Personal Injury Lawsuit

There are many things we take for granted. The mountains in the west; the tide; the sun coming up; our next breath. All of these are taken for granted either because we’ve seen them or felt them so many times that they’re invisible to us now, or are just the way things are. But what if they were suddenly gone? What if the mountains crumbled, the tide never came in, the sun didn’t rise, or you stopped breathing. In many ways, this is what it might be like to suddenly have a serious spinal cord injury. One minute you can walk, just like you always have, the next you can’t feel your legs.

Spinal cord injuries can, and do, happen in a variety of situations. However, they are most common in auto accidents, truck accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and construction accidents. In addition, many spinal cord injuries are a result of diving accidents. They can occur on any part of the spinal cord, which runs from the brain stem to your coccyx. Any disruption of the nerves through bruising, pinching, or severing will result in a loss of the way to transmit signals and information from the brain to different parts of the body. This, of course, is determined by the location of the injury.

Segments

Your vertebrae are divided into five different segments. Each segment has a pair of corresponding nerves, and is named depending on their location.

• Cervical vertebrae – spinal nerves one through eight (C1 to C8) control the back of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and diaphragm

• Thoracic vertebrae – spinal nerves one through 12 (T1 to T12) control parts of the arms and the torso

• Lumbar vertebrae – spinal nerves one through five (L1 to L5) control the hips and legs

• Sacral vertebrae – spinal nerves one through five (S1 to S5) control the groin, parts of the legs, and toes

This is all fused together at the base of the spine, known as the coccygeal bone (commonly known as the tail bone).

Types of Injuries

If any of these nerves are injured, there is a chance that the part of the body that relies on them to function will be seriously harmed. There are two types of spinal cord injuries:

• Complete injury - Removes all function below the location of the injury. A person with this type of injure is unable to move the affected area and feels no sensation. Quadriplegia (paralysis of both arms and legs) and paraplegia (paralysis of the legs) may result from a complete injury

• Partial injury - Some movement and sensation is intact. One limb or side of the body may be affected while the other functions normally

Because the spinal nerves control more than movement, other bodily functions may be impaired, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Furthermore, these injuries may not show up for several months or years, and can be difficult to diagnose. Treatment for spinal cord injuries varies, and may be expensive.

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This confusion is typical of an injury in a public place. Whether you sustain an injury while shopping at malls and markets, browsing through libraries, or walking your dog in the park - you are entitled to public accident compensation. Never think, even for a minute, that your injury is completely your fault if it occurred in a public space. Every public area must meet certain safety regulations. If the people looking after the place have failed in that duty, it is their fault. And you should not be paying for it. Here are some tips to help further your public accident compensation claim:

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Trucks are involved in thousands of accidents each year, and the type of accidents involving trucks (semi-trucks, vans, dump trucks, fire trucks, and tractor trailers) can be very serious due to the size of the vehicles involved and the potential danger of what the truck may be carrying. As a result of the tremendous size and weight of these vehicles, collisions that involve trucks often cause serious injuries and fatalities to people in smaller passenger vehicles. Another significant difference between an auto accident and an accident involving a semi-truck or a tractor trailer is that the truck is usually owned by a company, either large or small.

The government has created more laws to make trucking safer and to reduce the risk of accidents, and trucking companies have increased safety procedures, training, and awareness for their trucking staff; however, due to the growing number of trucks on the road, the number of truck accidents has increased.

People involved in a truck accident could be eligible for compensation, and there are now many lawyers who are experienced in dealing with truck accident claims.

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident involving a truck, you should obtain the following information as soon as safely possible after the accident:

• A copy of the police report, including the report number and the name of the investigating officer(s)

• License plate number of all vehicles involved

• Any company names or identification information on the cab and trailer

• Driver information including name, driver’s license number, and insurance information

• Insurance information for the truck and trailer owner

• Length of skid marks if visible

• The condition of the truck’s tires

• Road conditions at the time of the accident

• Names and contact information of any witnesses

• Names and contact information of anyone taking pictures or questioning witnesses/participants

In addition to gathering the above information:

• Take photographs of all vehicles involved and of the scene of the accident (if possible)

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible

• Obtain a copy of your medical examination report

• Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible

You should also be aware of what not to do if involved in a truck accident:

• Do not make statements without first discussing the situation with an attorney. If asked to give a statement to police, only state specific facts. Do not state opinions or accept responsibility for the accident

• Do not sign anything other than the police report (after thoroughly reading it)

Federal laws that govern the trucking industry are different than automobile laws, and these differences drastically change the way an accident is handled. You need someone on your side that understands the complexity of trucking law and is prepared to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

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