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What Exactly is a Spinal Cord Injury: And What Damages Can Be Recovered?

Even those who’ve suffered a spinal cord injury may still be in the dark about what exactly the spinal cord is, what causes injury to it, and what their options are for a personal injury case. If you want specific information on your case, then we recommend you call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for your free case evaluation. Otherwise, read on to learn the basics.

Put simply: The definition of the spinal cord

Many people believe that the spinal cord is made out of bone. In fact, it’s actually a group of nerves that call the vertebrae their home. There are millions and millions of nerve fibers in there, and each of them transmit electrical info from your brain out to the rest of your body. The nerves there can control both involuntary actions, like the beating of the heart, and voluntary actions, like walking.

There are a number of causes of spinal cord injuries

In most cases, a spinal cord injury is caused by some type of sudden, traumatic damage that results in the vertebrae breaking, becoming dislocated, or compression. A spinal cord injury typically doesn’t involve in the spinal cord actually being severed – typically the damage is caused by the vertebrae tearing into the tissue of the spinal cord or putting pressure on the nerves.

While a spinal cord injury can be caused by any sudden trauma, the leading cause is of course automobile accidents. In fact, about 40% of spinal cord injuries are caused by spinal cord injuries. Other common causes including injuries while playing sports or recreational activities, slips and falls, and on-the-job accidents.

You may be entitled to a number of damages

A spinal cord injury is almost always life changing. A person who suffers from a spinal cord injury may be entitled to significant damages meant to compensate them for the injury and the damage they’ve survived. This can include past and estimated future medical bills, the cost of rehabilitation, the cost of occupational and physical therapy, lost wages and earnings, mental suffering, loss of enjoyment to life, the cost of necessary modifications to your home, assistive devices, and the cost of appropriate transportation.

Remember that these are only some of the damages you may be entitled to. As we mentioned above, the best way to find out what your situation entitles you to is to call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 as soon as possible.

You need a team of experts on your side

This isn’t something you can fight on your own. You need a team of experts, including legal representatives, expert witnesses, and economic advisors who can estimate the long-term costs of your injury. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we can take your case on contingency, which means we handle all upfront costs. You don’t owe us anything – even for our fees – until you are awarded compensation. To learn more, contact us today at 909-982-0707 for your free consultation.