Free Consultation
Brockton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Fighting for personal injury victims for more than 35 years
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating injuries a person can suffer. Unfortunately, they are common in the United States. The spinal cord is an integral part of the central nervous system, working with the brain to coordinate our bodies’ posture, movements, and sensations. When spinal cords sustain damage, resulting conditions are often catastrophic. Paralysis, loss of sensation, and life-long pain are common consequences. At the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, our seasoned personal injury lawyers have the experience and resources to hold the people and businesses that cause spinal cord injuries accountable. Our Brockton spinal cord injury lawyers work with your doctors and life planners to obtain the compensation you deserve for all your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Free Consultation
How we can help
- What is a spinal cord injury?
- What types of accidents cause spinal cord injuries in Brockton?
- What are the different types of spinal cord injuries?
- How is a spinal cord injury diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for spinal cord injuries?
- What is the value of my spinal cord injury claim in Massachusetts?
- How much time do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Massachusetts?
- Do you have a spinal cord injury lawyer near me in Brockton, Massachusetts?
What is a spinal cord injury?
The spine, according to the Merck Manual, consists of 24 back bones (vertebrae) and the tailbone (sacrum). Cartilage disks between vertebrae help cushion and protect the bones. The spinal cord is encased in the spine. Your spinal cord “is a long, fragile tubelike structure that begins at the end of the brain stem and continues down to the lower part of the spine.” The spinal cord contains nerves that send and receive messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Injuries to the spine can affect “the bones of the spine, the spinal cord, or the roots of the spinal nerves.”
Spinal cord injuries cause damage or dysfunction due to blunt injuries (such as vehicle accidents or falls), partial or complete tears, pressure or swelling, or an accumulation of blood.
Spinal cord injuries also include fractures, dislocation of adjacent vertebrae, partial misalignment of adjacent vertebrae, ligament damage, and herniated disks.
In the most severe cases, spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis.
What types of accidents cause spinal cord injuries in Brockton?
At the Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we work with investigators, the police, building code officials, witnesses, and others to show how the accident that caused your spinal cord injuries (or the injuries of a loved one) occurred. Some of the common causes of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) include:
- Vehicle accidents. These Brockton accidents include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian collisions.
- Fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents, falls from heights, and other types of falls often occur due to property owners, construction site owners and contractors, manufacturers, and employers who fail to protect your safety.
- Medical malpractice. Incompetent surgeries, procedures, treatments, and diagnoses can cause a patient to suffer a spinal cord injury.
- Acts of violence. Acts of violence include assault, domestic abuse, nursing home abuse, and gunshot wounds.
- Recreational or sporting accidents. High-impact sports such as skiing, football, or ice hockey are especially dangerous.
We file personal injury claims against everyone responsible, including drivers, property owners, construction site owners, manufacturers, physicians, and others.
What are the different types of spinal cord injuries?
The symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the injury. According to Merck Manuals, SCI symptoms include tenderness, nerve malfunction, loss of muscle control, muscle spasms, and weakness.
Spinal cord injuries are classified by location and by severity according to the Cleveland Clinic:
By location
- Cervical spine. This section includes your neck from the bottom of your skull to about the same level as your shoulders.
- Thoracic spine: This section includes your upper back to just below your navel.
- Lumbar spine: This section is in your lower back.
- Sacral spine: This section contains nerve roots below your butt to your tailbone.
By severity
- Complete. Complete spinal cord injuries refer to injuries that result in the total loss of movement and sensation below the injury. These are often the most devastating types of spinal cord injuries.
- Incomplete. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are those in which messages between the brain and spinal cord are not completely lost. People with incomplete injuries often retain some movement and sensation below the site of their injury.
Paraplegia refers to an individual’s loss of movement and sensation in the lower parts of the body, like the chest, stomach, legs, hips, and feet. Tetraplegia or quadriplegia refers to a condition in which someone who has an injury or illness in the cervical spine loses the ability to move the arms, legs, or torso.
Complications
According to Merck, complications of spinal cord injuries include weakness, paralysis, or limited movement. Due to the reduced movement or inability to move, other possible complications include:
- Blood clots
- Pressure sores
- Muscles that are permanently shortened (contractures)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Pneumonia
Other complications include:
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- An increased risk of deep vein thrombosis
- Muscle spasms
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Dependence on caregivers
- Accessibility expenses for home modifications or mobility devices such as wheelchairs
- Increased risk of premature death
How is a spinal cord injury diagnosed?
Our Brockton spinal cord injury lawyers work with your doctors (and our own network of medical experts when necessary) to verify your injuries. In addition to an oral history and a complete physical examination, the diagnostic tests used for spinal cord damage include, according to Merck Manuals:
- X-rays to show if there are any fractures
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
Another diagnostic test is CT myelography, which is a CT scan done “after doctors inject a radiopaque dye into the space around the spinal cord.”
What are the treatments for spinal cord injuries?
Merck Manuals states that the following treatments for spinal cord injuries are common:
- Immobilization. Immobilization, especially of the Brockton accident victim’s neck, may be necessary to make sure the victim can breathe and to prevent more harm. Immobilization may include strapping the patient to a firmly padded board and using a rigid collar.
- Surgery to stabilize the spine when appropriate. Surgery is needed to remove blood and bone fragments if they have accumulated and are pressing on the spinal cord. Sometimes, a surgeon “implants steel rods to stabilize the spine so that it cannot move and cause additional injury.” Neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons may perform the surgery.
- Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation includes physical, occupational, vocational, psychological, and other forms of therapy.
Your doctors will likely prescribe various medications and muscle relaxants. Some experimental treatments may allow for regrowth in the spine.
“Recovery is more likely if paralysis is partial and if movement or sensation starts to return during the first week after the injury. If your function is not regained within 6 months, the loss is likely to be permanent. However, several studies have shown that some recovery is possible up to one year after injury.”
What is the value of my spinal cord injury claim in Massachusetts?
The attorneys at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Medical Expenses
- Long-term care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Losses in current income and potential future wages
- Loss of companionship or quality of life
- Wrongful death
How much time do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts’ statute of limitations imposes a three-year deadline on personal injury cases. This time limit begins on the date of the incident that caused your injury.
We recommend that you contact us immediately.
Do you have a spinal cord injury lawyer near me in Brockton, Massachusetts?
Yes. Our lawyers meet with SCI victims at our office located at 555 Pleasant Street, Brockton, MA 02301. We also speak with clients by phone and through online platforms. Since many spinal cord injury victims have difficulty moving, we can meet you at your home or at a healthcare facility if necessary.
We’re prepared to address all your concerns and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Speak with our Brockton spinal cord injury lawyers today
If you sustained a spinal cord injury in Brockton, The Law Offices of Gerald Noonan is ready to help you assert your rights. We have helped countless Massachusetts residents just like you obtain justice and the compensation they need to recover and move on. Call us today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.