A Kentucky spinal cord injury is an extremely serious medical condition. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, the Kentucky injury lawyers at Crocker Law Offices advises you to seek legal representation right away.

If you need to speak with a Kentucky spinal cord injury lawyer, an attorney from Crocker Law Offices will meet you and your family in your home or hospital room for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

Do not sign anything or accept payment from an insurance company. Do not give any statements. The medical costs associated with a spinal cord injury can be astronomical; insurance companies often move to limit losses and have even been known to arrive at a hospital with a settlement offer.

The average initial hospitalization costs for a spinal cord injury are $140,000 with first-year medical costs of between $152,000 and $417,000, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.

Lifetime medical costs have been reported at between $428,000 and $1.3 million, and two of every three spinal cord injury victims report being unemployed eight years after injury.

A Kentucky spinal cord injury lawyer can help ensure you are getting the care and rehabilitation you deserve and move to protect the financial future of you and your family.

Medical advances have brought improvement to the care and prognosis of patients dealing with spinal cord injuries. Both the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and the Frazier Rehabilitation Center in Louisville are recognized as leaders in dealing with brain and spinal cord injuries.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the leading causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents (36 percent), violent acts (29 percent) and falls (21 percent). Sporting injuries are also a significant cause of spinal cord injuries (18 percent).

While a significant number of spinal cord injury victims recover some quality of life, the injuries typically result in extensive rehabilitation needs, life-long medical complications, medical needs and a shortened life span. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of spinal cord victims who survive the first 24 hours, followed by heart disease and deaths due to external causes, primarily suicide.

Other medical complications associated with long-term care include bedsores, bladder infections, impotence and joint problems.

A spinal cord injury usually results from a sudden blow to the spine or head that fractures or dislocates vertebrae, causing bone fragments, or other biological material dislodged by the impact to tear spinal cord tissue. Most injuries do not completely sever the spinal cord; the extent of injury or permanent damage is dependent upon the amount of damage. Some injuries allow for complete recovery while others result in complete paralysis. Most injuries fall somewhere between the two extremes.

Complete spinal cord injury: Means that the spinal cord has no function below the affected area.

Partial spinal cord injury: Is an injury that still allows for some spinal cord function below the injury area.

The extent of permanent injury and paralysis depends on where the injury occurs. The human body has 24 vertebrae divided into three regions: the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7) are the first seven vertebrae beginning at the base of the skull; 12 thoracic or chest vertebrae (numbered T1 to T12); and 5 lumbar vertebrae numbered (L1 to L5).

The most serious type of injury, a complete spinal cord injury above C4 (C1 to C3), leaves the patient unable to breathe and unable to move arms or legs.

If you or a loved one has suffered a Kentucky spinal cord injury, call Crocker Law Offices today for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

Let our family fight for your family! Call (800) 599-8888 today for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.