As the main support structure of your body, the spine endures a number of potentially dangerous movements every day, and almost any form of physical stress or impact can cause a serious injury.
The vertebrae in the spinal cord are separated by small discs, which act as shock absorbers to the spine. Any disc in the spine can rupture and cause pressure on the nerves in the spine, which is called a herniation. This happens when the disc bulges out of its normal shape and position.
A herniated disc most frequently occurs in the lower back or lumbar area, but can happen at any position in the spinal cord. Symptoms can include severe back pain, numbness or tingling in the legs or arms, and a general weakness of the lower extremities. Severe cases can result in permanent paralysis, known as quadriplegia (loss of use of all 4 limbs), or paraplegia, (loss of use of the legs).
The Denver injury lawyers at Rosenthal & Heymann caution anyone suffering a herniated disc to seek professional medical and legal advice. A serious back injury can have a long-term impact on your quality of life, and can even prevent you from continuing to work in support of your family.
Any sudden jarring, twisting or traumatic impact of the spinal cord can result in damage to a disc, and lead to severe pain and even disability. This type of injury is quite common as the result of an automobile or motorcycle accident, or a serious fall accident or work injury, and the effects can be debilitating.
Unfortunately, if you are taken to an emergency room following a car crash, the discovery of a herniated disc will not be detected by an x-ray, as discs do not visibly show up on an x-ray. Accident victims need either a CT scan or an MRI to discover an injury to a spinal disc. The key in discovering a herniated disc injury following a crash is the immediate use of these procedures.
Insurance companies representing the person who is responsible for the accident may attempt to delay your efforts to receive these diagnostic tests in an effort to deflect any responsibility by their client. At Rosenthal & Heymann, we work with a team of medical experts, neurosurgeons and rehabilitative therapists to help you attain the medial attention you need to properly diagnose a spinal cord injury, and we aggressively fight for your rights under the law.
A herniated disc injury can cause severe pain for an extended period of time following an accident, and can often forever impact a victim’s quality of life. In some cases, treating a herniated disc through surgery, physical therapy or steroid injections will not alleviate the chronic pain in the spine.
If you are involved in an accident and experience a herniated disc injury, there is a very high chance that a trial attorney for the insurance company representing the person who was responsible for the accident will attempt to discover whether you had a pre-existing spine injury, or any previous history of spinal column pain.
If it is determined that you did have any pre-existing spinal problems, a skilled disc injury attorney will explain to a jury the differences between any disc injuries incurred because of the accident, and those that may have been present prior to the crash.
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Spinal cord injuries: Causes and Statistics
• Vehicular accidents: 37%
• Violence: 28%
• Falls: 21%
• Sports-related: 6%
• Other: 8%
• Approximately 11,000 new injuries happen annually
• 82% of victims are male.
Source: SCI-Info Pages
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Recovering financial damages after a herniated disc injury accident involves not only obtaining compensation for your immediate injuries, such as medical treatment and hospital bills, but also for the effects of how the injury may impact your way of life in the future.
A herniated disc may result in your inability to return to work, and therefore greatly impact your ability to make a living and support your family.
If you have suffered a herniated disc injury involving a car, motorcycle, truck, ATV or slip and fall accident, or have suffered a back injury while on the job, the herniated disc injury attorneys at Rosenthal & Heymann are prepared to research your case and assist you with fighting for fair and reasonable compensation for your injuries.
We urge you to contact us immediately, and begin your journey to justice.
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