Fort Wayne Spinal Injury Lawyer

Injuries that affect a person’s spinal cord have some of the most serious consequences for daily life. Depending on the area affected, victims could experience paralysis, loss of sensation, or limitations on functions that they rely on daily.

If you suffered a spinal injury as a result of some other person or entity’s negligent, reckless, or intentional behavior, you could file a lawsuit against them in a Fort Wayne court and recover compensation for your medical costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering, not to mention the possibility of additional punitive damages.

To learn more about your case and what Wruck Paupore can do for you, call our dedicated Fort Wayne spinal injury lawyers today for a free initial case assessment at (219) 322-1166.

Different Types of Spinal Injuries

No two spinal injuries are exactly alike. The average person is born with 33 individual bones in the spine, known as vertebrae. The spine can be broken down into four sections from top to bottom: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The location of the injured vertebrae, the medical history of the individual, and other external factors will determine what the injury will mean for the victim.

Cervical

Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the region of the spine between the head and shoulders. These are often the most severe form of spinal injury. Damage to the seven vertebrae in the cervical region could cause full or partial paralysis or limited to no sensation in areas of the body below the neck.

Thoracic

The spine's thoracic area is located in the upper and middle part of the back. The upper portion of the spinal cord is associated with the nerves that affect the upper chest and abdominal muscles, which are critical for breathing. The lower portion of the thoracic spine affects balance, posture, and the ability to cough. Thoracic spine injuries could result in leg paralysis, chronic pain, and incontinence issues.

Lumbar

The lumbar spinal cord consists of five vertebrae that carry the most body weight of any other section of the spine. These vertebrae are significantly larger and more durable, but these vital bones are still susceptible to damage. Injuries to the lumbar vertebrae could result in loss of bladder and bowel control and limited function of the hips and legs. Rehabilitation or management of these injuries often requires braces or the use of a wheelchair.

Sacral

The sacral area is the lowest on the spinal cord and is entirely contained within the pelvic region. Therefore, injuries to the sacral region often directly impact the hips and legs. These injuries are less likely to cause immobility but can still result in chronic pain and will likely require continued treatment, therapy, and monitoring to avoid subsequent aggravations or stress fractures. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to sacral injuries in slip and falls.

Compensation for Spinal Injuries in a Fort Wayne Lawsuit

If you suffer injury to your spine caused by some other person or entity’s negligence, you should know about your rights to pursue compensation through a lawsuit. If you have a valid personal injury claim, you could recover monetary damages based on the harms caused by your injury. This includes not only the financial harms but also the personal ones.

Economic Damages

Spinal injuries are serious not just because they will require extensive care and rehabilitation, but also because they restrict many critical abilities of those dealing with them.

In a lawsuit, damages will account for the immediate treatment of the injury, such as hospital and ambulance fees and surgeries, and the follow-up care, specialist attention, rehabilitative therapy, and modifications necessary for the victim’s house and vehicle. If the injuries result in permanent immobility, damages will also provide for the cost of nursing services as needed.

Spinal injuries are also more likely to prevent the victim from working than others, as they may affect any number of bodily functions. Even if the spinal injury does not immobilize the victim, the chronic pain and subsequent flare-ups can prohibit certain movement, lifting, and even sitting up straight for extended periods of time. These consequences may be temporary or permanent, but either way, economic damages will account for lost wages, a decrease in earning capacity, and other financial consequences related to the injury’s consequences.

Non-Economic Damages

Consequences of spinal injuries may mean more for the victim than just excessive medical costs and inability to work. These same limitations can affect a person’s quality of life. This is why Fort Wayne courts will provide additional compensation that is based on the victim’s chronic pain, damage to personal relationships, ability to participate in recreational activities, and enjoyment of life, among other theories.

Many spinal injury victims are not aware that these harms are compensable and will instead opt to accept a settlement agreement from the other party (or their insurance provider) that covers just their medical expenses. Estimating the value of the non-economic damages that you could potentially recover through a lawsuit is difficult without seasoned legal advice, so to get a reasoned estimate on what your entire case may be worth, we urge you to contact a dedicated Fort Wayne spinal injury attorney before taking any further action on your case.

Punitive Damages

Fort Wayne courts may award additional damages if warranted by the defendant’s particularly reckless or malicious behavior in certain circumstances. These are not necessarily always available, and not based on the victim’s actual harms. However, your Fort Wayne spinal injury lawyer will always assess your case for the possibility that you could obtain punitive damages, as they may be the most substantial portion of your potential damages award.

Wruck Paupore Can Help You Recover After a Fort Wayne Spinal Injury

If you recently suffered a spinal injury, we urge you to call (219) 322-1166 to get your free initial case assessment from the experienced Fort Wayne spinal injury lawyers at Wruck Paupore as soon as possible.