





Spinal cord injuries are usually the result of a sudden blow to the spine, which typically occurs in car accidents and in traumatic slip and fall accidents. Spinal cord injury may be severe, and may even cause your body to become completely paralyzed. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else's negligence, you may be eligible for compensation through an Iowa personal injury claim.
To file an Iowa personal injury claim, you should consult with an experienced Des Moines personal injury attorney who can use their legal know-how and resources to thoroughly investigate your case and help prove another party's negligence.
An experienced Des Moines personal injury attorney can ensure that you are treated fairly throughout the process and make certain that any settlement offer you receive takes into consideration the immediate and latent effects of your spinal cord injury.
The Danger of Spinal Cord Injuries
The main reason spinal cord injuries are so dangerous is because they can damage the axons that carry signals between the spinal cord and the brain. Depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury, you may become partially or completely paralyzed. Thus, spinal cord injuries are classified into 2 categories - complete spinal cord injuries and incomplete spinal cord injuries.
With complete spinal cord injuries, there is no physical function below the point of injury. This means that there is no sensation or feeling in that region, and no voluntary movement below the point of the injury.
With incomplete spinal cord injuries, a victim may be able to feel different parts of their body below the injury, as well as still perform some voluntary functions. Medical advancements in the treatment of spinal cord injuries have helped some victims receive treatment to avoid complete injuries and retain some sensation and function.
Besides suffering the loss of sensation and basic motor functioning, victims of spinal cord injuries may experience other physical effects. Those physical effects may include bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and/or sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, serious injuries to the upper spine may affect a victim's ability to breathe or impair heart function.
Other effects of spinal cord injuries include low blood pressure, chronic pain, and an inability to sweat below the level of the injury.
If you have questions regarding your right to compensation after a serious spinal cord injury, you should speak with a Des Moines personal injury attorney who has handled spinal cord injury cases. An experienced Des Moines personal injury attorney can help you understand the possible residual effects of your spinal cord injury and advise you on the best ways of recovering your present and future medical expenses and pain and suffering.
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