Brain and spinal cord injuries are some of the most traumatic and severe injuries a victim of an accident can sustain because the brain and spinal cord play an important role in almost every other bodily function. Damage to either of these areas can result in catastrophic failure or severe damage to almost every other area of the body. It is vital that you seek legal counsel if you have sustained a brain injury or spinal cord injury in any type of personal injury accident.
What types of accidents result in brain and spinal cord injuries:
- Motor vehicle accidents – Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of brain and spinal cord injuries in the United States. Motorcycles and bicyclists are at a greater risk for brain and spinal cord injuries due to the nature of the vehicle involved. Motorcycles and bicycles do not provide the level of protection for the passenger that a commercial or passenger vehicle offer.
- Slips and Falls – Slips and falls are another major contributor to the number of spinal cord and brain injuries we see each year. Most people think of a slip, trip, or fall as just a minor injury that causes some bruising and soreness for a few days. That is not the case. Falls cause about 25% of the spinal cord injuries each year and over half of the brain injuries each year.
- Alcohol – According to the Mayo Clinic, alcohol was a contributing factor in 1 out of every 4 spinal cord injuries.
- Acts of Violence – According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and other acts of violence contribute to about 15% of the spinal cord injuries each year.
- Defective Products – Defective products can cause spinal cord and brain injuries. For example, if you are using a ladder to reach a high shelf, but the ladder has a design flaw that causes the rungs to come loose from the frame, you could easily be injured due to this defective product.
- Medical Malpractice – Unfortunately, mistakes happen during surgery, treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis. One small mistake can result in a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury that changes the person’s life forever.
Regardless of how the injury occurred, if the brain or spinal cord injury was the result of the careless, reckless, or negligent behavior of another person or party, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to receive compensation for damages including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Long-term personal and/or medical care
- Surgical procedures
- Medical equipment
- Travel expenses
- Property damage
- Emotional suffering
- Physical pain
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
You may be entitled to receive other damages; however, we cannot determine that until we meet with you, hear your story, investigate the accident, and identify the potential parties involved and the causes of action available to you. Our skilled and experienced brain and spinal cord injury attorney, Bill Pickett, understands how to investigate personal injury cases to arrive at the just value of your claim.
Symptoms of Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
The symptoms associated with a brain injury depend on the area of the brain injured, the severity of the brain, and whether the injury was a closed brain injury or an open head wound. Even a low-impact rear-end vehicle collision can result in a closed head trauma that can result in serious, long-term conditions. You should know the signs of brain damage so that you can seek immediate medical treatment if you suspect you have suffered a brain injury. Symptoms associated with brain injuries include but are not limited to:
- Cognitive symptoms including a shorter attention span; difficulty processing information; inability to understand certain things; memory loss; and, impaired decision-making ability.
- Perceptual symptoms including changes in vision, hearing, sense, or touch; inability to sense changes in time; changes in smell and taste; difficultly balancing; and, heightened sensitivity to pain.
- Physical symptoms including paralysis, tremors, seizures, sleep disorders, headaches, fatigue, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and sensitivity to light.
- Behavioral symptoms including sluggishness, irritability; impatience, aggressiveness, flattened or heightened emotions, and reduced tolerance for stress.
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury will likely depend on where along the spinal cord the trauma occurred. Some symptoms to look for include:
- Pain in the neck or back
- Headaches
- Swelling in the affected area
- Bruises along the back, shoulders, neck, or head
- Numbness in the arms or legs with or without a sense of weakness and/or tingling
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
- Paralysis
If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms after an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention to determine if you have suffered a brain injury and/or spinal cord injury. Symptoms of a brain or spinal cord injury may not be immediately recognizable. This is why it is so important to seek medical attention whenever there is an injury to the brain and/or spinal cord.
Do You Need an Attorney to Protect Your Rights?
Brain and spinal cord injuries are devastating for both the victim and their family. Insurance companies aggressively defend these types of personal injury cases because the damages are typically substantial. Bill Pickett has the experience, knowledge, and skill to investigate the accident or incident that caused your brain & spinal cord injuries to determine the best course of action you can take to hold the at-fault party responsible for your losses.
Contact our Yakima, Washington Office Today
Call The Pickett Law Firm today for a free consultation. We want to help you seek justice from the party who caused your life to be turned upside down. Our main goal is to find you the compensation you deserve to help you find your way back to a normal routine.
A monetary judgment will not undo the damage that has been done by one careless or negligent act, but it can help provide the necessary medical treatment and personal care that you require as you continue to recover from your injuries. It can also help provide for the needs of your family because you are out of work due to the accident. Contact our office today.
