A Reputation Built By Success

Neck, Spine And Other Severe Injuries

spinalcord neck injuries

The insurance companies will often do everything possible to avoid compensating you for your neck, spine or other severe injuries. Leeseberg Tuttle‘s substantial resources allow clients to go toe-to-toe with the multibillion-dollar insurance industry.

Few accidents pose as great of a threat to someone’s health as neck and spinal injuries. Because of the sensitivity of organ systems (which include the vascular, airway, neurological and gastrointestinal systems), just one puncture wound is capable of causing significant bodily harm. What may appear at the time to be an innocent wound can potentially lead to lethal injuries if overlooked or not examined by a neck and spine specialist.

Cases involving neck and spine pain can be difficult. In the normal aging process, almost everyone suffers from some degree of degeneration in the neck and spine. Isolating the damage from a particular injury rather than from general aging can be difficult to prove, but we rely on the best expert witnesses. To make your case, we’ll turn to the finest experts available. The majority of insurance companies are very difficult to deal with. Even if the liability of the incident is clearly defined, the insurance companies will often do everything possible to avoid compensating you for your neck, spine or other severe personal injuries.

Spinal Cord And Neck Injuries: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

Injuries to the neck and spine can have catastrophic and life-changing consequences, including paralysis, nerve damage, lung and breathing issues and more. Because of the immense costs associated with immediate and long-term medical care, most insurance companies are hesitant and sometimes even resistant to pay fair compensation to accident victims.

At Leeseberg Tuttle, we know this all too well because we have handled countless spine and neck cases on behalf of accident victims over the years. We know exactly how to fight back against insurance companies in order to recover the compensation our clients need and deserve.

Below is a list of common questions our clients ask us about their spinal cord and neck injuries and the process needed to recover fair compensation. If you would like to learn more or discuss your specific case during a free consultation, please call our Columbus office at 855-445-6266 or send us an email.

How do I know if I’ve suffered a spine or neck injury?

Symptoms of a spine or neck injury can vary depending on the severity of your injury. Mild symptoms often include headache, numbness in limbs and extremities, and pain or stiffness in your neck. More serious symptoms can include problems walking or the loss of the ability to walk or move, loss of consciousness, loss of bladder or bowel control and the ever-increasing and spreading of tingling sensations or numbness throughout the body.

It’s important to remember that just because your symptoms are mild, this does not necessarily mean your injuries are mild or should be ignored. Seeking medical attention right away after an accident is always a good idea so a medical professional can determine how severe your injuries are and what your prognosis is.

What are the different types of spinal cord and neck injuries?

There are two main categories of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete injuries.

  • Complete spinal injuries occur when the spinal cord is completely severed, which causes the loss of nerve function below the site of the injury.
  • Incomplete spinal injuries occur when the spinal cord or spinal column is only partially damaged, which can lead to temporary symptoms that heal over time or long-term disabilities that require ongoing care.

Spinal cord injuries occur in four main areas of the spinal column:

  • Cervical: This is the top area of the neck, above the chest and shoulders. Damage to this area often results in quadriplegia, which is the loss of movement of the arms, legs, chest and waist.
  • Thoracic: This area comprises the chest, between the shoulders and waist. Damage to this area can impact a person’s respiratory system as well as their ability to coordinate movement in their arms and legs, depending on where the injury occurs within this 12-vertebrae section.
  • Lumbar: This area comprises the waist, just above the hips. Damage to this area can impact a person’s ability to walk or coordinate movement in their legs as well as cause the loss of bowel or bladder control and sexual function.
  • Sacral: This area comprises the vertebrae between the lumbar and the tail bone. Although this area of the spine does not contain spinal cord tissue, injuries to this area can cause mobility disruptions, a loss of sensation in the legs and feet and other disabilities.

What are my chances of survival after a spinal cord injury?

A majority of people who suffer spinal cord injuries survive and go on to live fulfilling lives. But to increase these chances, it’s incredibly important to seek medical attention right away, have a skilled medical professional address your medical needs and receive ongoing medical care and therapy.

With access to proper long-term care, medical equipment and technology to accommodate any disabilities you may have, you may be able to return to certain activities you once enjoyed, such as driving a car or other activities.

What is the cost of a spinal cord or neck injury?

The cost of a spinal cord or neck injury varies greatly from case to case. In general, the cost of a spinal cord or neck injury is calculated based on a few factors:

  • Immediate and long-term care, including hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medication, physical therapy and in-home or in-facility care by a nurse or health care worker
  • Emergency surgery and any corrective surgeries later on
  • Disability accommodations, such as wheelchairs, home accommodations, medical equipment, transportation needs and more
  • Loss of ability to work
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

These costs can easily surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars when immediate and future costs are taken into consideration. Our personal injury attorneys have assembled a team of experts that help them calculate these costs to ensure that you will not have to foot the bill for someone else’s negligence.

When can I file a personal injury claim for a spine or neck injury?

Under Ohio law, if you were injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury claim within two years from the date of the accident or injury.

It’s very important to know that once this statute of limitations expires, you may not file a personal injury claim for compensation, which is why it’s incredibly important to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney about your injuries sooner rather than later.

The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you may be able to collect much needed compensation to cover your already accruing bills.

Do I need an attorney in order to file a personal injury claim?

Because of the statute of limitations here in Ohio, the complexity of personal injury laws in our state and the oftentimes challenging pushback that most people experience from insurance companies, it’s highly advised to work with an attorney when filing a personal injury claim.

Our attorneys work with a team of highly skilled experts that range from accident reconstructionists to medical professionals who help our lawyers as well as the court understand the full extent of your accident and the impact it has and will have on your life. This information is valuable in ensuring that you are awarded fair compensation rather than a lowball offer that does not cover the full extent of your financial needs.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

This is a common question among those who contact our firm, and we understand your trepidation. You’re likely facing mounting bills already and are worried about the added expense of hiring a lawyer to resolve your case.

It’s important to know that when you hire a personal injury lawyer, you pay no upfront costs. We only get paid if you receive compensation through a settlement or judge’s verdict. And even then, it’s only a percentage of the total award.

We are known throughout Ohio for seeking maximum compensation for our clients because we understand your needs and the challenges you are facing. We want to help ease that burden.

Contact Us For The Help You Need

At Leeseberg Tuttle in Columbus, our personal injury attorneys take pride in fighting for our clients to get the compensation they deserve when dealing with neck, spine or other severe injuries. Contact us today at 855-445-6266 and speak to one of our law firm’s partners about your case.

Our Success

$44.5 million

Verdict for injured 9 year-old in Franklin County, Ohio

$8 Million

Settlement for 18 Patients who took Baycol

$6.5 Million

Franklin County Wrongful Death and Survivorship Jury Verdict

$6.1 Million

Judgment after a man suffered severe adverse reactions from a flu shot

$6 Million

Jury Verdict Against Emergency Room Physicians

$5 Million

Verdict Against Hospital and Surgeon