- Treatment options for spinal cord injuries in Tuscaloosa
- Financial impact and support options in Tuscaloosa
- Frequently asked questions about spinal cord Injuries in Tuscaloosa
- Does Prince Glover Hayes have a spinal cord injury attorney near me in Tuscaloosa?
Why Choose Prince Glover Hayes for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Prince Glover Hayes has achieved record-breaking settlements and verdicts throughout Alabama. We take a client-first approach to each case. With over 40 years in practice, we can rely on our decades of experience to provide compassionate, quality legal services, even in the most complicated claims. Our attorneys understand the profound emotional, physical, and financial impact of spinal cord injuries, and we fight to secure the support our clients need.
You can learn more about how we approach spinal cord injury cases by scheduling a free consultation.
Spinal cord injuries: an overview
About 18,000 people in the US suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries each year. Not all of those injuries result in the same consequences. The location and severity of the injury will lead to drastically different results, although every spinal cord injury is severe.
These injuries are devastating because vertebrae protect nerves that transport messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Damage to the spine can impact movement and even breathing.
Some of the variations in spinal cord injuries include whether the injury is complete or incomplete and the location of the damage.
Complete vs. incomplete injuries
Complete spinal cord injuries result in permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord that the injury impacted. These injuries can lead to paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia. An incomplete injury only causes partial damage, and the person might retain some sensation and ability to move the impacted body parts.
Location of the injury
The location of the injury is another critical factor in these injuries. In general, the higher the injury, the worse the impact.
- Cervical (neck): The cervical vertebrae are located in the neck, and an injury at this level may result in paralysis from the neck down – potentially resulting in quadriplegia (also referred to as tetraplegia).
- Thoracic (chest and abdomen): The thoracic vertebrae are in the middle of the spine and make up the back of the rib cage. Injuries to this part of the spine can result in a person losing the ability to use their legs.
- Lumbar (lower back): The lumbar spine is at the very base of the lower back. These injuries may impact the hips and legs.
The impact of different types of paralysis
Those who experience spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis suffer a wide variety of symptoms and impacts on their lives. Here are the different types of paralysis and the effects they cause:
Quadriplegia
Another term for quadriplegia is tetraplegia. This condition leads to a complete loss of function in all limbs, as well as respiratory complications. A person who experiences this severe injury will likely require comprehensive care daily throughout their life.
Paraplegia
A person who experiences paraplegia will lose their lower body function and face serious mobility challenges. However, they will retain the use of their upper body and arms. This diagnosis may lead to a significant need for care and support, but the person may still be able to learn independence strategies that allow them to care for themselves more than a person with quadriplegia.
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia refers to paralysis that affects only one side of a person’s body. It may result from a brain injury.
Monoplegia
This condition impacts just one limb, either an arm or a leg. While monoplegia is more likely to result from conditions like cerebral palsy, it is possible for a traumatic injury to lead to this as well.
What causes spinal cord injuries in Tuscaloosa
Spinal cord injuries often occur from traumatic accidents. Here are some of the common causes of these catastrophic injuries:
Motor vehicle accidents
Vehicle collisions are the number one cause of spinal cord injuries in the US. In fact, they cause almost half of all annual spinal cord injuries. Car, motorcycle, and truck crashes all fall into this category. Additionally, recreational vehicles like ATVs may lead to these serious injuries.
Workplace injuries
Injuries in the workplace, including in some dangerous professions like construction and agriculture, are also possible causes. Anyone who works with large machinery or at height may suffer these types of injuries.
Sports and recreational accidents
Physical sports, including diving, football, and horseback riding, can all create risks of spinal cord injuries. Together, sports account for about one in ten spinal cord injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Falls
Falling is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries for people 65 and up.
Defective products
Flawed products can cause irreparable harm to consumers, especially in the case of defective motor vehicles that perform poorly in the event of a collision.
Acts of violence, illnesses, and more can also cause spinal cord injuries and possible paralysis.
Treatment options for spinal cord injuries in Tuscaloosa
One of the most important considerations related to spinal cord injuries and potential outcomes is the quality of treatment and care after the initial damage. Here are the stages of treatment a patient might receive:
Emergency treatment
The immediate care a patient receives right after a traumatic spine injury is critical. Some steps involved include immobilizing the spine and establishing the person’s airway. The emergency care is often life-saving for patients. It’s vital that the person go to a hospital for evaluation and further treatment, which might include surgery.
Acute care
Once in the hospital, medical providers focus on any life-threatening issues, including breathing trouble or bleeding. Patients may undergo X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to determine the extent of the injury. Spinal cord injury patients will likely be treated in the intensive care units.
Rehabilitative treatment and care
Even once the emergency and immediate treatment phases are over, spinal cord injury victims have a long road ahead of them. Rehabilitative care may focus on the ability to regain some movement and may also involve speech therapy and other treatments aimed at recovery. Some patients may need to learn to use new technology or mobility aids.
Long-term treatment and care
Spinal cord injuries often change a person’s life permanently. The physical and emotional toll can be extensive. Both physical and mental therapy are important as these life-altering injuries can take a heavy toll. It may be necessary for the person to modify their home to accommodate their new level of mobility, and they might require expensive equipment.
Each stage of medical care will come with extensive medical costs. The financial burden of these injuries can be difficult for families to manage.
Financial impact and support options in Tuscaloosa
Over the course of their lives, spinal cord injury victims may face costs that tally up to millions. Even with health insurance and programs like Social Security, affording these expenses can be challenging for the injured person and their family. On top of all of this, the victim may not be able to work because of their injuries.
Because of this incredible cost, families must pursue compensation from every possible avenue. If another person’s negligence caused the injury, filing a claim can allow the family to recover damages that will help cover these costs. Damages in a personal injury lawsuit include compensation for:
- Medical care, including emergency treatment, surgeries, and more
- Medication
- Rehabilitative care, including physical and mental therapy
- Mobility aids and equipment
- Home modifications
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Not only does the compensation cover financial losses that the person already experienced, like their existing bills, but it should also include estimates about their likely future medical requirements and lost income. Coming up with these numbers often means working closely with experts who can estimate future costs and medical providers who can explain the person’s medical needs.
Frequently asked questions about spinal cord Injuries in Tuscaloosa
Suffering a spinal care injury is nothing short of traumatic for the victim as well as their loved ones. If you or your family experienced this type of serious harm, you likely have questions. Here are some answers to common questions about spinal cord injuries. If you have additional questions, please contact our Tuscaloosa spinal cord injury attorneys for a consultation.
How do I prove negligence in a spinal cord injury case?
In a personal injury case, proving negligence means showing that another person did not behave in a reasonable way under the circumstances and that their negligence caused your injuries. If the spinal cord injury took place in a car crash, proving negligence might mean showing that another driver caused the collision because they were speeding, texting, drunk, or otherwise did something that led to the accident. If you are unsure whether you have a claim, your best course of action is to speak to an Alabama personal injury attorney about your case right away.
What is the statute of limitations for spinal cord injury claims in Alabama?
In Alabama, you have just two years to file your personal injury claim. If you wait too long, the courts will refuse to hear your case, so you need to speak to a Tuscaloosa spinal cord injury lawyer right away.
What is the cost of spinal cord injury treatment?
The cost of treatment varies greatly, but for the first year after a spinal cord injury, they can exceed a million dollars. The costs remain high for the following years, amounting to hundreds of thousands in expenses.
Does Prince Glover Hayes have a spinal cord injury attorney near me in Tuscaloosa?
Prince Glover Hayes has an office at 2311 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. If you are too injured to come to us, we can make alternative arrangements to connect with you by visiting your location or scheduling a call or video consultation.
Contact Prince Glover Hayes today
At Prince Glover Hayes, our compassionate attorneys have the experience to handle your spinal cord injury claim. We represent those injured as a result of negligence in cases throughout Alabama. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means we only recover if your claim is successful. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us fight to recover the compensation you need.