Each year in the Los Angeles County and Orange County areas there are accidents that can inflict severe injury to the victim, or victim’s. One of the more serious types of injuries one can sustain is a spinal cord injury. Sudden force and trauma, such as an impact from a car, motorcycle or trucking accident or a fall from a high place, can exert serious damage to the neck, central spine or lower back. Even when these injuries are not completely disabling, they can be very painful. In addition to the physical pain associated with a spinal cord injury, victims can experience significant financial hardship due to the cost of healthcare costs, medical care and loss of income. Being the victim of something as serious as a spinal cord injury warrants the help of a skilled and experienced Orange County personal injury attorney.
The Cifarelli Law Firm, located in Irvine, California, provides skillful, client-focused representation on behalf of accident victims who have suffered all types of spinal cord injuries. We are Orange County personal injury lawyers and we seek full compensation for each and every client. Our primary focus is obtaining the financial resources needed to pay for needed medical care and rehabilitation services.
Spinal Cord Anatomy & Physiology
Cervical Spine Injury:Â The spinal column is comprised of different segments. One of those segments is the cervical spine, or C-Spine. The C-Spine is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae and they are numbered C1 through C-7. Injury to the C-Spine due to an accident can induce severe pain, suffering and diminished quality of life. If you have suffered a cervical spine injury due to the negligence of another it makes sense for you to speak with a skilled and experienced Orange County Personal Injury Attorney.
A cervical spine injury can occur during any accident that causes great force to the neck area upon impact. Damage and injury to the cervical spine can be minor, moderate and severe. These injuries commonly occur in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, slips and falls as well as premises liability accidents such as swimming pool and diving accidents.
Injuries to the C-spine can often lead to permanent impairment, nerve injury and loss of use of effected body part. In severe personal injury cases the victim may be paralyzed following the accident.
Lumbar Spine Injury:Â Being injured in an accident of any sort has the potential for serious, life altering consequences. A very serious type of injury is a spinal cord, or spinal column, injury. Car accident, truck accidents, slips and falls and many other types of accidents can induce injury to various segments of the spinal cord. One of these segments that is prone to injury is the lumbar spine, or L-Spine. The lumbar spine is the lowermost portion of the spinal column and has 5 vertebra: L1-L5. The lumbar spine and lumbar vertebrae innervate and regulate function of parts of the lower body and trunk. Injury to the lumbar spine can result in difficulty walking, controlling movement in the hips and possibly paralysis. If you, or a loved one, have suffered an injury to the lumbar spine area you should contact an Orange County Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer immediately.
Suffering a lumbar spine injury can impact your daily life forever. Unfortunately, many people never fully recover from a spinal cord injury. Injury to the lumbar vertebrae may effect:
- Your ability to walk
- The curvature of your spine
- Thigh flexion, adduction and abduction
- Extension of the leg at the hips
- Extension of the leg at the knees
- Flexion of the leg at the knees
- Flexion and extension of the toes
Sacrum Spine Injury:Â The sacrum spine, also referred to as the S-Spine, is made up of 5 vertebrae in human beings. The S-Spine innervates most muscles below the waist including the glutes, thigh muscles, calf muscles and toes. Injury to the S-Spine can result in loss of feeling, muscle control and sensation below the waist.
Thoracic Spine Injury: Every year people in California sustain spinal column injuries in accidents due to the carelessness, or negligence, of another person or business entity. One type of spinal cord injury is an injury to the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine, also known as the T-Spine, is located along the rib cage and it’s primary function is to control movement along the abdominal wall. The T-Spine also innervates the abdominal wall, hips, legs and reproductive organs. Suffering a T-Spine injury will impact your life forever as you may never fully heal or recover. You will need the help of a skilled Orange County personal injury attorney to help you recover losses that result from the injury.
The T-Spine is divided into 12 individual vertebrae: T1- T12. The severity of your injury is directly related to where on the T-Spine you suffered your injury. T-Spine injuries can result in the following:
- Poor abdominal wall muscle control
- Loss of sensation in hips and legs
- Paraplegia
- Loss of sexual function and sensation
Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are 2 classifications of spinal cord injuries; complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury involves complete loss of function below the effected area. An incomplete spinal cord injury involves only partial loss of function below the effected vertebrae.
Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
Our Orange County law firm has successfully represented clients in numerous spinal cord injury cases, ranging from herniated disks to paralysis. When you choose us to represent you, we will investigate the accident, learn about your medical needs in consultation with your doctor or other medical specialists and place a value on your losses and suffering. The Cifarelli Law Firm, will aggressively represent you in settlement negotiations or in court, seeking compensation for you.
Developing A Sound Life-Care Plan
In a case involving a serious spinal cord injury, we will retain the services of a life-care planner. This medical specialist will create a customized life-care plan that lists all of the medical care, rehabilitation services and personal services the injured person will need for the rest of his or her life. For example, it could specify the need for a wheelchair van, alterations to a home to accommodate the needs of the injured person, or residence in a long-term care facility. Our attorneys will then seek the financial resources needed to pay for that care and services, as well as compensation for all other economic and noneconomic losses.
Whether it involves paraplegia, accident-induced spinal stenosis or another type of spinal trauma injury, you can depend on The Cifarelli Law Firm, for skillful advocacy at all stages of the legal process.
Contact A Newport Beach Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
To learn about your legal options and how we can help you, contact The Cifarelli Law Firm. today! Call (949) 502-8600 or fill out and submit the consultation request form below. Our skilled attorneys represent clients in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and throughout the entire state of California.