San Diego Spinal Injury From Bike Accident Lawyer

San Diego bike accidents can result in grievous trauma, including spinal cord injuries that can leave a bicyclist paralyzed. While some of the injuries sustained in a bike accident can be minor, most spinal cord trauma has long lasting implications for the survivor. Cycling accidents are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries.

Have you been involved in a San Diego bike accident? Are you worried about paying the hospital bills? Are you facing surgeries? A long recovery? Do you suffer from concussion after hitting your head when you were knocked off your bike? Are you worried how you are going to get through this serious setback? You need straight answers to your questions, your immediate problems solved, and to know who is going to pay for everything. You need a reliable law firm to support you, return all your calls, and handle the insurance red tape.

Types of spinal cord injuries

There are four differing types of spinal cord injuries that affect a bicyclist that has been involved in an accident with a vehicle. They are, according to location:

• Cervical – injuries here are close to the brain and often cause quadriplegia.
• Thoracic – injuries here affect the upper chest, back and abdominal area. Can result in paraplegia and affect the ability to breathe.
• Lumbar – injuries here affect the extremities and lower torso and may result in losing function in the hips and legs, the bladder and bowels.
• Sacral – injuries here affect the coccyx, resulting in losing function of the bowels, bladder, legs and sexual functioning.

Incomplete and Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

The higher up the spinal column an injury is sustained, the more damage, and each case is classified as either complete or incomplete based on the motion and feeling below the injury site. Spinal cord injuries are not always immediately apparent.

Incomplete injuries indicate nerve communication in the spine is partially in placemessages to the brain are received. A complete injury usually means the survivor cannot feel anything below the injury site. In some cases surgery may help. Each case is different and the time to heal varies for each person. Spiinal injury patients can move forward with their lives by using epidural stimulation, electrical stimulation, and rehabilitation.

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), indicates that there are two common types of spinal cord injuries – incomplete tetraplegia and paraplegia. Incomplete spinal cord injuries account for more than 65 percent of spinal cord injuries.

Some of the most common types of spinal cord injuries are:

• Paraplegia – affecting lower extremities and lower torso.
• Quadriplegia (tetraplegia) – affecting all four limbs and most of the torso. May also affect everything below the neck.
• Monoplegia – just one limb is affected, usually due to trauma to that side of the body or to that particular limb.
• Hemiplegia – half the body is paralyzed. Often results from a brain injury in one hemisphere of the brain.

In addition to these types of spinal cord injuries, all such injuries typically fall under one of two categories: complete spinal cord injuries and incomplete spinal cord injuries. If the survivor sustained a complete spinal cord injury, the damage is permanent. An incomplete spinal cord injury results in partial and/or temporary damage.

Injuries like these have a significant long-term impact on a survivor’s life mentally, financially and physically. The Levinson Law Group understands this and are there to answer all of your questions in a no nonsense, straightforward manner. You are never alone.

Spinal Injury From a Bike Accident

The spine and neck are crucial in performing bodily functions. Any injuries to either location, which are sensitive to movement, can result in debilitating, damaging injuries. In all cases of suspected neck and/or spinal injuries, it is best to seek immediate medical attention and to speak to an experienced spinal injury bike accident attorney.

Depending on the type and severity of spinal and neck injuries after a bike accident, the following symptoms may be present:

• Herniated discs
• Lumbar sprains
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative spinal disorders
• Vertigo
• Discogenic pain from a damaged vertebral disc due to traumatic whiplash
• Facet joint fracture of the joints between each pair of vertebrae i
• Muscle weakness
• Swelling, redness, bruising, or an inflamed back or neck
• Inability to lift lightweight objects
• Temporary immobility or permanent paralysis
• Migraines
• Dislocated facet joints
• Inflammed joints
• Torn cartilage between joints
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Headaches
• Shoulder, neck, and/or back pain
• Severe leg and/or arm pain
• Numb feet, arms, legs, hands
• A burning sensation in the back of the neck

Spine Injury Outcomes

A C1-C4 vertebrae injury, is the most severe. The survivor requires 24/7 care, may be quadriplegic, require assistance to breathe, may not be able to talk or cough, and may not be able to control their gut or bowels.

A C5-C8 vertebrae injury may affect the nervous system controlling arms and hands. There may be pain and tingling, and complete or partial paralysis in the hands, torso, or limbs. It requires enormous effort to breathe and talk. There is very little to no bowel or bladder control.

A T1-T5 injury affects muscles in the middle of the back, abdominal area and, upper neck. Hands and arms are normal. This may result in paraplegia.

A T6-T12 injury results in paraplegia of the lower body The upper part is normal. Bowel and bladder control are not consistent.

An L1-L5 injury results in lower limbs not functioning properly. There is no bowel or bladder control.

An S1-S5 injury impairs the functioning of the lower limbs, but the patient may be able to walk. There is no bowel or bladder control.

A Spinal Injury Survivors Life Changes Permanently

A survivor with a spinal injury sustained from a bike accident in San Diego gets they help they need to move forward with their lives by discussing their cases with a spinal injury bike attorney at the Levinson Law Group.

There are numerous people involved in helping a bicyclist with a spinal injury get their lives back on track. The Levinson Law Group may consult life care planners to obtain an idea of ongoing medical needs, various tests, medication, rehabilitation, counseling, and psychological assessment, and future care.

The cost of adaptive medical devices, changing a survivor’s home interior to accommodate their new reality, adjusting how an injured survivor can be transported, institutional care if needed, medical and personal in-home care and, consumable medical products are all evaluated. A financial planner outlines lost income for a survivor dealing with daily pain, and assesses lost wages and, fringe benefits.

Contact the Levinson Law Group Today

If you or a loved one were involved in a bike accident in San Diego and sustained a spinal injury, reach out to the Levinson Law Group attorneys right away. At The Levinson Law Group, our dedicated team of bike accident lawyers is here to help. If you have questions about the recovery process, we can answer them. We make sure you are informed so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

When you decide to work with the Levinson Law Group, we are in your corner throughout the entire process. To learn more about your options, call the Levinson Law Group at 760-512-8088. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.