The spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves that carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body, comprising part of the Central Nervous System (along with the brain). Spinal cord injury (SCI), or any injury that damages the spinal cord, can be devastating and have a serious impact on a person’s life. Approximately 450,000 people in the United States are living with some form of SCI, and there are unfortunately about 10,000 new cases each year. Automobile accidents are the most common cause of SCI, with violence and falls also being significant causes of this kind of injury.
SCI can result in a loss of function, such as mobility or feeling, or may even cause permanent disability or paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of the injury. Injuries resulting from SCI can be classified into two categories:
- Complete Injury: A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of injury (no voluntary movement or sensation), and both sides of the body are affected equally.
- Incomplete Injury: An incomplete injury means there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with this type of injury, for example, may have more functioning on one side of the body or be able to move one limb more than another.
Other effects of SCI can include:
- Dysfunction of the bowel or bladder;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Chronic pain;
- Low blood pressure; and
- Inability to breathe in very high injuries (injuries occurring at the top of the spine).
In a majority of spinal cord injury cases, the injury was likely caused by the negligence of another, such as in a motor vehicle accident or a hazard on another person’s property. The financial, physical, and emotional effects of SCI can be extremely distressing and negatively impact the victim’s life for a long time. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, the Illinois spinal cord injury lawyers with the Bradley Law Firm can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation on your SCI case.
