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Raleigh Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Skilled Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Serving Raleigh, NC
Why Choose Our Raleigh Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?
- We have recovered more than $500 million for injured clients in North Carolina.
- As a former insurance adjuster and attorney, our firm’s founder Carl Nagle can bring a unique perspective to your case and how to obtain the most favorable outcome.
- We understand the significant impact a spinal cord injury can have on your life and work with the best doctors in the state to ensure you recover fair compensation.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) consists of damage to the spinal cord that results in an extremely painful fracture or dislocated vertebrae. SCIs range in severity, mainly depending on the location of the injury, and the level of damage to the spine. In catastrophic cases, victims suffer a complete loss of function or feeling below the point of the injury. Therefore, the higher the damage on the vertebrae, the more severe the paralysis.
Other types of SCIs, such as bulging or herniated discs, may not result in paralysis. However, they can decrease an individual’s mobility and range of motion as well as cause ongoing tingling or numbness in the extremities. To alleviate symptoms, victims may require treatment such as physical therapy, injections, or as a last resort, surgery. Unfortunately, even with sufficient medical care, victims may be in chronic pain and never wholly recover to the state they were in before the accident.
Why You Need a Raleigh Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injuries can affect every aspect of your life. You may be unable to work, care for your family, or manage everyday tasks. All of which can be incredibly stressful, physically, emotionally, and financially. With so much on the line, it is crucial to get help from an experienced and trusted SCI lawyer. They will ensure you recover the amount of compensation you need to remain financially secure now and in the future, since SCIs can result in considerable losses, such as:
- Current and future medical treatment, including rehabilitation and in-home care if necessary;
- Present and future lost income;
- Diminished earning capacity (if you must change your line of work)
- Property damage (if applicable);
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress, and more.
How much your case is worth depends on various factors, such as the severity of your injury and the impact it has on your life. Calculating its value is often challenging since SCIs typically require a lifetime of care. An attorney will consult expert witnesses, such as a forensic accountant and a medical expert, to estimate future losses and how much you are entitled to.
Major Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The most common causes of back and spinal cord injuries in the U.S. are:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The number one cause of back and spinal cord injuries is car and motorcycle accidents. They account for nearly half of all spine injuries each year. They can arise from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, rideshare accidents, or truck accidents.
Falls
Falls are responsible for over 15 percent of back and spinal injuries. People over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of suffering a spinal cord injury from a fall. Other common fall accidents occur at places of work, such as construction sites, or other unsafe premises.
Acts of Violence
Intentional violence is the cause of approximately 12 percent of all back and spine injuries, which typically involve a stab or gunshot wound.
Sports and Recreational Activities
Impact sports, such as football or hockey, cause around 10 percent of back and spinal injuries.
Common Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two types of spinal cord injuries, complete and incomplete, and the section impacted determines the severity:
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Permanent damage to the spinal cord that results in total loss of motor or sensory function below the level of injury. Common types of complete SCIs include:
- Paraplegia: Thoracic or Lumbar Vertebrae Injury
Upper extremity function is typically normal, and the victim
is impaired below the waist. Where the impairment begins
depends on how low the injury is on the spine. It may be
possible to walk short distances with braces or a walker.
- High Tetraplegia: C1-C4 Vertebrae Injury
Total body paralysis from the neck down. Incontinence may
occur, and victims may require assistance for breathing. The
severity of this injury can cause dependence on others for
basic needs.
- Low Tetraplegia: C5-C8 Vertebrae Injury
Can lead to limited mobility of the shoulder, elbow, and hand. Victims may
be unable to walk and need assistance with self-care. Breathing is typically
unaffected.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Partial damage to the spinal cord, resulting in some loss of mobility and feeling below the primary level of injury. Victims may be able to regain some functioning back as late as 18 months after the injury occurred.
The Short and Long Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
From the agonizing pain to the unanticipated amount of medical bills, a victim’s quality of life can drastically change following an SCI. To understand why and how much compensation you must seek for your injury, it is important to understand the potential short and long-term financial impact.
The table below demonstrates the average annual and lifetime costs of living with a spinal cord injury based on the age when the trauma occurred.
| Injury Severity | Average Yearly Expenses
First Year |
Average Yearly Expenses
Each Subsequent Year |
Lifetime Costs
25 Years Old |
Lifetime Costs
50 Years Old |
| High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) AIS ABC | $1,163,425 | $202,032 | $5,162,152 | $2,837,031 |
| Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8) AIS ABC | $840,676 | $123,938 | $3,771,791 | $2,319,988 |
| Paraplegia AIS ABC | $567,011 | $75,112 | $2,524,270 | $1,656,602 |
| Motor functional at Any Level AIS D | $379,698 | $46,119 | $1,724,594 | $1,217,266 |
These figures are courtesy of NSCISC and estimated based on the amount of medical care SCI victims require and their living expenses. They do not include additional injury-related costs, such as lost wages, employee benefits, and productivity. The NSCISC reports that these other costs add up to over $78,000 per year on average for victims.
Our Raleigh Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer is Here For You
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident in Raleigh, contact Nagle & Associates, P.A. Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers will help you obtain the compensation you and your family deserve. Call (919) 433-0035 for a free consultation today.