Spinal Cord Injury Liability Law

Spinal cord injuries cause myelopathy or damage to nerve roots or myelinated fiber tracts that carry signals to and from the brain. Depending on its classification and severity, this type of traumatic injury could also damage the gray matter in the central part of the cord, causing segmental losses of interneurons and motorneurons.

The consequences of a spinal cord injury may vary depending on the type, level, and severity of injury, but can be classified into two general categories: complete injury and incomplete injury.

In a complete injury, function below the “neurological” level is lost. Absence of motor and sensory function below a specific spinal level is considered a “complete injury.” Recent evidence suggests that less than five percent of people with complete spinal cord injuries recover locomotion.

In an incomplete injury, some sensation and/or movement below the level of the injury is retained. The lowest spinal segment in humans is located at vertebral levels S4-5, corresponding to the anal sphincter and peri-anal sensation. The ability to contract the anal sphincter voluntarily or to feel peri-anal pinprick or touch, the injury is considered to be “incomplete.” Recent evidence suggests that over ninety-five percent of people with incomplete spinal cord injuries recover some locomotor function.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you may interested in seeking legal counsel. Mueller Hillin specializes in Spinal Cord Injury cases in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Austin.