Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
For more than 32 years the attorneys at Blackman Legal Group have represented individuals who have suffered the tragedy of a spinal cord injury, including cases of paraplegia, quadriplegia, spinal fractures, and cases with complex reconstructive surgery of the spine.
Each of these cases requires a careful study of the short and long term effects of the injuries on the client, and the associated expenses for current and future medical and attendant care. Special consideration is also given to the requirements these people have for customization of their living accommodations and their transportation.
In all these cases, our spinal cord injury attorneys work with life care planners who are able to study the client's medical condition and treatment to date, and conferring with the doctors, such as the PMR physicians (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists), determine the future needs in terms of medical help and assistance with living (activities of daily living). We employ economists to study the case and prepare detailed reports, and courtroom testimony, about the present value of these lifetime of expenses. We also prepare custom medical illustrations for use in trial, so juries can understand the details of the injury and the surgery, if any. The following is one example:
 This medical illustration was created for use during a personal injury trial of an auto accident case in which our client suffered spinal cord injuries resulting in quadriplegia. The illustrations were professionally created from our client’s x-rays and MRIs to accurately depict the fracture of the spine, damage to the spinal cord, and other injuries to our client's neck. Illustrations such as these make it easy for members of the jury to understand the seriousness of the person's injury, and to understand the testimony of surgeons and physicians as they talk about the injury and its short- and long-term impact on quality of life for the injured person. |
Choose an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer
When selecting a law firm to represent you or a family member who has suffered a spinal cord injury, choose attorneys who have special training and experience in the handling of these cases. Clifford A. Blackman, the CEO and founder of the Blackman Legal Group, has taken a great deal of training in this area, as well as the area of traumatic brain injury cases, so that the clients of the firm can be assured of excellence in their legal representation.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The effects of Spinal Cord Injury depend on the type of injury and the level of the injury. Spinal Cord Injury can be divided into two types of injuries - complete and incomplete.
A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected.
An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other.
The level of injury is very helpful in predicting what parts of the body might be affected by paralysis and loss of function.
Spinal Fractures - broken bones in the back and neck
A person can suffer a fracture to the spine, including the back or neck, without injury to the spinal cord itself. In these cases, where the bones of the spine - call the vertebrae - are damaged, but the spinal cord is not affected, there is usually no paralysis or long term loss of function. There may, however, be the need for surgery to stabilize the region of the spine, such as a fusion or laminectomy. If there is injury to the discs and nerves which come out from the spinal canal through the vertebral bodies, there could be nerve injuries which are serious and in some cases disabling.
Herniated Discs and Nerve Root Injury
In some serious accidents a person can suffer what is called a herniated disc. The discs are the "shock absorbers" which separate each of the bones in the spine, and allow for our mobility. The nerves which control the body come out from the spinal canal passing through the bones of the spine (the vertebrae). When there is damage to an intervertebral disc, the space where the nerve roots come out from the spine can be compressed and there can be damage to the nerve root. Surgery is sometimes needed to decompress the area and relieve the pressure on the nerve root.
Common problems which people suffer when there is a herniated disc include different types of nerve pain, such as burning, stabbing, shooting, or knife like pains. There can also be weakness, and in severe cases, loss of muscle control. When there is serious injury to the nerves of the lower back, called the lumbar spine, there can be loss of control of the bladder or the bowels, resulting in incontinence.
Successful surgery can eliminate the worst of these symptoms, however, it frequently does not eliminate all the back or neck pain.
The lawyers at Blackman Legal Group have extensive experience with spinal surgery cases, and have represented clients who have had many different types of spinal surgeries, including discectomy, laminectomy, fusion, and complex spinal reconstruction.
Free consultation and confidential review
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury to the spine, it is important to hire an experience expert lawyer as quickly as possible to help. Call Blackman Legal Group now at 1-800-444-5602 or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION. The initial consultation is free and confidential. If the law firm agrees to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a settlement.
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