Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in San Diego

The San Diego spinal cord injury attorneys of Casey Gerry give an overview on spinal injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia

In serious accidents the spine can be injured, anywhere from the cervical area (the neck) down through the lumbar area (the lower back). The spinal cord transmits both feeling and control between the brain and all of the body. If the injury damages the spinal cord, the impact to an individual can be catastrophic. Experienced spinal cord injury attorneys understand the gravity of these injuries, and the impact on a person’s life.

When a person sustains a spinal cord injury, teams of doctors work to help the individual achieve the best medical and rehabilitation outcome. Immediately following an injury a neurosurgeon and/or orthopedist will be involved in the acute care. Once a person is stabilized, a physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation for seriously injured individuals, will be brought in. Throughout California there are outstanding rehabilitation facilities such as the Sharp rehabilitation facility in San Diego where the physical rehab doctor (the physiatrist) mobilizes a skilled team of speech therapists, physical therapists, vocational counselors, and other specialist to help an individual achieve their maximum rehabilitation potential.

An injury in the lower spine can result in paraplegia, the loss of use of the legs, imposing severe restrictions in a person’s life. If the paraplegia is permanent, a person must plan their entire life around the restrictions that come with the loss of use of their legs, including permanent use of wheelchairs. Seasoned spinal cord injury attorneys in San Diego understand the realities of wheelchair use, and the need to redesign and rebuild a home so that a person can use their kitchen, their bathroom and can navigate other spaces.

Injuries higher up the spinal cord can result in quadriplegia, a loss of use of both arms and legs. An individual with quadriplegia may need mechanical assistance to breathe, and 24- hour around the clock assistive care to survive. An experienced quadriplegia attorney knows what this diagnosis can mean to a person and their family and can help them think through their needs.

Casey Gerry’s San Diego spinal cord injury lawyers work with people throughout southern California who have been injured. They understand that a person with paraplegia or quadriplegia will face enormous costs for the rest of their life. Our spinal cord injury attorneys consult with a qualified life care planner who can anticipate all the challenges and needs that the injured person will face. It is important to compute what the cost will be not only next year or the next five years but 20, 30 or 40 years out. When our spinal cord injury attorneys represent an injured person they make sure all potential costs and expenses have been addressed. Only then can a realistic evaluation be made of the economic costs that should be factored into the case’s resolution.