You may be entitled to compensation if you sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident with a truck that wasn’t your fault. To pursue the full amount that may be yours, you need an attorney who will fight aggressively for you. Our legal team understands this is a difficult and painful time, and we will work to put your mind at ease. We have helped many people in similar situations and know the process well. Call the Dallas truck accident attorneys of The Benton Law Firm at (214) 777-7777 today to discuss your case with one of our attorneys.
What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) defines a spinal cord injury (SCI) as “damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body.” This may occur due to direct injury to the spinal cord or damage to body parts surrounding the spinal cord, such as vertebrae and soft tissue. Vehicular accidents are a leading cause of SCIs.
SCIs may cause changes in body function beginning below the location on the spinal cord where the injury was incurred. This may include things such as reduced strength, reduced sensation, and impacted body movement. On the less impactful end of the spectrum, an SCI may be relatively mild and temporary. On the extreme end, an SCI may be severe and permanent, resulting in paralysis.
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury
SCI symptoms vary based on the injury is seriousness, which may be classified as complete or incomplete. This classification refers to the remaining ability of the spinal cord to transmit messages between the body and the brain.
In a complete SCI, there is no transmission between nerves, resulting in loss of voluntary movement below the location of the spinal cord where the injury happened. In an incomplete SCI, there is still some transmission between nerves, though this communication may be impaired. Symptoms may include:
- Loss of voluntary movement of body parts
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Chronic pain along the spinal cord, especially in the back, neck, or head
- Paralysis
- Reduced sensation in limbs, including tingling or numbness
- Impacts the ability to breathe
- Dysfunction of the bladder and bowel
If any of these symptoms occur, the victim should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Medical Treatment
Diagnosis of an SCI involves medical examinations and tests, such as CT scans, MRI scans, and X-rays. The level of treatment required will depend on the severity of the SCI and the location of the spinal cord where the injury occurred. Treatment may involve surgery to decompress the spinal cord or to stabilize the spine. Surgery may provide a more favorable prognosis for long-term quality of life by preventing further injury from chronic conditions.
Ongoing treatment may also be required, including physical therapy, prescription medication, and regular monitoring by specialists. An SCI can impact the victim and their family for many years, resulting in staggering medical costs. If you are the victim of an SCI due to an accident that was not your fault, you should not have to bear the burden of paying for these medical costs. The Benton Law Firm is here to battle for you and the compensation that may be legally yours.
Determining Who Is at Fault
Your attorney must prove who is responsible for the accident that caused your injury. In the case of a truck accident, the driver must act safely. If the driver does not uphold that duty, their failure to act safely may cause you harm. Your legal team will gather all the evidence and build a case to show who caused the accident. This will involve proving that the responsible party’s negligence directly caused your injury.
In building your case, your attorney will obtain and analyze much evidence surrounding the accident. It’s critical that the evidence gathering begins early because there are time-sensitive elements, such as testing for drugs and alcohol. You need a legal team who knows what details may be required and which specific documentation will be crucial in your case. These may include reports from police and eyewitnesses, physical evidence, photos and videos from the scene, truck loading tickets, vehicle inspections, and truck driver hours-of-service logs.
Compensation
A spinal cord injury caused by a truck accident can completely change your life overnight. Daily tasks that were once easy might now seem nearly impossible to do. On top of that, you may see your medical bills continue to pile and not know how they will be paid. The strain on you and your family may seem too much to bear.
If another party is responsible for the accident, you may be entitled to compensation in the form of damages. “Damages” refers to a monetary amount awarded to the person injured to pay for losses and expenses they incurred due to the accident. These may include both past costs as well as future costs. An award of damages may include compensation for the following:
- Lost wages
- Reduced ability to earn income
- Medical bills
- Future medical care, which may include costs such as expensive prescriptions, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress
Call The Benton Law Firm Now
If you are the victim of a spinal cord injury resulting from a Dallas area truck accident that was not your fault, you need an experienced lawyer. You will have the strongest possible case by choosing a legal team with a successful history of demonstrated wins.
The attorneys at The Benton Law Firm have been through this process many times and have helped numerous satisfied clients. We are here to fight for individuals like yourself who have been hurt due to someone else’s actions. Call The Benton Law Firm today to discuss your case and learn about your options. We will take the reins for you so that you can focus on your recovery as you rebuild your life.