Understanding the spine
Spinal cord injuries can occur for a variety of reasons including falls from height, sporting injuries, road traffic accidents, and work accidents.
The level of recovery a patient will be able to achieve after a spinal injury will depend on where the damage has occurred on the spine and whether the injury is complete or incomplete.
The Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves extending from the brain which travels through the vertebrae, carrying electrical messages to all parts of the body. If the spinal cord is damaged loss of movement and sensation can occur.
The parts of the body affected by a spinal cord injury will depend on the location of the injury
The spine
The spine consists of 33 vertebrae (bones) which surround and protect the spinal cord, and provide support for the upper body. The spine is held together with ligaments which stabilise the backbone and tendons which connect to spinal muscles.
Injury to the spinal cord may result in varying levels of loss of function. More severe injuries may result in tetraplegia or paraplegia.
Spinal Injury Compensation claims with Thompsons Solicitors in Scotland
Your recovery from a spinal cord injury will be affected by many factors such as the severity of the injury, location of the injury and level of paralysis, alongside factors such as your age and pre-accident health.
While a compensation claim can never turn back the clock and restore your pre-accident health, a damages award primarily aims to provide financial support for you and your family as you negotiate recovery.
In practical terms this means that we will seek interim damages for you so that you can gain access to the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation therapies as soon as possible. Such sums will also seek to provide financial security for your family so that you don't have to worry about bills being paid.
In the long-term, a spinal cord injury compensation claim will seek to ensure that you do not lose out financially as a result of the accident, this could mean that compensation will cover the costs of mobility aids such as wheelchairs, adaptations to your home and car, and where necessary the costs of ongoing care as well as covering pain and suffering and loss of income.
Talk to Thompsons today. Our highly experienced spinal injury claim solicitors are here to help you make a claim.
