Spinal Cord Injury Liability Law

Spinal cord trauma occurs when the spinal cord has been damaged. It may be a result of direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly as a result of damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels. Spinal cord trauma can be caused by any number of injuries to the spine. They can result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries (particularly diving into shallow water), industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, assault, and other causes.

A minor injury can cause trauma to the spinal cord if the spine is weakened from something like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis, or if the spinal canal that protects the spinal cord has become too narrow (a condition known as spinal stenosis) due to the normal process of aging.

Direct injury can occur to the spinal cord, particularly if the bones or the disks have been damaged. Fragments of bone (for example, from broken vertebrae) or fragments of other materials like wood or metal  can cut or damage the spinal cord.  Direct damage may also occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed. This may occur if the head, neck, or back are twisted abnormally during an accident or injury. Bleeding, fluid accumulation, and edema can occur inside the spinal cord or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). The accumulation of blood or fluid can compress the spinal cord and damage it.

Most spinal cord trauma happens to young, healthy individuals. Men ages 15-35 are most commonly affected. The death rate tends to be higher in young children with spinal injuries.

Older people with weakened spines (from osteoporosis) may be more likely to have a spinal cord injury.

Mueller Hillin specializes in Spinal Cord Injury cases in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Austin.