A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord (the bundle of nerves housed within the spinal column, or “backbone,” that carries messages between the brain and body) that results in full or partial loss of motor control and sensation. Spinal cord injuries can leave victims paralyzed in the lower parts of the body (paraplegic) or in all four limbs (quadriplegic). Because the spinal cord is responsible for a range of bodily functions — like breathing, body temperature, bladder, and sexual functioning — accident victims can suffer a broad range of permanent and serious health problems.
While most spinal cord injuries occur because of a traumatic accident, an injury can also be caused by errors that occur during risky surgical procedures involving the back and the neck. In some of these cases, a spinal cord injury may have been avoidable, and the error might rise to the level of medical malpractice.
If you or a loved one has been a victim or a spinal cord injury due to malpractice, contact me today. I’m here to help.