STOCKTON SPINE INJURY LAWYER

Spinal injuries can be some of the most devastating injuries to live with. Injuries to the spine can cause chronic pain, but even more frightening, they can lead to nerve damage or even paralysis. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 1.2 million people have been paralyzed as a result of spinal injury. If you or a loved one has suffered a spine injury, we encourage you to call Schwinghamer Law in order to protect your rights and get the compensation that may be due to you under the law.

WHAT ARE SPINE INJURIES

The spine is a complex anatomical structure, and one of the most important structures in the human body. In addition to keeping us upright, the spinal column acts as protective armor for the spinal cord, the neurological superhighway that connects the brain to the rest of the body. In fact, the spine is such a complex structure that there are two medical specialties that study it: Orthopedics (the study of bones, muscles, and connective tissues) and Neurology (the study of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.)

The spinal column itself is constructed of bones (called vertebrae) which are separated by tough, squishy structures called discs. A bundle of nerves, called the spinal cord, travels down the body, encased in this structure.

The nerves exit the spinal canal through windows called foramen and connect to all parts of the body. The top seven vertebrae, called the cervical vertebrae, allow nerves to run down the arms, hands, and fingers. The bottom five vertebrae, called the lumbar vertebrae, allow nerves to run to the legs, feet, and toes.

Often times after an auto accident or other personal injury accident, people will experience pain, numbness, or tingling in their hands or feet. This can actually be a sign that there is nerve compression in the spinal cord. Many people may not realize it, but tingling in a finger or toe after a car crash may be an extremely important symptom and may even indicate a spine injury. This is one of the reasons it is important to obtain competent medical care after an accident.

There are many different types of spine injuries. Some of the different cases that we can help with include:

• Paralysis
• Bulging, slipped, or herniated discs
• Fractured vertebrae
• Torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury or paralysis as a result of the negligent, reckless, or intentional act of another, you have the legal right to make a personal injury claim and receive compensation for your injuries.

HOW SPINE INJURIES HAPPEN IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Almost any type of accident can cause a spine injury. Automobile crashes in particular place tremendous strain on the spine. When a person is rear-ended in a car accident, it subjects their body to acceleration and deceleration forces. The body is whipped backwards and forwards, sometimes called whiplash. This strain can sometimes fracture vertebrae, tear muscles, ligaments, or tendons, or tear a hole in one of the discs. Like a misaligned wheel on a car, even a minor injury to the spine can affect the body’s natural movement, and cause a more significant injury down the road.

If you have been in an automobile accident and you may have sustained a spinal injury, Schwinghamer Law can help you find competent medical care, and seek compensation.

DETERMINING WHO IS AT FAULT FOR SPINAL INJURIES

California law requires that a negligent party pay for all the damage they caused. Luckily, California Law also requires every driver to carry automobile insurance. In addition, businesses and even governmental entities almost always have some form of insurance that covers injury. Ultimately, it will be the insurance companies that pay for the damages associated with a spine injury.

California law imposes legal responsibility on people, companies, and government entities that negligently cause injury. A negligently caused injury happens when the responsible party fails to act reasonably or fails to live up to a legal obligation. This can happen in many different situations. Some examples that we can assist with include:

• A texting driver causes a car accident that results in a bulging disc
• A trucking company requires its drivers to drive without rest breaks, resulting in a crash that renders a pedestrian paraplegic
• The manufacturer of dangerous or defective equipment causes a worker to fall and fracture a vertebrae
• A city or state maintains its roadways in poor condition, causing an accident which tears the anterior longitudinal ligament in a person’s spine
• A business allows a slippery condition to remain on its floor, causing a customer to slip, fall, and suffer from ongoing back pain.
• A doctor is negligent during a spine surgery and leaves his patient paralyzed

These are all just examples of negligent actions that the law allows recovery for. If you have a situation where you believe negligence may have occurred, we encourage you to call Schwinghamer Law for a free consultation.

COMPENSATION FOR SPINE INJURIES

If you or someone you love suffered a spine injury due to the negligence of another, a Stockton spinal cord injury lawyer may be able to help you to pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation.

Compensation in a spine injury case can include the following:

• Medical bills
• Future medical care or surgical costs
• Wage loss
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Therapeutic medical equipment such as braces or wheelchairs

Spinal cord injuries can have a devastating impact on your quality of life. From living in constant pain, to losing control of bladder or bowels, to paralysis, spine injuries can be catastrophic.

A spinal cord injury attorney in Stockton can assist you in negotiating a settlement or pursuing a claim for compensation in court. It is our job to get you the money that you need to get life-saving medical care and to live a comfortable, dignified life, even after suffering a spine injury.

THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Because spine injuries can be so devastating, the insurance companies fight tooth and nail to minimize or even deny these claims. If you are presenting a spinal injury claim, it is an unfortunate fact that you can expect the insurance company responsible will hire a doctor to dispute or deny your claim

At Schwinghamer Law we have experience fighting and winning on spine injury cases. Like all other personal injury claims however, spine injury cases are subject to California’s Statute of Limitations. The time to file any injury claim is limited. Contact a Stockton spine injury lawyer at Schwinghamer Law today for a free consultati