
Spine Injury Lawyers
The spine is how our brain communicates with the rest of our bodies. That’s why when the spine is injured in a car, truck, or other accident, the results can be tragic. Spine injuries can be extremely painful and cause long-lasting and sometimes permanent disabilities. From herniated and slipped discs to paralysis, spine injuries are some of the worst injuries a person can suffer. And, when those injuries are suffered as a result of an accident, hiring a knowledgeable and experienced spine injury lawyer is the best first step a person can take to receiving the compensation they need and deserve.
Unfortunately, when a person suffers a spine injury, the accident and injury are just the beginning of a long nightmare. Prolonged medical appointments with doctors and specialists are eventually replaced with months’ long rehabilitation assignments. Medical bills begin to pile up, and dealing with the insurance company is difficult at best. A person suffering from a spine injury will often be unable to work, and the loss of income only adds to the anxiety.
The truth is that the long road to recovery from a spine injury often involves a great deal more than what initially meets the eye. An experienced and knowledgeable spine injury lawyer can not only make sure a spine injury victim receives the compensation he or she deserves, the right spine injury lawyer can alleviate the stress of dealing with everything else. That means the injured person can focus on what’s more important—getting better.
If you’ve suffered a spine injury in West Virginia, Ohio, or Pennsylvania, the spine injury lawyers at Gold, Khourey & Turak are available to help you 24/7. Our spine injury lawyers have the knowledge, skill, and experience fight for the compensation you deserve. Consultations are always fee, and we don’t collect a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf. Contact GKT’s spine injury lawyers today by calling (304) 845-9750, by Live Chat 24/7 at GKT.com, or online.
About Gold Khourey & Turak Spine Injury Lawyers
Gold, Khourey & Turak’s personal injury attorneys are some of the leading spine injury attorneys in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Our spine injury lawyers are dedicated to maximizing our clients’ financial recovery. The results speak for themselves. GKT’s track record of success representing spine injury victims is due in no small part to the individual attention given to each client and each client’s case.
That’s why if you’ve been in an accident and suffered a spine injury, you can count on GKT’s spine injury attorneys to be there by your side and fight for you every step of the way.
Contact a GKT spine injury attorney today to schedule a free consultation!
Anatomy of the Spine
The spine is necessary for almost everything we do. Without it, our brain cannot deliver messages to the rest of our body. The spine consists of the following structures:
Spinal Cord
A long, thin tubular structure made up of nerve tissue that starts at the brain stem and ends at the lumbar section of the spinal column. The spinal cord transmits messages from the brain to other parts of the body.
Vertebrae
The vertebrae are bones that surround and protect the spinal column. The human body has 33 vertebrae.
Spinal Discs
The spinal discs are rubber-like discs located between the vertebrae. They allow the spine to move and act as shock absorbers.
In addition, the spine is broken up into 5 different sections:
Cervical Spine
The cervical spine is the uppermost part of the spine from the brain stem and into the neck. The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae.
Thoracic Spine
The thoracic spine starts immediately below the cervical spine. The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae.
Lumbar Spine
Immediately below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine consists of 5 vertebrae.
Sacrum
The sacrum begins immediately below the lumbar spine. It is a large triangular bones at the base of the spine. The sacrum consists of 5 vertebrae that are fused together during early adulthood.
Coccyx
Also known as the tailbone, the coccyx is the final portion of the spine. Like the sacrum, it consists of 3-5 rudimentary vertebrae that have been fused together.
The severity and effects of a spine injury depends on what structure is injured and what part of the spine is injured. For example, an injury to a lumbar spinal disc can result in a slipped or herniated disc causing lower back pain and loss of motion. On the other hand, an injury to the spinal cord itself can result in paralysis.
Common Spine Injuries
Injuries to the spine can be some of the most severe and tragic injuries suffered in an accident. While a spine injury can take any shape or form, some spine injuries are more likely to occur in car, truck, and other serious accidents. The following is a brief description of some of the most commonly suffered spine injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury, or SCI, may involve a contusion (bruise), laceration (cut) or other physical damage to the spinal cord. A spinal cord injury is the most severe type of spine injury. Though frequently associated with major accidents involving trucks and other heavy vehicles or motorcycle accidents, a spinal cord injury can occur in even the most “run-of-the-mill” car accident.
Spinal cord injuries can either be complete or incomplete. In a complete SCI, all sensations and motor function is lost from the point of the injury and below. The spinal cord either suffers a serious injury or, less often, severed. In an incomplete SCI, there is still some level of function and sensation at and/or below the point of injury.
Spinal cord injuries are graded by the American Spinal Injury Association’s (ASIA) grading scale:
- ASIA A: complete SCI with no function or sensation
- ASIA B: sensory incomplete SCI with complete loss of motor function
- ASIA C: motor incomplete SCI where less than half of the muscle groups are anti-gravity (meaning that they can lift against gravity with full range of motion)
- ASIA D: motor incomplete SCI where more than half of the muscle groups are anti-gravity