According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, about 17,700 people receive a spinal cord injury each year in the United States. Sustaining a spinal cord injury is a serious event that can drastically alter the course of your life. The injury may require full-time, lifelong medical care. As a victim of a spinal cord injury, you may suffer from the financial burdens of expensive medical bills and lost wages. If you have received a spinal cord injury in the state of South Carolina, our team at Nye Law Group is here to help.
If your injury was the result of the negligence of another party, you may have the grounds to make a liability lawsuit. Hiring a lawyer who is well-versed in South Carolina’s personal injury laws is the best way to ensure that you make the strongest case possible for yourself.
Spinal Cord Injury in South Carolina
There are different types of spinal cord injuries. Your spine has four different sections. These are the cervical, sacral, lumbar, and thoracic regions. Spinal cord injuries are differentiated by the area that was injured. Depending on the type of injury, the outcome might be long-term pain, partial loss of movement and feeling, or complete paralysis. When it is the lumbar or sacral region that is injured, it usually results in the weakening of the legs and the lower part of the body. This is known as paraplegia. Quadriplegia results in weakening of the arms and legs.
When the part of the body below the injury loses all motor skills and sensation, it is known as a complete spinal injury (CSI). If an individual suffers an incomplete spinal injury, he or she still has the ability to move the area below the injury and some sense of feeling remains.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury
Anterior Cord Syndrome: The motor and sensory pathways in the anterior part of the spine are affected. Some sensation may remain, but the individual cannot move the damaged area.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome: Only one side of the spinal cord is affected. This has an effect on the other side of the body, due to the way that nerve pathways move in the body.
Central Cord Syndrome: Central cord syndrome occurs when the nerve fibers running from the brain to the spinal cord are damaged. This can lead to paralyzed hands and arms, but not legs and feet.
Possible Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are many different incidents that may result in a spinal cord injury. These include:
- Automobile accidents
- Injuries at the Workplace
- Falls
- Product Malfunctions
- Sports Injuries
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
These are some of the common symptoms that may accompany a spinal cord injury:
- Loss of mobility
- Loss of feeling
- Spasms
- Lack of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain and numbness
- Weakness in muscles
South Carolina Spinal Cord Lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered from a spinal cord injury, you have the opportunity to seek legal compensation. Our expert team of lawyers at the Nye Law Group have the knowledge and skills to assist you during this trying time. Contact us at (912) 200-5230 to find out more about what options are available to you.