On This Page
Experiencing a spinal cord injury is life-altering and can be overwhelming for both victims and their families. In Providence, those affected by such severe injuries require more than just standard legal assistance—they need the expertise of a Providence spinal cord injury lawyer who understands the complexities and nuances of spinal cord injury cases.
Knowing your rights and the necessary steps to protect your interests after suffering a spinal cord injury is crucial. Whether the injury resulted from a car accident, workplace incident, or medical malpractice, the aftermath involves navigating complex medical and legal landscapes. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, but securing this compensation requires a thorough understanding of both your legal rights and the intricate details of spinal cord injury claims.
Spinal cord injuries require a legal team with specific expertise. These cases are uniquely complex, involving extensive medical documentation, long-term care considerations, and substantial financial implications. Choosing a lawyer with experience in spinal cord injury cases in Providence ensures that you have the best possible representation tailored to the intricacies of your situation.
Why Choose Marasco & Nesselbush Providence Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers?
At Marasco & Nesselbush Personal Injury Lawyers, we have experience representing victims of spinal cord injuries in Providence. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to advocating for the rights of those affected by these catastrophic injuries. We bring a deep understanding of the medical, emotional, and financial challenges our clients face, and we are committed to providing compassionate and effective legal representation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact Marasco & Nesselbush LLP’s experienced Providence personal injury lawyers today. Our spinal cord injury attorneys can help you seek compensation for your losses and get the justice you deserve. We have offices in Providence, East Providence, Warwick, Woonsocket, and Wakefield, Rhode Island.
What Is A Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries that bruise or tear the spinal cord. They are a common cause of death and permanent disability in adults and children.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Occur?
Almost any accident can cause spinal cord injuries. However, the most common injuries happen when the neck or spine is compressed or bent. Common causes of spinal cord injuries in Providence, Rhode Island, include:
- Sports injuries
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Boating accidents
- Violent crime, including stabbing and gunshots
- Trampoline accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries, which usually result in cervical spinal cord injuries
Injured and not sure what your case is worth? Find out for free.
Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries fall into four main categories:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries happen to the seven vertebrae in your neck. They usually cause loss of function in the legs and arms, resulting in quadriplegia or paralysis of the trunk, arms, legs, hands, and pelvic organs.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries affect the 12 vertebrae of the chest. These injuries typically affect the legs and chest, resulting in paraplegia or paralysis of all or part of the legs, trunk, and pelvic organs.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries affect the vertebrae in the lower back between the pelvis and the thoracic vertebrae, where the ribs attach. These injuries usually cause some loss of function in the legs and hips.
- Sacral spinal cord injuries affect the sacral vertebrae, which extend from the pelvis to the end of the spine. Like lumbar spinal cord injuries, sacral spinal cord injuries generally cause some loss of function in the legs and hips.
Spinal Cord Injuries In Motor Vehicle Accidents
According to the latest statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) in the United States. In 2023, approximately 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the U.S., calculated using an annual incidence rate of 54 per 1 million population.
Steps to Take After a Spinal Cord Injury
Experiencing a spinal cord injury is overwhelming, and immediate action is crucial for both medical and legal reasons. Here’s a practical guide on what to do right after such an injury:
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
- If you or someone else has sustained a spinal cord injury, call 911 or local emergency services immediately.
- Unless there’s an immediate danger, avoid moving the injured person to prevent further damage to the spinal cord.
- Once at the hospital, follow all medical recommendations and treatments to stabilize the injury and begin the recovery process.
Document the Incident
- Note the time, location, and circumstances of the injury. If possible, take photos or videos of the scene.
- Collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the incident, as their accounts may be crucial later.
Notify Relevant Parties
- If the injury occurred at work, notify your employer as soon as possible to report the incident.
- Inform your health and, if applicable, auto or workers’ compensation insurance about the injury.
Seek Legal Advice
- Reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through your rights and the legal process.
- Keep all medical records, accident reports, and correspondence related to the injury, as these documents will be important for your case.
Plan for Long-Term Care
- Continue with recommended treatments and rehabilitation to support recovery.
- Discuss with your lawyer and medical providers about long-term care and financial needs arising from the injury.
Damages That Can Be Recovered in a Legal Action
Spinal cord injuries often have profound and lasting impacts on a person’s life. Victims may be entitled to various forms of compensation to help them manage these challenges. Here are the types of damages that can be recovered in a spinal cord injury case:
Medical Expenses
- Immediate Medical Costs: Compensation for emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, and hospital stays.
- Ongoing Medical Care: Coverage for future medical expenses, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any necessary modifications to your home or vehicle.
Lost Wages
- Current Lost Income: Reimbursement for wages lost due to inability to work during recovery.
- Future Earnings: Compensation for reduced earning capacity if the injury impacts your ability to work in the future.
Pain and Suffering
- Physical Pain: Damages for the physical pain and discomfort endured from the injury.
- Emotional Distress: Compensation for mental anguish, stress, and the emotional impact of the injury on your life.
Long-Term Care Costs
- Ongoing Assistance: Financial support for long-term care needs, such as in-home care or assisted living facilities.
- Adaptive Equipment: Funds for necessary equipment like wheelchairs, mobility aids, and home modifications.
Loss of Consortium
- Impact on Relationships: Compensation for the loss of companionship and support that the injured person’s family members experience.
- Family Member Claims: Potential damages awarded to spouses or close family members for the changes in their relationship due to the injury.
Punitive Damages
- Deterring Misconduct: In cases where the injury was caused by particularly reckless or malicious behavior, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.
Can Spinal Cord Injuries Cause Brain Damage?
Yes, a spinal cord injury can cause brain injury or damage. Recent University of Maryland School of Medicine research has shown that spinal cord injuries can cause sustained and widespread brain inflammation that leads to progressive loss of nerve cells, resulting in depression and cognitive problems such as memory loss. Spinal cord injury medications, such as opiates and antidepressants, can also cause concentration difficulty and fatigue.
How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Treated?
Immediately after the injury, medical professionals will immobilize the victim’s head to prevent movement.
The next steps depend on the following factors:
- Spinal cord injury type
- Severity and location of the spinal cord injury
- Patient’s overall health, age, and medical history
- How the patient responded to the initial treatment
- Patient’s preferences
- Spinal cord injury’s expected course
While there is currently no way to fix a bruised or damaged spinal cord, medical professionals can perform surgeries to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, release pressure from the affected area, stabilize fractured bones, and treat other injuries that may have been caused by the accident.
A typical course of treatment may include the following:
- A catheter for draining urine into a collection bag
- Medical treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU)
- A mechanical ventilator or breathing machine to help the patient breathe
- Medicines such as corticosteroids to minimize the swelling in the spinal cord
- A feeding tube to provide extra calories and nutrition
- Long-term hospitalization and rehabilitation to evaluate and monitor heart function, body temperature, bowel and bladder function, and nutritional health
Talk to a lawyer and get a free case evaluation today.
What Is the Recovery Time for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Recovery time depends on the spinal cord injury’s severity and location. If a spinal cord injury is severe and causes total paralysis, the patient may never recover from the injury. In other words, they will be paralyzed for the rest of their lives and will need to rely on assistive technology to support key bodily functions such as breathing and mobility. However, patients may recover from mild spinal cord injuries in the first six months after the accident. They may also make small improvements for the next one to two years.
Spinal Cord Injury Resources in Providence
A spinal cord injury is a life-altering event for a patient and their family. As such, if you or a loved one has been affected by a spinal cord injury, you should consider joining a spinal cord injury support group in Providence, Rhode Island, and surrounding areas.
Rhode Island Hospital
The Orthopedics Institute at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence “incorporates the expertise of physicians from several areas, including anesthesiology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and rheumatology.”
Spine specialists at the Orthopedics Institute treat:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis of the spine
- Spinal stenosis (heavy legs)
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal cord injury
- Scoliosis
- Osteoporosis
Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island
Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island is located north of Providence in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.
The hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury program is a “specialized inpatient rehabilitation program dedicated to providing expert and compassionate care for recovery after spinal cord injury.”
Program Focus
- Teaching adapted activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Managing bowel and bladder control
- Addressing social issues
- Improving psychological state
- Promoting a positive self-image
- Maximizing overall mobility, health, and independence
The Spinal Cord Injury program also emphasizes caregiver support, offering guidance and resources to the family and friends who play such an important role in their loved one’s recovery.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Spinal Cord Injury?
The compensation you can recover for your spinal cord injury will depend on several factors, such as the type of injury, the impact on your quality of life, and your estimated current and future medical bills.
Factors that Affect Compensation for Injury Victims
- The severity of your injury
- The impact of the injury on your life
- The degree of neurological impairment
- Your education history
- Your pre-injury employment history
- Your level of loss of enjoyment of life
Generally speaking, the more severe your injury, the more compensation you can recover. Serious injuries require ongoing medical treatment, and your attorney will fight tirelessly for the financial compensation to cover your medical costs.
A fatal spinal cord injury may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death claims are actions brought by an executor or qualifying administrator of the deceased, typically an immediate family member.
Book a free consultation with Marasco & Nesselbush’s Providence personal injury lawyers today to learn more about how much compensation you can recover.
Don’t walk away from your initial consultation without the answers to all your questions. It’s important to us that you’re confident in your choice of legal representation. Our top-rated legal team prioritizes the attorney-client relationship and strives to earn your trust throughout the legal process.
How Long Do I Have To File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Providence?
Time is of the essence if you have a spinal cord injury. Under Title 9, Ch. 1, Sec. 9-1-14 of the Rhode Island statutes, you usually have three years from the date of an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury to file your lawsuit. If you don’t file your case by the three-year deadline, the court may disregard it.
Call The Providence Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers At Marasco & Nesselbush For A Free Consultation!
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury in Providence, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Marasco & Nesselbush right away. Skilled in handling personal injury cases, tactful, and well-resourced, attorneys at our law firm will guide you through the entire process. We will also handle all case communication for you, so you won’t be coerced into accepting a paltry and unjust settlement offer from the defendant or self-serving insurance companies.
You can contact us by phone at (401) 264-8193, or by filling out our online contact form on our website, and a member of our team will contact you promptly to discuss your case.
Your free consultation with our Providence law office will be completely confidential.
Injured and not sure what your case is worth? Find out for free.
