Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog

Back pain, stiffness and soreness after an auto accident could be the sign of more severe damage. Disc injuries are some of the most common after auto accidents, slip and falls and other unforeseen incidents. The discs are the support cushions between the vertebrae of the spinal bone, so injuries to them can cause severe and chronic pain, even paralysis.

When a disc in your back is ruptured or herniated (bulging out of place), the soft center of the disc pokes through a weak spot in the fibrous outer layer. This, in turn, can cause painful pressure on nearby nerve endings. If you've been injured and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor right away:

- Sudden backache
- Sudden neck pain
- Unable to straighten up without extreme pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness in one or both arms
- Pain in the legs
- Bladder problems

Anytime you've experienced an injury, you must see a doctor and have tests administered to find out what's causing you pain. A doctor will likely run one or more tests to examine your back, including: x-rays, CT scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), electromyography, myelography or discography. The results will likely show if discs are out of place or if any other damage has occurred.

Some injuries take a while to present symptoms or they may be so gradual that you just learn to live with the pain. However, a personal injury attorney can fight for your rights to get you compensation for your injuries if they have been caused by someone else's neglect or willful action. Never wait to see a doctor - get a medical opinion immediately so that you don't risk making the injury worse.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, 41.3% of all spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the United States since 2005 were caused as the result of motor vehicle accidents. The center cites that 57.5% of people who were victims of these accidents were employed at the time of their injury. After a year of recovery, only 11.6% of those people were still employed.

The severity of spinal cord injuries often takes a heavy toll on quality of life for many victims. Not only is the ability to work drastically reduced or even eliminated, but earning potential is also greatly affected, even after victims return to work. The study found that 20 years after spinal cord injury, more than 20% of victims were permanently unable to return to work.

Especially for older workers, single parents and people who are financially responsible for minors or dependants, SCI can be devastating both physically and financially. That's why it's so important to hire a lawyer to represent you if you've been injured due to someone else's negligence on the road or anywhere else. Slip and falls, workplace injuries and product defects can all cause spinal cord injuries and responsible parties are legally obligated to pay for your medical expenses and other costs when you've been hurt.

Hiring a lawyer in Modesto for your personal injury case is an absolute necessity after a traumatic injury like SCI. The insurance companies have lawyers working hard on their side to deny you benefits, so it's vital that you have a professional legal representative to fight for your rights. Remember, pursuing damages for your injury is your entitlement under the law.

Currently, there are approximately 450,000 Americans living with spinal cord injuries. Every year, there are about 10,000 new cases across the United States. The vast majority of these injuries (82%) affect male patients between the ages of 16 and 30. Spinal cord injuries can cause either quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down) or paraplegia (paralysis from the waist down). Quadriplegia is actually slightly more common than paraplegia, according to SpinalInjury.net.

The spinal cord does not have to be completely severed in order for paralysis or at least some loss of function to take place. Most people with these types of injuries actually have intact cords, but suffer from damage severe enough to affect functionality. Spinal cord injuries are classified into two types: complete and incomplete. With complete spinal cord injuries, there is no voluntary movement or sensation below the level of the injury on either side of the body. With incomplete injuries, there may be some functionality below the level of the injury, and there may also be more movement in one limb over the other. Sensation may also be present.

Spinal cord injuries typically occur as the result of physical injury during traumatic events. 36% of spinal cord injuries are the result of motor vehicle accidents, 28.9% result from violence and 21.2% occur as the result of falls. Since these types of events are often caused by willful acts or negligence, they are usually prosecutable. Intentional acts must be tried in criminal courts, but personal injury attorneys can try spinal cord injuries as a result of negligence in civil courts to recover damages.

If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of negligence on the part of an individual or a corporation, you must take legal action. Spinal cord injuries can be extremely challenging and expensive, as they often require costly medical care and supplies needed for the remainder of life.