Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys in Olathe, KS
Aggressive representation for victims of spinal cord injuries in Kansas
Your spinal cord is essential for all the communication in your body. It is responsible for a group of nerves that transfers messages back and forth from your brain to the rest of your body all the way down to your toes. When your spinal cord is damaged this communication is interrupted. That means that the nerves that control various aspects of your body can no longer do so. This is a severe injury that can change your life forever. If this was caused by a negligent party, they should be held responsible for their actions.
Our Olathe spinal cord injury attorneys can tell you that victims of this injury will often not be able to enjoy life the same way they did before or be able to work. All of your hopes and dreams are changed due to another person’s negligence. Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys will work with medical experts to show the court how your spinal cord injury (SCI) has altered your life for the worse. We will also show who the negligent party was and how they are liable for your injury and your new life.
Are spinal cord injuries common?
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (USCIS) estimates that about 296,000 Americans are living with a spinal cord injury. This is a significant number of people who are affected by this kind of injury and who are struggling each and every day. Not only is the injury victim affected, but so are their loved ones and caretakers.
What happens when a spinal cord endures trauma?
There are several ways the spinal cord can be damaged. When the spine is punctured or pierced, or when pieces of the vertebrae shred, it can affect bundle of nerves that is your spinal cord. This affects the way that the spinal cord sends communications to the rest of the body.
In other cases, the nerves can be compressed which causes damage to the spinal cord as well. Nerve compression may be treatable, but it depends on the extent of the injury. Because of the delicate nature of the spinal cord, doctors must proceed with caution to ensure they do not do more damage. In fact, spinal surgery and epidural errors can also lead to spinal cord trauma.
The most severe cases are when the spinal cord has been severed. The main outcome in these cases is paralysis. Depending on where the spinal cord was severed, this will be the point where the paralysis occurs down to the rest of the body. For example, if the spinal cord was severed at the neck, a person will be paralyzed from the neck down.
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What are the different kinds of paralysis?
When you hear the term “paralysis” your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario. However, there are different types of paralysis. It can temporary or permanent, incomplete or complete. A permanent case of paralysis has no cure; it is forever. Temporary paralysis may be cured, depending on the circumstances. Paralysis is categorized in the following ways:
- Diplegia: This form of paralysis will affect one area of the body on both sides. For example, a person may suffer paralysis in both arms.
- Hemiplegia: In contrast, this type of paralysis affects only one side of the body. A person may suffer paralysis, then, of the left arm and leg, while maintaining function in the right arm and leg.
- Monoplegia: This paralysis affects one limb such as one arm.
- Paraplegia: This specifically affects both legs and the torso. Victims may experience chronic pain, impaired mobility, phantom points of pain, and a loss of sensation in the lower body.
- Quadriplegia: The worst-case scenario is when you become paralyzed from the waist down as with quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia. You will also have difficulty breathing, bowel dysfunction, loss of feeling in the body, and paralysis in both arms and legs.
How does life change for Olathe spinal cord injury victims?
As any Olathe spinal cord injury attorney will tell you, life changes drastically for victims and their families. A SCI victim may need to move into a rehabilitation center for some time in order to learn techniques for their new life. The goal of rehabilitation centers is to show spinal cord injury victims how to live independent lives.
They will also be able to learn how to adjust emotionally and mentally to their new normal, which is often the most difficult aspect of an injury. There are the physical aspects as well as the psychological that need to be addressed. As for the physical adjustments, victims will learn techniques like using a wheelchair or mobility aids. They may need help bathing, dressing, or even eating.
While there are many techniques that a spinal cord injury victim will learn to be independent, many will still need a caregiver. Often, a family member or a significant other will take on the role of caregiver. This is also an adjustment for them. While in the rehabilitation center, caregivers will also learn what their role will look like on a daily basis. While the entire household may be willing and able to help, there must be one main caregiver. This is a long-term, often lifelong, commitment that should be discussed thoroughly.
What causes a spinal cord injury?
A spinal cord injury can be caused in a number of ways. There are even certain employees who are at greater risk than others, such as construction workers, restaurant workers, and warehouse workers.
The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is car accidents. They account for 38.2% of all SCI accidents. The second most common cause of spinal cord injuries is falling, at 32.3%, which is not too far behind car accidents.
Some additional causes of spinal cord trauma include:
- Acts of violence
- Sports accidents
- Crushed by object
- Being hit by falling objects
- Spinal epidural injuries
Who can be held liable for a spinal cord injury?
When a party acted negligently and caused you or your loved one to suffer a spinal cord injury, they should be held responsible for their actions. Our Olathe spinal cord injury attorneys will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. There may be multiple parties that can be held reasonable for your injury including:
- A product manufacturer
- A driver who caused a collision
- Nursing home staff who acted negligently
- Property owners who had unsafe conditions
- Medical professionals
- Employers who did not provide proper safety equipment or created an unsafe working environment
Depending on how the accident happened there may be other parties that can be held responsible for your injury. Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys will work tirelessly to hold negligent parties responsible and get you the compensation and justice you deserve.
How much is my Olathe spinal cord injury case worth?
There is no way to determine how much an injury case is worth without first reviewing medical records, accident reports, financial disclosures, and more. But SCI is one of the most financially devastating injuries a person can sustain. As such, we demand the maximum compensation for our clients and their families who are living with this life-altering injury every day.
Our Olathe spinal cord injury attorneys will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf to obtain compensation for your injury. You may be eligible for compensation for lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses related to the injury, and out-of-pocket expenses. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages as well like pain and suffering or loss of consortium. In the unfortunate event that a loved one passes away after an accident, we will file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family. We will not stop until we obtain a settlement that gets you what you deserve.
Do you have a spinal cord injury lawyer near me?
Our Olathe office is located at 110 South Cherry Street, Suite 102. Call for an appointment. We also have other offices throughout Kansas and Missouri.
Contact an Olathe spinal cord injury attorney today
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you need to contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys immediately. We will fight tooth and nail to get you justice. To work with an experienced Olathe SCI lawyer, call our office at 816-290-7621, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
Olathe Office
110 S Cherry St Suite 103,
Olathe, KS 66061