New York Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Like a brain injury, neck injury and broken bones, a spinal cord injury is one of the most serious types of injury that a victim can suffer in a car accident, bike accident, construction accident or fall. A spinal cord injury involves a cut, bruise or some other type of trauma to the bones or nerves that are part of the spinal cord resulting in reduced function in some part of the body. There are many types of spinal cord injuries. The type of spinal cord injury and its severity will determine how much function the victim loses as a result of the injury. Regardless of the severity most victims of spinal cord injuries require treatment, miss work, and suffer financially as they have to face substantial medical bills while they are unable to go to work. However, New York law allows those who suffer spinal cord injuries due to the negligence of another person or entity to seek damages from that person. If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or entity, contact an experienced New York spinal injury lawyer who will review the facts of your case and explain to you the process for pursuing a personal injury claim in order to pursue compensation from those responsible for your injuries.

There are several different types of spinal cord injuries characterized by the part of the spinal cord affected, including:

• Anterior cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the front of the spinal cord, resulting in impaired movement, touch, pain, and temperature sensations below the point of injury.
• Central cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the center of the spinal cord, resulting in some movement in the legs and loss of function in the arms.
• Posterior cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the back of the spinal cord, resulting in poor coordination.
• Brown-Sequard syndrome is characterized by damage to one side of the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of movement on one side of the body.
• Paraplegia is caused by injuries to the thoracic area of the spinal cord. With paraplegia there is paralysis or weakness of the legs along with bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. In most cases, arms and hands are not affected.
• Quadriplegia is caused by cervical level injuries and causes paralysis or weakness in both the arms and legs

As an injury attorney can explain in detail, if you were injured in an accident or by an intentional act that resulted in a spinal cord injury, under New York law you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. With all types of spinal cord injuries, victims typically have significant medical bills. Such bills include not only emergency room and hospital bills related to treatment immediately after the accident, but also include what is often long-term rehabilitative care. In addition, because spinal cord injury victims often have to miss a great deal of work or are unable to return to work at all, victims have the right to sue for lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If your injury occurred at work, you are probably entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In order to avoid any delay in receiving the benefits, make sure you understand the filing procedures and timelines. If you feel that you have been unfairly denied workers’ compensation benefits, contact an attorney in New York for assistance.

If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident, slip and fall accident, construction accident, workplace accident or any other accident that resulted in a spinal injury, it is important that you are represented by an experienced attorney serving New York. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have years 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.