How serious is your spinal cord injury?

There are 2 general types of spinal cord injury: complete and incomplete. As the classifications suggest, a complete spinal cord injury means there is no sensation and no voluntary movement, while an incomplete injury is one where there may still be some sensation or movement in the affected body areas.

The location of the spinal cord injury is also important, as it determines the point beneath which the victim will be affected. Movement and sensation can be diminished or absent at any point below the injured area of the spine. This means if you suffer a complete injury to your lower spine, you may lose mobility in your legs but will still have perfect functionality in your arms.

The spinal cord is divided into 4 areas: 

• cervical nerves (vertebra C1-T2);
• thoracic nerves (vertebra T3-T12);
• lumbar nerves (vertebra L1-L5); and
• sacral nerves (vertebra S1-S5). 

Each area controls a different portion of the body and therefore damage to the spine in that particular area can cause complete or partial paralysis, numbness and loss of function. The spinal cord is closely tied with not only muscle function but also body system function. Severe spinal cord injuries may impair function of the bowels, respiratory system, blood pressure and temperature regulation and sweating.

The medical complications you or your loved one suffer from a spinal cord injury may extend well beyond the initial hospital stay. Most complete spinal cord injuries result in life-changing disabilities that require special equipment, therapy and ongoing care and rehabilitation. If your spinal cord injury was the result of a serious accident caused by the negligence of another, you may need to file a Florida personal injury claim to recover damages for your injuries and suffering. 

Contacting a St. Petersburg Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

When you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury because of a serious accident, you don't need to deal with filing a Florida personal injury claim alone. First order our free consumer guide, Your Guide to Accident Claims in Florida: Don't Wreck Your Injury Case to learn more about how to handle your case. When you are ready to file, contact a St. Petersburg spinal cord injury lawyer at the Law Offices of William K. Saron - 727-345-4566 or 1-866-836-4947.