Your back is essential to everything that you do. You need your back to be in good condition if you want to sit, stand, walk, sleep, dance, drive, lift, or do anything else comfortably. For most people, the importance of the back and spine in everyday life activities only becomes apparent when you find yourself suffering from a serious back injury. For some, a back injury will simply mean that all of their daily activities become painful and difficult to do. For others, a back injury will mean that they can no longer do the most basic things that they used to be able to do for themselves. You could have a minor pulled a muscle or a strain that makes it hard to maneuver or impossible to bend comfortably. Or, you could have a spinal cord injury that makes it literally impossible to ever use your limbs again. There is a wide range of back injuries with varying severity. Some will impact your life for a shorter or longer period of time, some are permanent, and some are tremendously expensive. If someone else’s negligence caused your back injury, then you may be able to recover the expenses and losses that are associated with your injury by filing a Columbia, South Carolina, personal injury claim

Back Injuries that are Minor to Moderate in Severity in Columbia, South Carolina, Personal Injuries

There are many different ways that your back can become injured. The injuries that are mild to moderate in severity include pulled muscles, strained ligaments, and damaged tendons. These injuries are usually not permanent. They can be terribly painful and disruptive of your life and career, but with proper care, you can recover. Then, there are the issues that can occur with your vertebrae and discs. The discs are located between the 26 vertebrae or bones of your spine. They are supposed to cushion your spine and protect it, like shock absorbers. When an injury to your vertebrae or discs happens, the pain can be even more unbearable. A slipped, herniated, or ruptured disc could cause nerve damage and may require surgery. We include these injuries in the category of mild to severe because even though they are severely painful, they are not as severe as injuries that result in paralysis.

Back Injuries that are Life Altering in Columbia, South Carolina, Personal Injury Claims

The most severe of back injuries in Columbia, South Carolina, personal injury claims are those that result in paralysis or death. These are the injuries that involve the actual spinal cord, which is responsible for sending messages from your brain to your body and back again. If this connection is disrupted, you could lose the ability to breathe, the ability to use your limbs, and all sensation in part or all of your body. In many cases, seemingly less severe injuries to your spinal discs could result in more severe injuries to your spinal cord because of the pressure of the dislocated or herniated disc on the spinal cord.

The most life-altering of back injuries involves the spinal cord. If your spinal cord injury results in the permanent loss of functioning in your legs and your pelvis, then this is called paraplegia. If you lose functioning in just one limb, then this called monoplegia. If you lose functioning of everything below the neck, then this is called quadriplegia. If you lose functioning on just one side of your body, then this is called hemiplegia. Then, there are the less common but equally devastating spinal injuries that can occur, such as posterior cord syndrome, central cord syndrome, anterior cord syndrome, Brown-Sequard syndrome, conus medullaris syndrome, equine cauda syndrome, and spinal concussions. These syndromes are not common, but when they happen, they can result in permanent partial paralysis. They can also be very costly to treat and manage. Victims of personal injuries in Columbia, South Carolina that involve spinal cord damage are likely to require ongoing treatment and care, assistance with every aspect of life, and plenty of physical rehabilitation to learn how to adjust to their new way of life. You may need multiple surgeries, prescription medications, and medical devices, like wheelchairs.

Recovering Compensation for the Damage and Expense of a Columbia, South Carolina, Back Injury

When you sustain a severe back injury, you are going to have a lot of expensive procedures to deal with concerning medical care. You may

If you’ve experienced a personal injury, contact Connell Law for more information about your claim.

also forever lose your former quality of life. You might not be able to work at the same job or at all. You might not be able to handle your most basic self-care needs. There is also a good chance that you’re going to need surgery, medical devices, and prescription medications. If your injury was caused by the negligence of another party, then you can file a personal injury claim to recover your damages and losses. This compensation can include your lost wages, the costs of any surgeries and medical procedures, the expense of any medical devices and prescriptions you may need, the pain and suffering that you have endured, and the lost quality of life that you are facing.

The type of Columbia, South Carolina, personal injury claim that you will file to recover this compensation depends on how the injury occurred. If you were injured in an auto accident, then you’ll file a claim with an auto insurance policy or against the at-fault driver. If you were injured on someone else’s property or at a business, then you might have a premises liability claim. If you were injured at work, then you can file a workers’ compensation claim. In cases where a medical mistake caused your back injury, you can file a medical malpractice claim.

The Connell Law Firm Can Help You Recover Compensation for Your Back Injury

A back injury can disrupt your life even if it is on the milder end of the spectrum. The more severe spinal injuries can be truly devastating. If you are facing the challenges associated with a back injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence, call the Connell Law Firm to find out what your next steps are in the pursuit of recovering compensation for your damages.