New Jersey Attorneys Help Victims of Spinal Injuries

Compensation for traumatic neck and spinal cord damage

Victims of spinal cord and neck injuries face lifetime physical and emotional difficulties, including paralysis, organ dysfunction, loss of sensation and reduced independence that typically accompany the loss of motor functions. As your earning capacity diminishes, you incur the substantial expenses associated with rehabilitation, medical treatments and special equipment. Without compensation, the costs of living with a spinal cord injury can take a financial toll on your family. The attorneys at Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC help you recover the compensation you need to get the best care possible for spinal injuries and preserve your family’s financial security.

Causes of spinal cord and neck injuries

Spinal injuries occur when the vertebrae that protect the nerves are fractured, dislocated, burst, compressed, hyperextended or hyperflexed. The trauma is almost always preventable. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the most common causes are:

Damage caused by spinal cord and neck injuries

Trauma to the spinal cord or neck can cause irreparable damage to the nervous system and other systems of the body. The level and nature of medical conditions that result from these injuries depend on which vertebrae were damaged and whether the damage to the region was complete or incomplete. Total loss of sensation and function below the injured vertebra is considered a complete injury, whereas partial function and feeling is referred to as an incomplete injury. In addition to its effect on motor function, a spinal cord injury also interferes with other organs and makes victims more susceptible to infections — leading to such serious issues as renal failure, pneumonia and septicemia.

Lifetime costs of living with a spinal cord injury

After initial critical care and rehabilitative treatments, you may continue to accrue extraordinary expenses to accommodate your disabilities. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation estimates that the lifetime costs to a 25-year-old who suffers a spinal cord injury equals:

• $4,373,912 for high tetraplegia (C1-C4)
• $3,195,853 for low tetraplegia (C5-C8)
• $2,138,824 for paraplegia
• $1,4561,255 for incomplete motor function at any level

Speak with a compassionate lawyer about recovery after an accident

Neck and spine damage can be permanent. To learn more about your rights to recover for spinal cord and neck injuries, call Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC at 862-263-0770 or contact us online to schedule your one-hour free initial consultation. For your convenience, we have offices in Elmwood Park, Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, and Roseland, with Spanish-speaking translators available by request.