Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic for victims and their families. A car crash on I-10, a fall in the French Quarter, or a workplace accident on the Mississippi River can lead to permanent mobility challenges, extensive medical treatment, and significant financial hardship.
If another party’s negligence caused your injury, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your losses.
The New Orleans spinal cord injury lawyers at Douglas & London understand the profound physical, emotional, and financial consequences associated with spinal cord trauma. Whether your catastrophic injury resulted from a motor vehicle collision, unsafe property conditions, medical negligence, or another preventable event, we can help you explore your legal options.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the primary communication pathway between the brain and the body. Damage to the spinal cord can interfere with movement, sensation, and vital bodily functions. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, victims could be partially or completely paralyzed.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), almost 70% of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. are caused by motor vehicle crashes and falls. Acts of violence, sports injuries, and medical complications are also major contributors.
Potential symptoms of spinal cord injuries are:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation in the limbs
- Difficulty breathing
- Chronic pain
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Muscle weakness
- Changes in sexual function
These symptoms often require emergency treatment, multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and lifelong medical care.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in New Orleans
New Orleans residents and visitors can suffer spinal cord injuries in many different situations. Determining how the injury happened is a critical step in identifying the liable parties.
Car Accidents
Drivers traveling in the area can be injured in rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, rollover accidents, and head-on collisions on major roads such as I-10, I-610, US-90, and the Pontchartrain Expressway. A sudden impact of a car accident can whip a person’s head around with enough force to damage or fracture vertebrae in the neck and back.
Distracted driving, driving under the influence of substances, and excessive speeding can all lead to preventable accidents caused by negligent drivers.
Truck Accidents
New Orleans is a major transportation hub with substantial commercial traffic moving through the city, the Port of New Orleans, and surrounding industrial corridors.
Commercial truck accidents are especially dangerous because of the significant size and weight differences between passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers. When truck drivers, trucking companies, or maintenance providers fail to follow safety regulations, the consequences can be severe.
Motorcycle Accidents
Even when wearing proper safety equipment, motorcyclists are more likely to be injured in accidents than passengers in commercial vehicles. It’s common for riders to be thrown from their motorcycles or struck by other vehicles after the initial impact.
Motorcyclists are at significant risk due to drivers who fail to yield, change lanes without checking their blind spots, or engage in distracted driving.
Slip and Fall Accidents
The NSCISC cites slip-and-fall accidents as the other leading cause of spinal cord injuries nationwide after vehicle accidents.
New Orleans is home to hundreds of historical buildings that must be maintained for the safety of locals and tourists. Property owners have a duty of care to maintain reasonably safe premises.
In New Orleans, falls typically happen because of:
- Uneven sidewalks
- Broken stairways
- Inadequate lighting
- Poor maintenance
- Wet floors
- Unsafe construction areas
Falls are the top cause of injury for older adults aged 65 and older, who face an increased risk of severe spinal injuries.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
As New Orleans continues to invest in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, more residents are choosing alternative forms of transportation.
Unfortunately, like motorcyclists, bicyclists and walkers don’t have the same protection from accidents that car riders do. Collisions involving bicycles and pedestrians can cause severe spinal trauma requiring extensive medical intervention.
Medical Malpractice
Not every spinal cord injury occurs in an accident. Medical errors can also cause devastating harm. Examples may include:
- Surgical mistakes
- Anesthesia errors
- Failure to diagnose spinal conditions
- Birth injuries
- Improper treatment of infections
- Delayed treatment following trauma
When healthcare providers fail to meet accepted standards of care, injured patients may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
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Medical Treatment Resources for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in New Orleans
Immediate medical care is critical after a spinal cord injury. Depending on the circumstances, injured individuals may receive trauma care at local facilities such as:
- University Medical Center New Orleans LCMC Health
- Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans
- LSU Health New Orleans
Patients may also require ongoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation services, and assistive technologies. The costs associated with this treatment can quickly become overwhelming, making financial recovery an important consideration for many families.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries can create long-term financial burdens for both economic and non-economic losses. Potential damages could include:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Pain medications
- Home modifications and mobility devices
- Future medical care
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Vocational retraining
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault system. Under the law, you may recover damages if you were less than 51% responsible for your accident. If your fault is equal to or greater than 51%, you are barred from recovering damages.
Loss of Consortium
Family members also experience significant changes following a catastrophic injury. In some circumstances, spouses may pursue damages related to the loss of companionship, support, and services resulting from the injury.
Douglas & London understands the financial burden spinal cord injury victims face. That’s why our team of New Orleans attorneys is committed to helping you maximize the value of your claim. You deserve compensation that accounts for the full impact on your life and the lives of your loved ones. Contact us now and let us help you move forward.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. The injured party generally must establish several legal elements to recover compensation, including:
- The defendant owed a duty of care.
- The defendant failed to uphold that duty.
- The defendant’s actions directly caused the spinal cord injury.
- The injury caused actual damages, such as medical expenses and lost income.
Evidence That Strengthens a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Building a strong case requires detailed documentation that can establish causation. Examples include:
- Medical records
- Diagnostic imaging results
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Photographs and video footage
- Employment records
- Expert medical opinions
- Accident reconstruction analyses
The sooner evidence is preserved, the easier it is to establish liability and document the full extent of your losses. Under Louisiana law, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Missing the deadline can jeopardize your ability to pursue compensation. It’s important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to help ensure all deadlines are met.
Contact a New Orleans Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injury claims are complex because they frequently involve substantial damages, extensive medical evidence, and long-term projections of future care needs.
Douglas & London has successfully represented injury victims for decades. Our legal team understands how to build comprehensive claims that fully account for both present and future losses.
When you work with our firm, we can:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence
- Consult medical experts
- Calculate long-term damages
- Communicate with insurance companies
- Be your advocate throughout the legal process
If another party’s negligence caused your catastrophic injury, you shouldn’t have to bear those burdens alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and let Douglas & London explain your legal options.
