SPINAL CORD INJURY

SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWYER ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque spinal cord injury attorneys at Caruso Law Offices, PC in New Mexico, provide personal injury legal services for accident victims who have suffered injuries as a result of accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. Spinal cord injuries can occur in these accidents, meaning the victim will most likely need professional care for the rest of their life. Anybody who has suffered from a spinal injury deserves the utmost sympathy and dedicated Albuquerque Spinal cord injury attorney to fight for the very best compensation package.

If your spine has been injured in an accident, contact our Albuquerque personal injury lawyers at the earliest opportunity. If you cannot get to our offices in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, we can arrange to visit you in a hospital or at your own home. Our Albuquerque spinal cord injury lawyer will discuss the details of your accident confidentially and at no cost to you. We will give you an honest opinion of your chances of making a successful personal injury claim against the person who caused your injuries.

Causes, Liability, and Damages for Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the most devastating and disruptive types of personal injuries is a spinal cord injury.  Also known as a SCI, a spinal cord injury after a motor vehicle accident can be debilitating and permanent.  According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), each year there are almost 18,000 new cases of SCIs in the United States.  Other statistics reveal that there is an average of 294,000 individuals with SCIs living in the United States, with estimates going as high as 368,000 individuals.  Both sets of statistics reveal that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States.  If you or a loved one suffered any type of serious, catastrophic, disabling, or permanent spinal cord injuries, please call our Albuquerque car accident lawyer for help.

Here at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C., we know that victims and their families may have prolonged and significant physical, emotional, and financial damages resulting from spinal cord injuries in a New Mexico auto accident or California trucking wreck.  Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to helping victims and their families recover this compensation and more after a crash.  We offer FREE consultations and can help you and your family recover the compensation that you deserve.  To learn more, contact us today at one of our convenient locations in Ontario, California, in Santa Fe, New Mexico or at our main office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

What are Spinal Cord Injuries?

A SCI is any injury or damage to the spinal cord or the nerves that are at the end of the spinal cord in your lower back.  The damage to the spinal cord could be an impingement, tear, rupture, or a complete severance.  As a result of this, individuals may experience impairments.  The impairments include weakness, loss of sensation, loss of function, pain, and paralysis.  The extent of the impairments and the level of disruption to the spinal cord depends on the type of SCI.

Types of SCI from a Motor Vehicle Wreck

There is more than one type of SCI that victims can suffer due to commercial trucking accidents or car accidents. All types are devastating, and while some victims are able to make a full recovery, most often people are left with either permanent paralysis or some degree of disability.

The two types of spinal cord injuries include the following:

• Incomplete spinal cord injury – this occurs when a person has partial damage to the spinal cord, causing a tear, damage, hematoma, impingement, or other injury to the spinal cord that does not fully severe it.  People with incomplete SCIs typically have some degree of sensation or movement, but the degree of movement and sensation depends on the severity of the injury.  The parts of the body affected are also dependent on the location of the damage on the spinal cord.
• Complete spinal cord injury – also known as a “total” SCI, this occurs when the spinal cord has been completely severed or damaged in a way that the spinal cord above and below the injury location cannot communicate anymore.  That also means that any peripheral nerves (nerves in the rest of the body) cannot communicate with the brain.  As a result, a person often suffers permanent paralysis below the location of the SCI.

Levels of Spinal Cord Injuries

Not all SCI are the same.  Oftentimes the limitations of SCIs are on a case-by-case basis.  As mentioned above, spinal cord injuries and the degree of impairment or disability largely depend on the area of the spine which was damaged. The levels of the spinal cord and the corresponding deficits include the following:

• Cervical SCI - Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the neck and head above the shoulders. This is the most severe and disabling type of spinal cord injury.  Victims with this type of spinal cord injury typically are paralyzed from the neck down. This is known as tetraplegia or quadriplegia.
• Thoracic SCI - Victims with thoracic spinal cord injuries have impairment in sensation and function of the abdominal muscles, upper chest and mid-back. Victims with this type of spinal cord injury typically have intact function of their hands and arms. This is a form of paraplegia.
• Lumbar SCIs - Victims who suffer a lumbar spinal cord injury causes impairment of the legs and hips. Victims with this type of injury often need mobility assistance in the form of a wheelchair, walker, braces, or other assistive devices.
• Sacral SCI- Victims with sacral spinal cord injuries affect the thighs, buttocks, hips, and pelvic organs. Victims with this type of spinal cord injury are often able to walk.

Damages for Victims of Spinal Cord Injuries in Car Accidents or 18-Wheeler Accidents

Victims of motor vehicle accidents who suffer SCIs may be entitled to recover damages because these are serious and debilitating injuries. Damages are awarded in the form of compensation to a party in a lawsuit.  If a lawsuit has not yet been filed, a party making a claim or settlement demand would also be entitled to these damages. The purpose of damages is to financially compensate victims for any losses they suffered as a result of their injury as well as any future losses or needs they may have.

Some of the most common damages for victims of spinal cord injuries include the following:

• Past pain and suffering
• Future pain and suffering
• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages
• Lost future earnings
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Emotional pain and suffering and mental anguish
• Loss of consortium or relations with a spouse
• Loss of society, affection, and normal familial relationships with other loved ones and dependents
• Rehabilitation coverage, including nursing costs
• Medical equipment costs for wheelchairs, walkers, beds, electric chairs, lifts, or other expenses
• Loss of guidance, protection, or other inherent traits between a husband and father, and
• Other damages caused by a spinal cord injury from a motor vehicle accident in New Mexico or California.

Types of Car Accidents That Can Cause SCIs

Nearly any type of motor vehicle accident can result in a SCI.  Even a low-speed accident could cause damage to the spinal column resulting in injuries to the spinal cord in the neck or back.  Some of the main types of car accidents that could result in a SCI include the following:

• Head on collisions
• Rear end collisions
• Rollovers
• High speed crashes
• T-bone accidents
• Drunk driving
• Failure to yield
• Drugged driving
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Not following the right-of-way
• Distracted driving
• Mechanical defects, and
• Other types of very serious auto accidents that our car accident lawyers in Albuquerque, NM could handle for you.

Types of Trucking Accidents That Can Lead to Spinal Cord Injuries

Although car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and bicycle accidents can all cause a SCI, 18-wheeler and big rig crashes are simply more likely to cause a devastating SCI.  There are many different types of commercial trucking accidents that can cause a spinal cord injury. Examples of the different types of trucking accidents include the following:

• Rollover trucking accident
• T-bone trucking accident
• Rear-end collisions
• Jackknife trucking accident
• Sideswipe accidents
• Accidents caused by making a wide turn
• Head-on collisions, and
• Any other collision with a large commercial vehicle like a flatbed, tanker, 18-wheeler, box truck, or another type of big rig.

Causes of Commercial Trucking Accidents That Can Lead to SCIs

All too often, commercial trucking accidents are caused by preventable actions, meaning that these accidents could have been avoided if proper care and caution had been given while operating commercial trucks. Some of the most common causes of commercial trucking accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving (i.e. texting, talking on the phone while driving, eating or drinking, reaching for something in the cab of the vehicle, etc.)
• Hours of service violations - All commercial truck drivers are required by law to follow the federal guidelines that the Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration has in place to prevent drivers from working too many hours consecutively as well as the number of days they are allowed to consecutively work. Violation of hours of service guidelines (HOS) can lead to truck driving fatigue and inattention, leading to trucking accidents.
• Inadequate training - Truck drivers are required to undergo rigorous training as failure to safely operate a commercial truck can lead to commercial trucking accidents.
• Reckless Driving - Reckless driving refers driving with a disregard for the safety of others. Examples of reckless driving include driving at an excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, driving while intoxicated, and other examples of unsafe behavior which can lead to commercial trucking accidents.

Did You or a Loved One Suffer Spinal Cord Injuries from a Motor Vehicle Accident?  Call Our Personal Injury Law Firm

Any injury to the spinal cord is a critical and catastrophic injury.  This is part of the central nervous system which is composed of your brain and spinal cord.  All messages between all the nerves in the body and the brain go along the spinal cord.  That means any injuries to the spinal cord can affect your entire body.  That means your livelihood and family could also be easily affected. 

These are serious injuries.  These are lifelong injuries.

That’s why victims and their families need to call serious personal injury lawyers like our car accident lawyers in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C.  Our compassionate and experienced team of professionals has a proven track record of success for over 35 years, recovering over $30 million for clients since just 2016.  We understand the complicated issues involving law and medicine, and can help you and your family recover the compensation that you deserve.

To learn more about how we can help you, please call us today by (505) 883-5000 to schedule a FREE consultation with our lawyers.  You can also contact us through our website's easy to use and convenient contact box available here.

We handle causes throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Roswell, Cuervo, Rio Rancho, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Albuquerque where our office is located, and anywhere else throughout New Mexico.  

We also have a second trucking accident office in California, serving those in Inland Empire and San Bernardino County, as well as those who have been catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed throughout California by negligent truck drivers or trucking companies.

SPINAL CORD INJURIES ARE COMMON IN THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS:

• Car accidents or collisions with another vehicle, like a truck or a bus
• Motorcycle accidents – a motorcyclist is always most likely to suffer the worst injuries when hit by another vehicle
• Slip and fall accidents – these can happen because of loose carpeting or poorly maintained flooring

The spine is such an important part of the body because it serves as a route for messages from the brain to the rest of the body and vice versa. Despite the good protection that the vertebrae in the backbone provide in normal circumstances, damage to the sensitive bundle of nerve fibers within the core of the backbone can easily happen in an accident.

Not all spinal cord injuries leave permanent damage. Partially damaged spinal cords can cause a lot of pain, but may eventually recover most of their function. Anybody with these sorts of injuries is still likely to spend some time in hospital and go through a rehabilitation period afterwards with physical therapy.

Serious spinal cord damage can mean paralysis of some or all of the voluntary muscles below the neck. Spinal cord damage can also mean problems with breathing as well as bladder and bowel control.

SPINAL CORD INJURIES LEAD TO EXPENSIVE MEDICAL CARE

Spine injuries can be horrendously expensive for the accident victim. There are immediate losses caused by being away from work as well as unexpected medical bills. Unfortunately, the costs of long term or lifetime care are potentially enormous. Anybody in this situation needs to ensure they urgently get an Albuquerque spinal cord injury attorney to pursue a substantial and all-encompassing compensation package.

It is bad enough when an accident has happened at home and there is nobody else to blame except oneself or one slipped over on an icy doorway or pathway. When the accident happens due to somebody else’s negligence then you have a legal right to make acclaim for damages against that person.

LIABILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT AND THE SPINE INJURIES MUST BE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED

To be able to make a Albuquerque spinal cord injury claim here in New Mexico, liability must be proven and there must be a clear link established between what a person has done and the injuries that you have suffered. The person responsible for an injury might also, of course, be a company, a government agency or institution or even your employer.

Proving liability for somebody’s spinal cord injuries is not always easy because it depends on the amount of evidence available that clearly points at a third party responsible for the accident. In the case of most accidents, eye witness accounts, photographic evidence and other details that can be collected at an accident scene are important.

The insurance company or companies representing the person who has been accused of causing your accident will try their hardest not to pay out a cent, or at least will attempt to minimize the liability of their client. They may even make a direct approach to you and offer a ridiculously low compensation package in the hope that you give up on a claim for damages. These sorts of offers are likely to be paltry when it comes to your real needs.

CONTACT SPINAL CORD INJURY ATTORNEY IN ALBUQUERQUE NM

If you or a member of your family has suffered a spine injury as a result of an accident that was somebody else’s fault, contact Albuquerque spinal cord injury lawyers at Caruso Law Offices, PC in New Mexico at for a free and confidential consultation.