Melbourne Spine Injury Attorney

A spinal cord injury is a life-shattering experience for the victim and his or her loved ones. Those who survive a spinal cord injury may never be the same again. Family and friends have to adjust to the necessary changes in lifestyle that inevitably happen after such a devastating injury. Understanding spinal cord injuries can help the victim and his or her family and friends cope with the effects, and contacting an experienced Melbourne spine injury lawyer immediately after the accident is a critical first step.

What is a spinal cord injury?

The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves and supportive tissue that extends from base of the brain to just beyond the first lumbar vertebra. It is protected by the bones in the spinal column, but does not extend the entire length, as is commonly assumed. A spinal injury is damage to the nerve fibers as a result of an (either traumatic or chronic) event. A traumatic event, such as an accidental blow or act of violence, crushes, compresses, dislocates or fractures one or more of the vertebrae in the spine, thereby damaging the spinal cord. A chronic (non-traumatic) spinal cord injury is generally from a more long-term condition, such as disc degeneration, arthritis or inflammation.

What causes spinal injuries?

Many spinal cord injuries are from a traumatic event. Motor vehicle accidents fall and acts of violence are the leading causes of spinal injury in the U.S. In Florida, spinal injuries are primarily caused by:

• Falls: 38.3%
• Motor vehicle & auto accidents: 33.6%
• Other accidents: 15%
• Assaults: 5.7%

Common causes in each region within Florida may vary based on demographics. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal injuries for people between 16 and 30 years of age. Spinal cord injuries for those over the age of 65 are most often due to falls; almost 60% of spinal injuries in Florida occur in victims age 45 and older. The causes and severity of spinal cord injury in Melbourne and elsewhere in Brevard County may deviate from the average in Florida and the U.S. based on demographics.

What are the effects of such an injury?

The devastation of a spinal injury is defined as either complete or incomplete. Complete means the total loss of all motor and sensory function below the affected area; incomplete means that some motor and/or sensory function remains below the injury location. The most common symptoms our Melbourne spine injury attorneys see in clients’ cases include:

• paralysis
• loss of sensation
• incontinence
• breathing difficulties
• sexual function changes
• spasms
• nerve pain
• back pain or pressure

How can we help?

Couture Law P.A. works with a number of leading spinal cord injury treatment providers. Count on our decades of collective experience to guide you through your tough personal injury case. Our Melbourne spine injury lawyers represent the injured throughout Brevard County.