To determine the amount of your settlement in a Fairfax spinal cord injury lawsuit, your doctor will have to determine the extent of your injury. The best indicator of the severity of your injury is the location; the higher an injury occurs on the spinal cord, the more ill effects a victim is likely to suffer.
- Paraplegia. When a patient suffers a severe injury to the thoracic (lower) spine, the result is usually paraplegia, or complete paralysis of the legs. On one hand, the patient cannot walk and may have difficulty performing sexually—but on the other, he will be able to perform much of his own self-care and mobility if he can operate a wheelchair.
- Quadriplegia. Loss of function in both the arms and legs, also known as quadriplegia, is caused by a complete injury occurring between the C4 and C7 vertebrae. In addition to suffering the effects of paraplegia, these victims may also be prone to infection, lose sensation throughout their bodies, and are commonly unable to control bodily functions.
- Complete paralysis. A complete injury means the victim’s spinal cord has been cut or crushed, and the patient will never recover the ability to convey messages to and from the brain. A complete spinal cord injury can even be life threatening: an injury between the C1 and C3 vertebrae will leave a patient not only unable to move her arms and legs, but also unable breathe her own, requiring a respirator and long-term hospital care.
Contact a Fairfax Medical Malpractice Attorney
The best way to find out what you are owed for your injury is to call the trusted Fairfax medical malpractice attorneys at Shevlin Smith for a FREE legal consultation. Call 703-721-4233 today or click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our report, Do I Have A Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.