CHICAGO SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWYER
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Chicago Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), various back injuries accounted for 38.5% of all workplace injuries in 2016. In other words, there were 134,550 back injuries out of 349,050 total injuries in 2016. But back and spinal cord injuries can also happen from major car crashes, physical assaults, and more, often leaving victims with lifelong pain and disability. If you or someone you love is suffering from a spinal cord injury following an accident, you need an experienced spinal cord injury attorney from Curcio Law to fight for you. We prioritize every attorney-client relationship while fighting for your justice. Call us today at 312-321-1111 for a free consultation.
Common Types of Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
There are so many muscles, nerves, tendons, and vertebrae in your back that you could potentially injure. Listed below are the most common back and spinal injuries that you could sustain from a car accident, a fall, a sports accident, a work accident, etc.
Back Injuries
- Sprains are generally caused by torn or hyperextended ligaments.
- Strains are caused by muscle and tendon tears.
- Spasms are sudden, painful muscle contractions in your back. Many times, they can resolve quickly with at-home treatment.
For more information about whether or not you have grounds to file a claim for these injuries, call a Chicago back injury lawyer today.
Spine Injuries
- Herniated discs happen when the interior, soft material of a disc ruptures. When this happens, the herniation can press on surrounding spinal nerves which can cause major pain and tingling throughout the body. The types of pain and symptoms you feel will depend on the location of the herniated disc. For example, a C5/C6 injury can result in severe pain and tingling in the fingers, hands, and arms.
- Fractured vertebrae is basically when one of the bones in the spinal column cracks or collapses. The most common cause of this kind of spinal cord injury is osteoporosis, but sports injuries, falls, motor vehicle accidents, and other accidents can cause fractured vertebrae as well. One of the many long-term effects of fractured vertebrae is pain, which can lead to frequent doctor’s appointments and thousands of dollars in medical bills.
- Spondylolisthesis is a spinal cord injury that happens when one of the vertebrae moves out of place. Spondylolisthesis is generally a result of major accidents as well.
- Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve, which runs down the buttocks and one of the legs, is compressed by something else in the spinal cord. The main complaint with this spinal injury is burning and tingling pain down the back, buttocks, and one leg.
- Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal column narrows and compresses nearby nerves.
- Cauda equina syndrome often results from untreated spinal stenosis issues, but major accidents can cause it as well. This type of spinal injury happens when something compresses the bundle of cauda equina nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord. If not resolved quickly, this spinal cord injury can lead to permanent nerve damage and disability.
- Tetraplegia is also called quadriplegia. Basically, this condition paralyzes your torso and all four limbs. This is one of the most catastrophic injuries that someone can suffer from an accident.
- Paraplegia is another one of the most severe types of spinal cord injuries that someone can suffer from an accident. Those who suffer from this condition are generally paralyzed from the waist down. Be sure to contact a Chicago paralysis attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
A serious spinal cord injury is generally categorized as complete or incomplete. A complete injury means that the patient lost all feeling and motor function below the spinal cord injury. Meanwhile, incomplete spinal cord injuries mean that patients generally have some feeling and motor function below the injury. Incomplete injuries will vary in severity depending on the type of accident.
Common Causes of Back Injuries
There are multiple incidents that could cause a back or spinal cord injury, including:
- Sports accidents
- Slips and falls
- A motor vehicle accident
- A traumatic blow to the back
- Incorrectly lifting heavy objects
- Workplace accidents
- Physical assaults
- Pinched nerves
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Natural wear and tear of the back muscles and spine
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bulging discs
- Motorcycle accidents
- Birth injuries
- Medical malpractice
If you have suffered a back or spinal cord injury in one of these situations, be sure to contact a Chicago premises liability attorney, a Chicago motor vehicle accident attorney, a Chicago third party personnal injury claim lawyer, a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer, a Chicago birth injury lawyer, or a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer today.
Activities That Can Lead to Back Pain or Injuries
Some people are more at risk of back injuries than others either due to their health or lifestyle. The activities or risks listed below may lead to future back pain or injuries.
- Physically demanding jobs such as mining, manufacturing, electricity, and construction jobs
- Frequent heavy lifting
- Repetitive movements
- Frequent, intense exercising
- Being overweight
- Consistent slouching while sitting or standing
- Severe emotional distress which can worsen pre-existing muscle tension and back pain
- Smoking
- Lack of regular exercise
- Wearing high heels frequently
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Depending on the extent of your spinal cord damage, you may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Major back pain
- Burning or tingling down the back or legs
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Bladder or bowel incontinence
- Loss of sensation in the limbs and chest
- Difficulty moving the limbs
When Should I See a Doctor for a Spinal Cord Injury?
When a spine injury occurs, many patients may put off going to the doctor and instead try to treat their pain at home. You can certainly treat minor back injuries like sprains, strains, spasms, and muscle tension at home. But if you’re experiencing any of the following emergency symptoms from a spine injury, you need to seek medical care immediately.
- Unbearable pressure or pain in your neck and back
- Severe headache
- Partial paralysis anywhere in the body
- Sudden muscle weakness
- Numbness and tingling in the hands or feet
- Bladder or bowel incontinence
- Difficulty breathing after serious injuries
- An obviously twisted neck or back
- Difficulty walking or balancing
Tests and Scans for Spinal Cord Injuries
When seeking medical care for your spinal cord injury, the first thing your doctor will do is run some tests and scans. In most spinal cord injury cases, patients will generally undergo the following scans.
- X-ray: This scan is best for broken and fractured bones. An X-ray is the best can If your doctor suspects you have a vertebral fracture, a bone spur, or disc generation issues.
- CT Scan: A CT scan is essentially a more detailed version of an X-ray scan. CT scans can provide more details about spinal compression fractures and other spinal injuries than an X-ray. It also produces sharp images of bones, organs, muscles, and fat.
- MRI: With the use of powerful magnets, an MRI can create 3D images of anything in the body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can produce images of the spinal cord, spinal nerves, vertebral degeneration, and malignancies.
Worker’s Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Spinal cord injury victims whose injury occurred at work can recover damages via a worker’s compensation claim. If you file a spinal cord injury claim through worker’s comp, you will likely recover compensation for lost wages and medical costs associated with your injury. The only injuries that the Illinois Workers Compensation Act won’t cover are:
- Injuries that happened while an employee was committing a crime at work
- Self-inflicted injuries
- Injuries that happened while the employee wasn’t at work
- Injuries that happened while the employee was breaking company guidelines
Spinal Cord Injury Damages
Personal injury attorneys at Curcio Law can help you win two types of spinal cord injury compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are basically monetary losses incurred as a result of your accident. Some of the most common types of economic damages are:
- All present and future medical bills as a result of your spinal cord injury
- Present and future physical therapy and rehabilitation to manage the pain from your injury
- Lost wages
For more information about calculating lost wages or other types of spinal cord injury damages, be sure to speak with a Chicago personal injury attorney today.
Non-Economic Damages
Meanwhile, non-economic damages are those that don’t have a set financial value. Some of the most common non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of your daily life
- Loss of consortium
A Chicago emotional distress lawyer can show you how to calculate pain and suffering and other types of non-economic damages.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injuries in Illinois?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Illinois is two years. In other words, you have exactly two years from the day of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover financial compensation. A Chicago personal injury attorney at Curcio Law will ensure that you receive justice for your catastrophic injury.
How to Know if Your Spinal Cord Injury is Severe Enough to Hire Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers at Curcio Law
The spinal cord and the brain create your central nervous system, which provides proper function and movement to almost every other system in the body. If you sustain a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury from an accident, you could face long-term pain and disability. This is exactly why back injuries are so serious, and why Chicago spinal cord injury attorneys and Chicago traumatic brain injury attorneys at Curcio Law prioritize these types of claims. If a car or work accident creates crushing amounts of medical bills that you can’t pay for along with long-term severe injuries, then you need to call a Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer at Curcio & Casciato. We will fight for you to receive full and fair compensation for your pain and future medical expenses.
Call a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney at Curcio & Casciato Today
If you or someone you love is looking for strong spinal cord injury litigation, you need an experienced lawyer from Curcio & Casciato on your side. Our Chicago spinal cord injury attorneys will help you achieve just compensation. We have 60 years of combined experience in defending our clients in personal injury cases and so much more. Call us today at 312-321-1111 for a free consultation.
