Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Baton Rouge

Spinal cord injuries, a type of catastrophic injury, can happen to anyone, at any time. Tragically, spinal injuries are commonly experienced in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and other traumatic accidents resulting in personal injuries. Spinal cord injuries can be disastrous, not only physically, but mentally and financially as well.

The experienced spinal cord injury attorneys with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have over 679+ years of combined legal experience handling spinal cord injury claims, and we’ve represented victims experiencing paraplegia and quadriplegia as well as other spine injuries.

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most significant and complicated injury cases there are, which is why it’s important to find a lawyer you can trust. Our highly-qualified Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers are here to support you throughout the process of filing a claim, demanding compensation, negotiating with insurance, and even going to court.

Why Do I Need a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe you can experience. The damages our clients suffer due to these injuries are similarly severe—so seeking compensation for those damages can be complicated. For this reason, hiring a spinal cord injury attorney to handle your injury claim is a good idea.

Because damages are generally quite high in a spinal cord injury case, insurance companies and their clients will try their hardest to avoid giving you the compensation you deserve. A knowledgeable injury attorney with the skills, experience, and resources to fight for your rights will help you recover the costs of your damages, including hospital bills, therapy costs, and your pain and suffering.

Hiring a spinal cord injury lawyer can help you hold the parties that caused your injuries accountable for their negligence. An experienced lawyer with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys can help you level the playing field and recover the compensation you need to pay for your injuries.

How a Spinal Cord Injury Affects Your Health

When your spinal cord is injured, it can damage the nerve fibers that carry signals from the brain to the rest of the body. If the injury is severe enough, the spinal nerves below the injury could still receive signals, but will not be able to send any back, causing numbness.

When severely injured, victims can experience a permanent loss of sensation and strength, as well as other chronic issues, including

• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Loss of feeling in the chest, arms, or legs
• Loss of movement or strength below the injury
• Loss of sexual function
• Muscle weakness, or even complete loss of function
• Nerve damage causing consistent burning pain
• Spasms or exaggerated reflexes

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

No matter how minor your accident, you could be left with an acute spinal cord injury causing pain, numbness, and other symptoms. There are multiple types of spinal cord injuries, including the following:

• A complete injury of the spinal cord cuts off all communication between the brain and the body below the injury. Victims will completely lose nerve function, motor function, sensation, and movement below the injury, and will experience total paralysis.
• In an incomplete spinal cord injury, some nerve signals can still be sent between the brain and the body. The victim will retain some degree of movement and sensation, but the amount will depend on how severe the injury is. An incomplete spinal cord injury is further divided into one of five sub-categories:
  • Anterior cord syndrome
  • Central cord syndrome
  • Posterior cord syndrome
  • Brown-Sequard syndrome
  • Cauda equina syndrome
• Spinal contusions or nerve damage are less severe than complete or incomplete injuries, but they can still be serious. Contusions are the most common type of spinal cord injury, and they’re usually temporary conditions that recover quickly. However, they can still be serious and accompanied by bleeding, swelling, and pain, leading to nerve damage and heart issues.

How Is a Spinal Injury Treated?

If you’ve been in an accident and think someone you’re with might’ve experienced a spinal injury, don’t move them—you could further injure their spine. If you can, try to check the victim’s breathing, because an injury in the upper neck can be suffocating.

When first responders arrive, they’ll immobilize the victim with a backboard and cervical collar, which prevents further damage. They’ll also diagnose the injury and administer the appropriate treatment, such as an injection of a dose of steroids to lessen swelling and inflammation or other treatment methods if necessary.

If necessary, the victim will receive surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and stabilize the spine while the vertebrae are healing. After the surgery, the victim will need ongoing physical and occupational therapy to restore as much functionality as possible, though a complete restoration is not guaranteed.

What Accidents Result in a Spinal Cord Injury?

Around 17,000 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries every year, and each of them has a long recovery process. If your spine has been injured due to one of the following accidents, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation today.

Traffic Accidents

Car accidents, truck accidents, and other traffic accidents can cause spinal cord injuries. While driving is an activity many of us take for granted, it’s dangerous and risky—and it doesn’t take a serious accident to cause a spinal cord injury. Even minor collisions can result in spinal cord-damaging injuries such as whiplash, neck or back injuries, and others.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Premises liability injuries such as slips and falls can also cause spinal cord injuries, though the elderly are the most vulnerable. If the slip and fall occurs in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the people responsible for your loved one’s care could be responsible for their injury.

Slip and fall injuries can also be the result of industrial accidents, in which case your employer could be held responsible for your injuries.

Medical Malpractice

When a doctor, surgeon, or other medical provider is negligent in their care, leading to further injury, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. Any of the following errors could result in a spinal cord injury:

• Failing to follow proper safety measures
• Failing to diagnose or treat a stroke, tumor, or spinal infection
• Making an error during surgery
• Making an error while administering an anesthetic or nerve block
• Delaying a surgical procedure
• Causing a birth injury

Other Spinal Cord Injury Causes

Other causes of spinal cord injuries include

• Assault
• Domestic violence
• Motorcycle accidents
• Sports injuries
• and others

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Baton Rouge

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, contact Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys at 225.888.8888 for a free legal consultation. We have the experience necessary to win your case, and we won’t charge you a dime until we win your case—that’s the G Guarantee.

Call us today to hold the people responsible for your accident accountable, and to receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.