Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Bakersfield (2023)

We will guide you through cases involving paralysis, herniated discs, and other spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injuries affect all aspects of the injured person's life. The hundreds of unknowns and challenges that come with serious injuries are simply not manageable without qualified and experienced help. Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorney Daniel Rodriguez and his legal team at Rodriguez & Associates have taken care of the spine, neck, back, and back.Brain injuriesSince 1980.

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Since our firm's founding, we have worked to meet the emotional and legal needs of our injured clients. We have treated hundreds of catastrophic injuries, including spinal injuries, and draw on decades of experience working with physical medicine specialists, rehabilitation physicians, and other professionals to:

What causes spinal cord injuries?

The first step in preventing a spinal cord injury (SCI) is to identify the typical causes. While the spine can be damaged in almost unlimited scenarios, there are a handful of circumstances that are more likely to lead to serious spinal injuries than others. The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are negligence, such as car accidents and falls at work. If negligence results in a spinal injury, contact a Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorney for claims advice. Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injury that lead to personal injury lawsuits are:

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car accidents.Car accidents cause about 38% of all new spinal cord injuries in the United States each year. Traumatic spinal cord injuries can result from accidents due to the forces that the collision exerts on the vehicle and the body. If a victim strikes the steering column or windshield, is thrown from the vehicle, sustains crush injuries, or even hits the seat belt with enough force, permanent spinal cord damage can occur.
Falls cause 30% of traumatic spinal cord injuries.The spine often cannot withstand the forces of a fall from a great height, for example from scaffolding, a roof, or a ladder. The spine can fracture and damage fragile structures in the spinal cord. This can disrupt the messaging system between the brain and the body, resulting in loss of function and/or sensation.
acts of violence.Penetrating injuries to the spine, such as B. Gunshot or knife wounds cause approximately 13.5% of spinal cord injuries each year. File a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator of your spinal cord injury. A criminal trial can result in a conviction, but only a civil trial ends with compensation for personal losses.
impact on sport.Players in batting sports such as soccer or rugby can sustain spinal cord injuries, as can divers, skiers, snowboarders, and other types of athletes. If an athletic trainer could have prevented an athlete's sport-related spinal cord injury, the injured party may bring a claim against the trainer or facility.
Medical or surgical complications.At least 5% of spinal cord injuries are due to complications from medical procedures, such as B. Nerve damage during surgery. While not all spinal injuries caused by medical complications are negligent, many are. Hire an attorney to investigate your case and find out if medical malpractice may be involved.

According to theNational Center for Spinal Cord Injury Statistics, at least 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injury occur in the United States each year. In 2016, approximately 282,000 people were living with SCI. Men suffer more spinal cord injuries than women, accounting for 80% of all new SCI cases. Get in touch with aBakersfield Personal Injury Lawyerbei Rodriguez & Associates.

Types of spinal cord injuries

The type of spinal cord injury a person experiences depends on the region of the spine affected by the injury. In general, the higher up the spine the injury occurs, the more severe the effects. The body usually loses motor function and sensation below the injury site. Injuries that occur in the upper part of the spine affect a greater percentage of the body. There are two main categories of GGB with different conditions: incomplete and complete. With an incomplete injury, the survivor retains some function. A complete injury means that the spine is completely severed and the survivor loses all function/sensation below the injury site.

There are three main types of incomplete SCI:

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progressive syndrome– Damage to the anterior part of the spinal cord. Those with this condition may retain partial sensation but have problems with motor function.
central cord syndrome– Damage to the central vertebrae. This can result in paralysis of the arm, impairment of the legs, and/or fine motor skills.
Brown Sequard Syndrome– Damage to one side of the spinal cord. This can often lead to more deterioration on one side of the body than the other.

In the case of complete injuries, the spinal cord is completely severed. Complete paralysis from the point of injury to the rest of the body is characteristic of this class of SCI.

The majority of spinal cord injuries (45%) are “partial quadriplegia” injuries, meaning some function and sensation may remain in all four limbs and/or the upper body. Quadriplegia is the most severe type of SCI and refers to paralysis in all four extremities, the upper body, and possibly also the chest and respiratory system. Quadriplegia results from damage to the cervical spinal cord, or the upper part of the spine. Paraplegia refers to loss of movement and sensation in the lower half of the body: the lower abdomen, pelvis, bladder, intestines, and legs. Triplegia refers to paralysis in one arm and both legs and can occur due to incomplete spinal cord injury.

Symptoms of spinal cord injury

Some may notice the symptoms of spinal cord injury right away, while other signs may appear later. Depending on the type, severity, and other factors of the spinal injury, the victim may experience a variety of symptoms. Early signs of spinal cord injury may include the inability to move the lower extremities or all extremities, and the inability to feel heat, cold, pressure, or pain. Loss of bowel and bladder function can also indicate a spinal cord injury. Other possible symptoms may include:

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numbness or tingling
burning sensations
altered sensations
pain or swelling
inability to walk
muscle cramps
exaggerated reflexes
changes in sexual function
labored breathing

All spinal cord injuries in Bakersfield require immediate medical attention. If you experience emergency symptoms such as shortness of breath, extreme neck or back pain, or weakness or paralysis in any part of your body, call 911 and request an ambulance. After an accident, do not move unless it is necessary for your safety. If the spine is jolted in the wrong direction after a minor injury, it can turn into a serious one. Immediate medical attention can make a big difference in the prognosis and recovery of a person with SCI.

Compensation for spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries are often what California courts call "catastrophic," meaning they cause long-term or permanent damage to the victim. Catastrophic injuries, which result in high and often life-long costs, are generally eligible for higher compensation than minor injuries. If you believe that someone else's negligence caused her harm, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. For example, when a fall from a defective ladder, caused by the negligence of the ladder manufacturer, results in an injury. Hiring an experienced Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyer can help you get the most out of your SCI claim. A lawyer can help negotiate with insurance companies and take the case to court if necessary. Our team of aggressive litigators can help you recover losses such as:

Past and future medical bills
Lifetime medical expenses, including rehabilitation or physical therapy
The cost of home or vehicle modifications
Medical equipment or equipment such as wheelchairs.
Costs of attention or home assistance
Loss of wages and loss of earning capacity
Physical pain and mental suffering
Mental damage and mental anguish
loss of consortium or the losses suffered by loved ones as a result of your spinal cord injury
punitive damages

Because spinal cord injuries cause such severe physical damage, any form of compensation is helpful to cover the cost of treatment. The quality of your legal representation during an SCI personal injury claim is critical to the success of your claim. Our experienced, knowledgeable and successful Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorneys know how the law works and how to fight for maximum compensation for catastrophic injuries. The legal team at Rodriguez & Associates has decades of experience handling California spinal cord injury claims and will work hard to obtain the best possible results from your civil lawsuit.

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Free Consultation with a Bakersfield Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Rodriguez & Associates is conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, California. We are available for weekend and evening appointments, do not charge consultation fees, and speak English and Spanish. TOContact Us, call (661) 323-1400 to schedule a free consultation with a spinal cord injury attorney in Bakersfield, CA.