New York Spinal Cord Injuries FAQs

Injuries to the back and spine are common to accident victims, such as those involved in car, SUV, minivan or truck accidents. Victims of SUV rollover accidents are particularly susceptible to back, neck and spine injuries. Spinal cord injuries can be quite serious since the spinal cord is made up of the bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body for movement and sensation. A seemingly minor injury to the spinal cord can affect mobility. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the injury. The severity of the symptoms depends on whether the entire cord is severely injured (complete) or only partially injured (incomplete). Fortunately, under New York law victims who suffer serious spinal cord injuries in car accidents due to the negligence of others are entitled to seek damages through a personal injury claim. If you suffered a spinal cord and would like more information about what to expect, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced New York spinal injury lawyer who will answer your questions regarding your legal options for seeking compensation from the person responsible for your injury.

Common conditions that result from trauma to the spinal cord include: paraplegia, quadriplegia, anterior cord syndrome, central cord syndrome, tetraplegia, and herniated disks.

A “complete” spinal cord injury is an injury that leaves the victim with the complete loss of function below the point of the injury. On the other hand, an “incomplete” injury refers to a spinal cord injury that leaves the victim with some feeling or movement below the point of injury.

While auto accidents are one of the most causes of spinal cord injuries, other causes include:

• Falls
• Bicycle accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Sports injuries
• Playground accidents
• Violent assaults, including gunshot or knife wounds
• Medical malpractice
• Birth injury

As an injury lawyer will explain, under New York law, if the spinal cord injury was caused by the negligence or intentional act of someone else, it may be possible to hold the negligent person accountable through a personal injury lawsuit. For example, you may receive damages for both your past and future medical expenses.

If the injury occurred at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits even if your injury was caused by your own negligence. Benefits include medical care for the injuries related to the work accident, as well as cash benefits. Even though workers’ compensation is supposed to be readily available to those who are injured at work, deserving workers are often denied benefits. If you believe that worker’s compensation benefits have been wrongly denied or unreasonably delayed, discuss your case with an attorney.

If you suffered a spinal injury, it is understandable that you have many questions. A serious injury to the spinal cord can be life-changing and even life-threatening. Such injuries affect not only your physical well-being, but also your ability to work and your ability to interact with your family and friends. An experienced attorney will be able to help you get answers to questions about the cause of your injury as well as who was at fault and how to demand compensation. The experienced New York attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have decades of experience winning substantial compensation for injured victims. 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.