Long Island Spinal Cord Injury

Tearing of nerve fibers and bruising are just two of a variety of different types of injuries to the spinal cord that could lead to other serious health problems. Spinal cord injuries can lead to back pain and mobility problems. The most severe injuries to the spinal cord can result in paraplegia, quadriplegia or some other type of permanent paralysis. Furthermore, victims with spinal cord injuries suffer other medical problems such as pressure sores, muscle spasms and respiratory problems, making working and performing activities of daily living challenging. In most cases spinal cord injuries happen in accidents such as in an auto collision or in a workplace accident and would not have occurred but for someone's negligent actions. If you suffered a spinal cord injury because of another person's negligent actions or during a workplace accident, contact an experienced Long Island spinal cord injury lawyer who will review your case and make sure that you receive the maximum compensation to which you are entitled based on the specifics of your case.

A severe injury to the spinal cord can occur in a variety of accidents. The most common include car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and recreational accidents such as diving accidents. Other common causes of spinal cord injuries are criminal assaults such as gunshot wounds. For those over the age of 65 falls account for a significant percentage of injuries to the spine.

There are several types of spinal cord injuries. Depending on the location of the injury and the severity of it, victims experience various levels of paralysis and loss of function. Types of spinal cord injuries include paraplegia which is a loss of function below the waist. Quadriplegia is a loss of function from the neck down, including the ability to breathe without a ventilator. Monoplegia is the loss of function in one leg or one arm. Hemiplegia is the loss of function in one arm and one leg on the same side of the body

Spinal cord injuries can come with a number of different complications including:

• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Bladder and bowel incontinence
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Respiratory problems
• Sepsis
• Pressure sores
• Spasticity
• Swelling

Spinal injuries can be not only physically challenging, but can also cause victims to fall into deep debt. Not only do you have to face the initial medical expenses related to treating the injury, you may also face thousands of dollars in medical expenses each year. The lifetime costs of treating a spinal cord injury can easily exceed $4 million.

As a spinal cord injury lawyer in Long Island will explain, if your spinal cord injury is the result of another person's negligence, then under New York law you have the legal right to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party and demand compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. There are many factors that will determine the amount of compensation to which you are entitled and the type of compensation. These factors include:

• The type of injuries you suffered. Treating quadriplegia, for example, will cost more than treating paraplegia.
• The actual cost your treatment. Treatment will include hospital care, surgery, wound care, emergency room treatment, specialists, medication, physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• Lost income. Missed paychecks, lost benefits, lost self-employment income, and loss of future income caused by a long term or permanent disability.
• Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of consortium.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney serving Long Island who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with injuries to the spine. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.