Michigan Spinal Injury Attorney

Michigan Spine Injury Law Firm Aggressively Pursues Compensation for Clients Injured in Devastating Personal Injury Accidents

You may never walk again. You are unable to work and support your family. You cannot play with your kids or help them with school projects. You need assistance with the most basic tasks of everyday life, from eating to bathing to using the restroom. In the blink of an eye, a spinal cord injury can make all these challenges your new reality. 

Most spinal injuries occur because of incidents involving another person’s negligence: car accidents, slips and falls, acts of violence, or medical malpractice. The damage that follows in the wake of catastrophic spinal cord injuries is almost limitless. Victims can become mere shadows of their former selves, while their loved ones’ lives are consumed with assisting and attending to them.

Individuals and families who struggle with spinal injuries do not have to endure the ordeal on their own. They should not bear the burden of astronomical medical costs and ongoing care and treatment. Those who caused such pain should be held accountable. That is precisely what the personal injury lawyers at Sommers Schwartz do for spinal cord injury victims and their families. We use our experience, advocacy skills, and commitment to fight for our clients and get them the compensation and resources they need to move forward with their lives. 

Spinal Cord Injuries Shatter the Lives of Tens of Thousands of People Each Year 

Devastating spinal cord injuries change the lives of tens of thousands of people each year. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports:

• There are approximately 17,800 new spinal cord injuries in the U.S. every year.
• Approximately 294,000 Americans are currently living with a spinal cord injury.
• The average life expectancy for a spinal cord injury victim is significantly shorter than one without such injuries. 

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis 

The spinal cord is essential to most of our physical movements. It allows our brain to communicate with the rest of the body. When a spinal cord is injured or breaks, the parts of the body controlled by the affected area can stop functioning, causing permanent disability or paralysis. 

To determine the extent of paralysis, doctors assess the nature and location of the underlying spinal damage, which can take the following forms: 

• Paraplegia — paralysis of both legs
• Quadriplegia — paralysis of both arms and both legs
• Hemiplegia — paralysis on one side of the body
• Facial Paralysis — paralysis of the facial muscles 

Even if paralysis does not occur, a spinal injury can cause other long-term problems. For example, immediately after a collision, car accident victims frequently experience whiplash when the head suddenly jerks backward and forward. The abrupt motion can injure the spine, discs between vertebrae, muscles, nerves, and tissues in the neck. Depending on the severity of the damage, victims may experience headaches, nerve pain, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and general irritability.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

While not all spinal injuries are someone else’s fault, many do involve the negligence or intentional misconduct of others. A reckless or intoxicated driver runs a red light and T-bones a car. A property owner ignores a hazardous condition on their property, causing someone to trip and fall. A person pulls a trigger and lodges a bullet in someone’s back. 

According to the NSCISC, automobile accidents are by far the largest single cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for 38.6 percent of reported cases. Next are slips and falls (32.2 percent), acts of violence (14.0 percent), and sports and recreational injuries (7.4 percent). 

Medical Mistakes That Lead to Paralysis

Mistakes by healthcare providers can also cause life-changing spinal cord damage and paralysis. Approximately 4.2 percent of spinal injuries result from medical or surgical errors, according to NSCISC statistics. Almost all of these mistakes can be avoided if healthcare professionals follow the proper and appropriate standards of care. 

Some of the most common types of medical malpractice that can cause spinal injuries include:

• Spinal or back surgery errors, such as performing an inappropriate and non-indicated procedure, operating on the wrong vertebrae, or incorrectly placing screws, rods, or other equipment. 
• Chiropractic mistakes, such as using too much force to manipulate the neck or back.
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose conditions that can progress and result in paralysis.  
• Labor and delivery errors, such as misusing forceps or applying too much pressure and force during delivery which can damage a group of nerves called the brachial plexus, causing the infant to lose functionality in the upper body. 

Astronomical Costs and Challenges Associated With Spinal Injuries

For someone who experiences a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia, the NSCISC estimates that the average annual cost of care and treatment is $560,287 in the first year and $74,221 every year after that. But not all of the costs of a spinal injury can be measured in dollars. The intangible costs include the person’s struggles of day-to-day living, the family who must spend their time caring for their loved one, and the emotional and psychological trauma that comes with lives forever changed. 

When the lawyers at Sommers Schwartz represent an individual with a spinal cord injury, we understand and account for all their pain, suffering, and difficulties. We carefully and thoughtfully build the strongest case to demonstrate the full extent of victims’ and families’ economic and non-economic losses. We know how much our clients count on us to get them the help and justice they need, and we are steadfast in our commitment to do everything possible to get them the maximum compensation available.  

Contact Sommers Schwartz Today to Discuss How We Can Help You Move Forward After a Spinal Injury

Sommers Schwartz’s team of compassionate and dedicated advocates know our spinal cord injury clients come to us during one of the most trying ordeals they will ever endure. When you meet with us to discuss your case, you can expect us to treat you with respect, sensitivity, and care. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and address your concerns. Together, we will forge a path that gets you and your family through the challenges you face so you can build a brighter, hope-filled future. 

Call Sommers Schwartz today at (800) 783-0989 to schedule your free initial consultation.