Bella Vista, AR Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Many people believe that a spinal cord injury is only one where the spinal cord is completely severed, however, they would be surprised to learn that there are various degrees of spinal cord injuries that a person can sustain. Because the spinal cord has such an important function to perform, any injury to this structure can cause immense pain and a drastic change in a person’s lifestyle.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in Bella Vista contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law. Ken Kieklak has fought for victims of spinal cord injury accidents for more than 20 years. If you have been seriously injured, we recommend that you first talk to an experienced attorney so that you understand what your claim is worth and so that you can make a recovery that is sufficient to cover the expenses for your injuries. Our law firm can handle every aspect of your legal matter so that you can focus on your medical recovery.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body. The spinal cord runs the length of your back and contains thirty-three individual bones, which are called vertebrae. The spinal cord passes through your neck and back and runs on the inside of the vertebrae. The spine plays a pivotal role in almost every bodily function because it is the direct link between the brain and the rest of the body.

Spinal cord trauma can be caused by injuries to the spine, such as:

• Assault – Spinal cord trauma can be the result of being in a fight or being assaulted. Because any one of the thirty-three individual vertebrae are susceptible to breaking and therefore injuring the nerves in the spinal column, assault injuries are relatively common.
• Falls – falls are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Many people are surprised to learn that even a fall while standing can lead to a spinal cord injury.
• Gunshot wounds – gunshot wounds are traumatic injuries in and of themselves, however over the past thirty years there has been a growing rate of incidence between gunshot wounds and spinal cord injuries.
• Industrial accidents – working in industrial sites has been a leading cause of spinal cord injuries for several decades, and while there have been improved safety measures adopted, these accidents are still a leading cause of injury.
• Motor vehicle accidents – because of the amount of force involved in a car accident, there is an increased chance that there will be trauma to the spine.

If you have been injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or reckless behavior, then you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Among the injuries that a person can sustain, a spinal cord injury of any degree, is one of the worst for a person physically, mentally emotionally, and financially.

Hiring a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

Often those who have sustained a spinal cord injury are not able to return to work, may suffer partial or complete paralysis, and face hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. However, no matter how grim this may seem, under Arkansas law, a person who has been injured in a spinal cord accident may be entitled to receive compensation through filing either a personal injury case, where the court will seek to compensate a party based on their injuries. Alternatively, in the event that a loved one has passed away because of a spinal cord injury, a wrongful death action may be brought on their behalf. In both of these cases either the injured party or the injured party’s estate may be able to recover for the following expenses:

• Emergency medical care – any spinal cord injury is a medical emergency. This means going to the hospital and undergoing expensive medical treatment.

• Continuing medical care – Those who have sustained a spinal cord injury often find that they need to continually undergo medical treatment and be under the close supervision of a medical professional. This is often because after the initial trauma has subsided the body will need to be monitored to ensure that all processes and functions necessary for life are working properly. This may also mean that a person will have to hire caregivers to come stay and or visit their home regularly.

• Rehabilitation – Spinal cord injuries require that a patient undergoes various forms of rehabilitation. In addition to physical therapy, which is required, regardless if the patient is partially or fully paralyzed, many of those who have sustained a spinal cord injury will have to undergo mental or cognitive therapy to help them recover from their injuries.

• Counseling and Psychiatric care – Spinal cord injury victims often report a decreased sense of self and an increased level of depression and anxiety. It is not uncommon for someone who has gone through such a traumatic experience to require counseling and psychiatric care to help them learn to live with their injuries.

• Lost wages – many of those who have sustained a spinal cord injury find that they are no longer able to work in the same position that they were in before the accident. Others find that they are not able to work at all due to the extent of their injuries. When you are no longer able to work you will have to find a way to cover the lost wages that you would have been able to earn had the accident had not happened.

• Support for the injured family – The injured person is often not the only victim of a spinal cord injury. Family members may have to undergo substantial lifestyle changes, which may include them having to leave their job and position to take care of their injured and recovering family member. This is an additional expense tat the court may be able to provide compensation for.

• Funeral expenses – In the event that someone you know and loved has passed away due to an accident and subsequent injury to their spine or spinal cord, you may be able to file a wrongful death action on their behalf. In addition to the above mentioned expenses, you may be able to recover for the vast expenses that accompany funerals.

Many victims of spinal cord injuries face considerable challenges, however, working with the court should not be one of them. By working with an experienced personal injury attorney you may be able to recover all of the abovementioned damages.

Rely on the Experience of Arkansas Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Ken Kieklak in Bella Vista

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury because of another’s negligence in Bella Vista or elsewhere in northwest Arkansas, Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law may be able to fight for compensation for you. Ken Kieklak can handle your accident injury case professionally and strategically. For your free and confidential consultation, call (479) 316-0438 or contact us online today.