Orland Park Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyer

Skilled Lawyer Helping Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Orland Park, IL

Your spinal cord is an intricate bundle of nerves that sends and receives messages to and from the brain. Protected by 33 vertebrae bones and intervertebral cartilage discs, a healthy spinal cord is necessary for movement, support, posture, and feeling. Spinal cord damage is usually considered a catastrophic injury because it can lead to several life-changing impairments.

If your spinal cord injury is the result of someone else's negligence, you can likely collect compensation. Insurance companies will probably offer an unreasonably low settlement amount, hoping to minimize how much they must pay. Once you accept it, you cannot request more. When you work with the skilled personal injury attorney at the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will not let greedy insurers take advantage of you. Instead, we will use our considerable legal knowledge and negotiating skills to help you get as much compensation as possible for your damages.

Spinal Cord Damage in Accidents

While some spinal cord injuries lead to temporary impairments, others can leave victims completely and permanently paralyzed. Spinal cord damage typically occurs due to cuts, punctures, or forceful impacts. The victim's body above the point of injury may be unaffected, and catastrophic damage will typically be focused below the wound site.

Spinal cord injuries may be complete or incomplete. With an incomplete injury, the victim's spinal cord may still have limited functionality, allowing some movement, feeling, and function for the portion of the body under the injury. Complete injuries do not allow any nerve functions below the injury site, leaving the victim without any feeling or control of muscles and bodily functions.

Depending on the injury location and severity, impairments and their intensity can vary. Potential disorders include:

• Incontinence due to loss of bladder control
• Uncontrollable bowel functions
• Limited movement
• Partial or full paralysis
• Altered sensations, including losing total feeling
• Weakness
• Breathing difficulties
• Heart issues
• Loss of muscle control

The American Spinal Injury Association lists five classification levels for spinal cord injuries and associated impairments:

• Grade A: Complete, no sensory or motor function below the injury site
• Grade B: Incomplete, no motor function, but retained sensory function below the wound
• Grade C: Incomplete, limited motor function below the injured area
• Grade D: Incomplete, limited but higher motor function capabilities than Grade C
• Grade E: Normal functions

Back injuries may result in both legs being paralyzed, while neck injuries may affect the entire body. The worse a spinal cord injury is, the more the victim will likely need to make significant adjustments to their life afterward.

Adjustments After Spinal Cord Injuries

The changes victims may be forced to make typically depend on how severely their impairments affect them. People with Grade D injuries probably do not need to make as many adjustments as Grade A victims. Required alterations may include:

• Home renovations and different vehicles to accommodate disabilities
• Using a wheelchair to get around
• Assistance with bodily functions
• Physical therapy or rehabilitation
• Job retraining if the victim cannot perform the duties of their previous position
• Replacement services, which may include people running errands, cooking meals, cleaning homes, and performing other necessary tasks
• An inability to participate in physical intimacy with a spouse or partner
• Learning how to adapt to new limitations
• Coping with the emotional and psychological impact of an injury
• Living with frequent or constant nerve pain

The victim's family will likely have to make adjustments of their own. If the victim is no longer able to earn an income, the lost wages combined with enormous medical bills, care expenses, and other injury-related costs will likely create significant financial strain. When we can prove that your spinal cord injury has resulted from a personal injury, such as a car accident, truck accident, or fall, we will fight aggressively to help you get the highest possible amount of compensation to help make your burden a little easier to bear.

Contact Our Orland Park, IL Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

To get a satisfactory resolution to your spinal cord injury claim, you need a knowledgeable attorney who is determined to help you succeed. The Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. is located in Orland Park for your convenience, and we serve injury victims throughout the Chicago area, including DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties. We will bring all of our skills and legal knowledge to bear while safeguarding your best interests. Your consultation is free, so contact us now at 708-321-1223 to speak with our highly capable personal injury attorney. You will not owe us any fees unless we win your case.