Amarillo Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spine Injury Claims in Texas

A spinal cord injury is one of the most catastrophic injuries a person can experience. Injuries to the spine often result in serious, long-lasting effects, including paralysis, chronic pain, nerve damage, and other life-altering complications. Victims are likely to experience significant physical and emotional challenges, not to mention immense financial hardships, as a result of their injuries.

At Wood Law Firm, LLP, we proudly represent individuals from across Texas who have suffered serious injuries and damages due to the negligence of another person or party. If you or someone you love sustained a spine injury in an accident or because someone else was careless or reckless, our Amarillo spinal cord injury lawyers can help you fight for justice.

By filing a personal injury claim, you could recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Contact us today at (806) 304-0447 to learn more about how we can help you during a free, no-obligation consultation. 

Symptoms of a Spine Injury

Both incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries are incredibly serious and require immediate professional medical attention. An incomplete spine injury can have numerous negative effects, such as severe pain and partial loss of movement and function below the point of injury, while a complete spinal cord injury may result in paraplegia or quadriplegia/tetraplegia.

Some of the most common indicators that a person has sustained a spinal cord injury include:

• Loss of movement (paralysis)
• Loss of sensation/feeling
• Exaggerated reflexes/spasming
• Intense pain, often categorized as a “stinging” sensation
• Loss of bladder/bowel control
• Difficulty breathing
• Numbness or tingling
• Severe pain/pressure in the head, neck, or back
• Odd positioning of the head, neck, back, or limbs

Call 911 if you suspect that you or anyone else has suffered a spinal cord injury. Do not attempt to move anyone who has an apparent head, neck, or back injury, as this can cause greater damage and injury.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

According to the Mayo Clinic, the leading causes of spinal cord injury in the United States are: 

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, motorcycle, truck, and other motor vehicle accidents account for more than 50% of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. each year.
• Falls: Falls, including slip and fall accidents and falls from heights, account for 31% of all spinal cord injuries in the U.S. annually and are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in those over the age of 65.
• Violence: Acts of violence, such as shootings, stabbings, and assaults, are the cause of 13% of all spinal cord injuries in the U.S.
• Sports Accidents: Sports- and recreation-related accidents, including diving accidents, account for 10% of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. every year.
• Falling Objects: Objects that are heavy or that are dropped from a great height can cause considerable damage on impact. Falling objects can cause brain and spinal injuries. Pedestrians passing construction sites, construction workers and others working in similar environments are at the greatest risk of these types of injuries.

Additionally, the Mayo Clinic also notes that alcohol is a factor in approximately 25% of all spinal cord injuries, and various diseases and health conditions also contribute to a significant number of spine injuries in the U.S. each year.

Liability in Spine Injury Cases

The vast majority of spinal cord injuries in the United States occur due to entirely preventable incidents. Whether they were injured in an accident or due to the wrongful actions of another, victims are entitled to seek compensation.

To have grounds for a spinal cord injury case, you must be able to prove the following:

• Another person/party owed you a duty of care
• The other person/party breached the duty of care
• You were injured and suffered damages
• The breach of the duty of care was the proximate cause of your injuries/damages

In most cases, proving liability involves proving negligence (or wrongful conduct, in the case of violence). This might include proving that another caused an accident because they were drunk or distracted or that a property owner failed to remove or warn of a dangerous condition that caused you to slip and fall.