Compensation for a Spinal Injury

Your spinal cord is a huge mesh of nerves which runs down the centre of your back. It carries signals and between your brain and your body, which makes your body perform all of the vital functions it does, both consciously and unconsciously. It is protected by the spine which is the collection of interlocking bones that run from the base of your skull to the back of your hips. Any injury to the spinal cord can cause life-changing consequences, and in many cases death, so if you have suffered a spinal injury and someone else was to blame, you could be entitled to claim for compensation.

Complete or Incomplete Spinal Injury?

A spinal cord injury can be either complete or incomplete. If the injury is complete, then no nerve signals can pass the point of the injury, as a result the victim is paralysed below the injury. If the injury is incomplete it means that there is likely to be some possibility of function below the injury; either immediately or with time and extensive physiotherapy.

Damage to the spine in an accident

Depending on how high up the spine the injury takes place, the outcome of a spinal injury can vary massively. If the damage is toward the top of the spine the outcome is likely to be a lot harsher, as more signals to the body’s organs and limbs are unable to get through. An injury in the neck can cause tetraplegia; when the body is unable to function below the neck. Lower down the spine the injury can cause fewer complications, but still massively significant; such as the loss of use of your legs, control of the bladder and bowel, and difficulty with other bodily functions.

Life-changing spinal injuries

Whether the injury is complete or incomplete, and no matter where on the spine the injury occurred, the consequences of a spinal injury are in most cases life-changing. The victim is likely to spend a very long time in hospital and rehabilitation. Many people are unable to return to their former employment due to the changes in their abilities. On top of this there is the additional expense of adaptations to make it possible for people to live in their former homes, as well as the psychological grief and physical pain of the injury. So if you’ve suffered from a spinal injury, and it wasn’t your fault, you could claim for money to help you through all of these new challenges.

How Mercury Legal can help you with a spinal injury claim

Our specialist solicitors have years of experience in handling personal injury claims for spinal injuries. They can guide you through the process and swiftly let you know how much compensation you could be entitled to receive. Contact us today to find out how much you could claim to make your life just a little bit easier.