Spinal Column Injuries FAQ – Part 2

In our last blog post on spinal column injuries, we looked at some basic information people should know about the spine, the spinal cord, and the spinal column. Today we are going to look at some additional questions about spinal column injuries, their causes, and what legal options a person with a spinal cord injury might have.

As always, you should talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer if you need advice about spinal column injuries, or simply have questions about your options. Only a lawyer can tell you what you should or should not do in your situation, and you should never make any decisions about your case until you have received the legal advice you need.

What kind of spinal column injuries are there?

There are many kinds of spinal column injuries a person can suffer. Some of the most common injuries, for example, involve the protective tissues in between each of the vertebrae. There are 26 vertebrae. Where those vertebrae come together, there is a protective layer serving as a cushion. These layers are known as discs and are comprised of inner and outer sections. When a person suffers damage to the outer portion of a disc, the inner portion can protrude through it. This is known as a “slipped” disc and can be very painful.

In other situations, a person can suffer damage to the vertebrae themselves, or suffer an injury that results in damage to the nerves of the spinal column.

What kind of spinal cord injuries are there?

Spinal cord injuries come in many forms but are classified into type and level. There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury is one where the damage to the spinal cord nerves has resulted in a person losing the ability to feel or move anything below the damaged area. A person with an incomplete injury, on the other hand, retains some sensation or motor control over the parts of the body below the damaged area.

Beyond complete and incomplete injuries, spinal cord injuries are also placed into categories based on where they occur. The individual bones in the spine each have names. When a person suffers a spinal column injury, health care workers will determine what kind of injury it is by determining which vertebrae have been damaged. In general, the damage that occurs higher up on the spine (closer to the skull) will be more significant and result in a greater loss of bodily function or sensation than those that occur to the lower parts of the spine.

What are my legal options if I suffer a spinal column injury?

It’s impossible to say what legal options you have when you suffer a spinal column injury without knowing the specific circumstances surrounding your injury, the nature of the injury, and the laws of your state. The only way to determine what your legal options are is to talk to a personal injury attorney in your area.