Crawford County, AR Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries are perhaps one of the most life-altering injuries that a human can suffer and still live. However, when a person has sustained a spinal cord injury they are very often unable to cope with the overwhelming amount of change to their personal, emotional, and physical well-being.

Often those who have sustained a serious spinal cord injury require round the clock care and are no longer able to work or support their family. If you have been injured in an accident in Crawford County Arkansas, and now find that because of your spinal injury you are no longer able to work or have massive medical bills you may be able to recover for your accidents.

Why are Spinal Cord Injuries so Dangerous?

The Spinal cord plays an important role in our anatomy. While the obvious is that the spinal cord provides the body with structure and support, the spine also plays an important role in our nervous system.

The spine is composed of thirty-three individual bones which are stacked on top of one another. The spine allows you to stand upright, bend over, and twist. In addition to these individual bones which are known as vertebrae, a healthy spine is comprised of strong bones and muscles, flexible tendons, ligaments, and sensitive nerves. The s-curved human spine is broken down into four regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, and sacral which all have certain bones which comprise them.

The important feature of the spine and the reason why any injury to the spine is so dangerous is the spinal cord, which runs the length of the spine. The spinal cord is a long tendon-like structure that runs from the brainstem to the bottom of the back. This structure operates as an information highway connecting the brain to the rest of the body.  This cord is about the thickness of your thumb, which seems rather delicate in light of the task it has to be performed.

When the spinal cord is damaged or severed it is no longer able to send the messages from the brain to the corresponding part of the body. This means that in the event that the spinal cord is severed the parts of the body that are below the point of injury will no longer be able to sense any pain, feeling, or even move in most cases.

In addition, injury to the spinal cord may result in a person losing control over their bladder, bowels, have decreased or lose all skin sensation, have circulatory control issues, and can even go into respiratory failure.

Why Seek Legal Counsel?

Spinal cord injuries affect all races, genders, and ages. However, there are certain groups of individuals who have a higher rate of injury than other groups. Males make up a disproportionate amount of the population that incurs spinal cord injuries every year. Spinal cord injuries can be devastating injuries, which can leave a person either partially or fully paralyzed.  Those who sustain a spinal cord injury will likely require medical care and various other forms of personal assistance throughout the duration of their life.

You probably are aware that rising medical costs pose a problem for all Americans. This is even more of a problem for someone who has sustained an incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. Medical costs for someone who has sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury can be upwards of $100,000 in the first year alone, and this does not take into account any ongoing care and treatment that a person may require. The costs for someone who has sustained a complete spinal cord injury can be much higher than that and can run a person of up to 400,000 in the first year alone and again this does not take into account the amounts that will be necessary for continuing care and treatment.

These initial numbers do not take into account the ongoing care and treatment that a person who has sustained a spinal cord injury will have to undergo. The average age of someone who has been the victim of a spinal cord injury is 39.5 years old which means that ongoing care will be needed for decades.

Many people who have suffered a spinal cord injury will turn to insurance companies to seek relief, only to find themselves stuck behind a wall of paperwork. However, working with an insurance company is not the only method of recovering for your injuries and losses. If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury due to another’s neglect then you may be able to file a personal injury and or a wrongful death claim. The courts are empowered to order a negligent or at fault, party to pay for the following expenses:

• Hospitalization
• Medical care throughout the person’s life
• Caregivers at home
• Rehabilitation
• Counseling and Psychiatric care
• Lost wages
• Expenses not covered by existing health insurance
• Travel expenses for medical care
• Various support services for the injured person’s family
• Funeral expenses

When you or a family member have been injured because of someone else’s neglect or carelessness, then you are entitled to these forms of compensation as a way for the court to make you whole again. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can provide you with peace of mind to know that your interests are being cared for.

Rely on An Experienced Crawford Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury in Crawford County 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.