Spinal Cord Injuries

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

Your spinal cord is made up of nerves and other soft tissue that extend from the base of the brain down to the waist. Your vertebrae–the stacked bones that make up the spine–protect the spinal cord, which is responsible for sending messages between the brain and all parts of the body.

A spinal cord injury is when a person suffers a sudden, traumatic blow that fractures, dislocates, crushes or compresses one or more of the vertebrae, damaging the spinal cord beneath. Bleeding, inflammation or fluid accumulation can cause additional damage over the following days or weeks.

The spinal cord itself is quite vulnerable to damage.  Absent the protection of the spinal column even a small ‘tap’ can cause permanent damage.

Spinal cord injuries are extremely serious physical traumas that can cause a complete loss of sensation and mobility in the limbs below the injury.

Other spinal cord injury symptoms include:

• Paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Brain damage
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty or inability to move arms or legs
• Numbness or tingling
• Unconsciousness
• Headaches or pain, pressure, stiffness in the back or neck

Car accidents, serious falls, assault, birth injury, medical malpractice and professional negligence can cause traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Spinal Cord Injuries Caused By Car Accidents

If the event of a car accident where you believe the injured person could be at risk of spinal cord damage, call 911 immediately for further instruction. Do not move the injured person unless they are in danger. Any movement could cause further damage.

A spinal cord injury as a result of a car accident must be reported to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) in order to receive rehabilitation and basic insurance benefits.

But before submitting an ICBC claim, speak to our spinal cord injury lawyers to learn your rights.

ICBC can be challenging to deal with – that’s additional stress you don’t need after your accident. Their priority is to close your case as soon as possible for the lowest amount of money. ICBC employees may pressure you or your loved one to sign statements or provide them with access to medical records that may be used to try to deny the claim or reduce the amount you are entitled to.

Brain & Injury Law (Collette Parsons Corrin) have decades of experience with ICBC claims. We can handle your ICBC claim on your behalf and build a strong case to get you the highest settlement possible. Meanwhile, our medical and professional support team will focus on getting you back to work or play sooner.

Spinal Cord Injuries Caused By Medical Malpractice or Professional Negligence

Spinal Cord injuries can occur in a medical malpractice context. One of Brain & Injury Law’s significant settlements occurred when a young man was taken to hospital after a significant trauma caused damage to his arm.  The hospital took initial spinal cord precautions but ‘missed’ the spinal fractures.  When the precautions were lifted and he was moved, permanent damage occurred.

Another relatively common “medical malpractice” spinal cord injury is Cauda Equina Syndrome (CAS).  Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. If cauda equina syndrome is not treated quickly, it can result in long term physical and neurological problems.

If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of a medical malpractice or professional negligence you can learn your rights by booking a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer at Collette Parsons Corrin: 604-662-7777.

Our seasoned personal injury lawyers can help you form a robust case, hold the negligent party responsible, and secure a settlement that lets you move on with your life.

How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Maximize Your Claim

Often ICBC or other insurance companies try to discourage litigation or occasionally settle directly with an injured patient, before the full extent of damage is revealed. But by investigating the case more thoroughly, a specialized spinal cord injury lawyer could significantly increase the value of your claim.

We also have a team of medical experts, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, life care planners and others who can offer valuable guidance and represent your case in court.

Spinal cord injury cases can be lengthy, expensive and complex. But with Collette Parsons Corrin, you don’t pay any upfront legal fees or expenses. We are only paid when we successfully resolve your claim through trial or settlement.

Act Fast on Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim

The Statute of Limitations is a law in Canada that places a time limit on when claims must be filed by. These time limits vary province-to-province and can change depending on the facts of your claim. If you miss your window, you may be unable to recover medical costs. To find out which time limit applies in your case, speak to a lawyer well versed in spinal cord injury law as soon as possible.