Traumatic Injury Attorneys in Philadelphia

There are number of different ways a person can suffer a spinal cord injury, which results in loss of sensation or function of the extremities. However, there are unique factors involved when the injury is due to trauma. Blunt trauma is defined as a spinal cord injury that results when a person strikes or is struck by an object in the back; penetrating trauma is usually the result of a sharp object that actually gores the spinal cord, such as a bullet or knife.

The immediate pain of spinal cord injuries that occur due to trauma is intense, and the long-term pain and suffering may range from mild to acute. Financially, there are sky-high medical bills for treating these types of injuries, at a time you may not be able to work and earn an income. The lawyers at Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, P.C. in Philadelphia have represented many clients in recovering compensation for their losses due to traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries generally fall into two different categories:

• Complete: When the injury is complete, the victim will have no functioning below the level of the spine where the injury occurs. In most cases, the spinal cord injury leads to permanent impairment of the affected areas.
• Incomplete: A victim of an incomplete spinal cord injury may have some feeling, movement, and/or functioning below the injury. Some of those that suffer from an incomplete injury do fully recover with proper rehabilitation.

Symptoms of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries

A traumatic spinal cord injury should not be confused with a disease or disorder that impacts the spine; rather, trauma is more intense and immediate in nature. When you experience blunt or penetrating trauma that results in a spinal cord injury, the symptoms may range from intense, shooting pain up the spine to a mere numbness. However, the specific symptoms will depend upon which section of the spine is impacted by the trauma.

• If the cervical spinal cord, the area that includes the neck, is damaged, the result could be paralysis of the limbs. When certain cervical vertebrae connected to the respiratory system are injured, the victim may suffer an inability to breathe.
• Further down the spine to the lumbar region, near the small of the back, the spinal cord is connected to leg muscles and functioning. Injuries to this area could result in paralysis of the lower body.
• The very lower region of the back is the sacral spine. If the vertebrae of the sacral spine are damaged, bowel and bladder functions are impacted. In addition, sexual function may be reduced.

A Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help

It is possible to obtain compensation for losses due to a traumatic spinal cord injury, but these types of lawsuits involve complex areas of Pennsylvania law and extremely in-depth medical issues. To ensure the best possible outcome, retain an attorney with specific experience in spinal cord injury cases. If you’ve suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury, please contact the Philadelphia offices of Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, P.C. Attorneys at Law. You can call us with questions or to discuss various options for pursuing your case.