Helena Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

 

Your spinal cord—a bundle of nerve fibers surrounded by your spine—is a crucial component of the human frame as it links your brain with the rest of your body and is in charge of sending messages back and forth between your brain and body. Any sudden or traumatic blow to the column of vertebrae (spinal bones) that encase and protect this area and its nerves may be catastrophic.

Any back or spinal injury that injures the protective bones or ligaments that surround the spinal cord has the potential to be life-changing or even fatal. If you or someone you care about suffered an injury to their spinal cord in Helena, Montana or the surrounding area, our spinal cord injury attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for your damages.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Victims Could Suffer in Helena, Montana

A 2020 study released by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) estimated that as many as 368,000 people live with a spinal cord injury in the United States. The NSCISC found that motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. at 38.6%, followed closely by falls at 32.3%. Acts of violence (primarily gunshot wounds) and sports or recreational activities were also common causes of spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cords are divided into sections:

  • Cervical spine: includes vertebrae C1-C7, forming the neck

  • Thoracic spine: includes vertebrae T1-T12, forming the upper back

  • Lumbar spine: includes the end of the spinal cord and vertebrae L1-L5, forming the base of the spine

  • Sacral spine: includes vertebrae S1-S5, which form the end of the spinal column. The sacral spine does not include the spinal cord itself but does contain spinal nerves.

Typically, the higher the injury is located on the spinal cord, the more dysfunction may occur.

Injuries to the spinal cord are classified as “complete” or “incomplete.” Complete spinal cord injuries result in complete paralysis below the level of injury and affect both sides of the body. Incomplete spinal cord injuries, on the other hand, still allow for communication between the body and brain, permitting some function to continue on one or both sides of the body.

Four forms of paralysis may result from an injury to the spinal cord. They are as follows:

  • Monoplegia: affects a single limb

  • Hemiplegia: affects one side of the body

  • Paraplegia: affects both legs

  • Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia: affects all four limbs

Our spinal cords are responsible for movement, sensation, and transporting signals to and from the brain. When damaged, the spinal cord can trigger other health concerns, including:

  • Complete or incomplete paralysis

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Headaches

  • Intestinal malfunction

  • Loss of fertility

  • Mood or personality changes

  • Muscle pain

  • Nerve pain

  • Pneumonia

  • Sensory loss

  • Sexual dysfunction

Spinal cord injuries are devastating and can change how a person lives for the rest of their life. In Helena, victims of spinal cord injury accidents have the right to file a claim against the at-fault party to recover their damages.

Damages Spinal Cord Injury Victims May Recover in a Helena Personal Injury Claim

Lifetime financial responsibilities directly attributed to a spinal cord injury vary considerably and heavily depend on the severity of the injury. However, the NSCISC estimates the average yearly health care costs and living expenses for different types of spinal cord injuries to be as follows (all estimated costs are in 2020 dollars):

  • High tetraplegia (C1-C4)

    • $1,149,629 average yearly expense for the first year

    • $199,0637 average yearly expense each following year

    • $5,100,941 estimated lifetime costs at 25 years old

    • $2,803,391 estimated lifetime costs at 50 years old

  • Low tetraplegia (C5-C8)

    • $830,708 average yearly expense for the first year

    • $122,468 average yearly expense each following year

    • $3,727,066 estimated lifetime costs at 25 years old

    • $2,292,479 estimated lifetime costs at 50 years old

  • Paraplegia

    • $560,287 average yearly expense for the first year

    • $74,221 average yearly expense each following year

    • $2,494,338 estimated lifetime costs at 25 years old

    • $1,636,959 estimated lifetime costs at 50 years old

  • Motor functional at any level

    • $375,196 average yearly expense for the first year

    • $45,572 average yearly expense each following year

    • $1,704,144 estimated lifetime costs at 25 years old

    • $1,202,832 estimated lifetime costs at 50 years old

The above estimates do not incorporate any secondary financial costs such as loss of income or reduced earning potential. However, these losses may be recovered with your personal injury claim, along with compensation for other damages such as:

  • Pain and suffering

  • Loss of consortium

  • Past and future medical expenses, including:

    • Physical therapy

    • In-home rehabilitation

    • Surgery

    • Medical devices

  • Change in lifestyle

  • Funeral expenses

  • Loss of personal enjoyment

Treatment for spinal cord injuries can include multiple surgeries, injections, as well as long-term care and rehabilitation. If your spinal cord injury was the outcome of another person’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation recovery for your expenses in Montana.

Schedule a Meeting With a Helena, Montana Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

When you partner with a Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson, and Deola personal injury lawyer, you can rest assured that we will build a solid case for your spinal injury claim. Over the years, our cases have recovered millions of dollars for individuals and businesses in Montana and have helped shape our state laws in meaningful ways.

To schedule a meeting with our Helena, Montana, personal injury team, call our office at (406) 442-3261 or complete our contact form to request more information about your legal options today.