Injury Lawyers Serving Victims of Spinal Cord Injuries in the San Francisco Bay AreaShapiro Legal Group has represented clients with spinal cord injuries ranging from a ventilator dependent quadriplegic, to a paraplegic, to cauda equine syndrome, to nerve root impingements requiring various surgeries including spinal reconstruction, laminectomies, fusion, and discectomies. In simple terms the spinal cord is the corridor which controls nerve traffic from your brain to all parts of your body. When this pathway is damaged then the signals sent from the brain are disrupted and motor control of body parts and body functions can be lost. Quadriplegia and ParaplegiaIn the most severe cases the spinal cord is severed. When this happens a person can lose all motor control and function below that point in their body. So if this occurs in the low back, i.e. lumbar, region then the victim will not be able to use their legs. If this occurs in the neck, i.e. cervical, region then the victim will not be able to use their arms or legs. From a legal perspective, these severe cases require consideration of several expert consultants to fully evaluate the victim's damages. A pain management and rehabilitation specialist may be necessary to determine what future medical care will be needed for the rest of the victim's life. A life care planner may be needed to quantify the cost of future medical expenses. A vocational rehabilitation consultant may be needed to evaluate the loss of earning capacity and lost years of employment as a result of the injury. An economist may be needed to determine the present value of such future losses. These experts are only on the damages side of the case. Often such injury producing events are complicated and accident reconstruction consultants or biomedical engineers are needed to reconstruct the accident and demonstrate how the accident caused the spinal cord injury. Of course, these cases also involve significant work on the general damages part of the case as Mr. Shapiro will work with you and your family to create a picture of the victim's life before the accident for comparison. This often involves pictures, videos, and family interviews. The person the victim was before the accident needs to be vividly brought back to life.
Anyone who has been rendered a paraplegic or quadriplegic as a result of an accident should call Mr. Shapiro for a full legal review of the facts to determine whether you have a viable case. If your spinal cord injury was caused even in part by the negligence of another, you may be able to hold that party liable. The consultation is free and you or your loved one deserve a full review by an experienced attorney. Spine Surgery Cases
Many injuries do not involve direct organic damage to the spinal cord itself. Discs in between the vertebrae of the spine that protect the spinal cord can be damaged resulting in protrusion and herniation. These abnormalities, which usually appear on an MRI, can impinge the roots of the spinal cord resulting in numbness and tingling. Conservative measures such as physical therapy can sometimes heal the disc sufficiently to eliminate the radiculopathy. But sometimes surgical measures are necessary to cut, remove, or fuse the disc so that pain and numbness are alleviated. From a legal perspective these cases usually involve an orthopedic surgeon and lengthy rehabilitation. This can lead to extended loss of earnings and significant general damages. Without question a surgery case is a serious matter and any accident resulting in a surgery should be reviewed by an experienced attorney such as Mr. Shapiro. If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury, it is in your best interest to contact a San Francisco spinal cord injury lawyer to find out what compensation you will receive. Contact him by calling 650-274-0180 or filling out the online form for a free consultation.
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