Struggling with the aftermath of a spinal injury is challenging enough—but knowing it was caused by the negligence of a medical professional makes the situation worse.
Spinal cord injuries are devastating and life-changing for both patients and their families. Struggling with the physical and emotional aftermath of such an injury is challenging enough—but knowing the negligence of a medical professional caused it can make the situation even worse.
Spinal cord injuries can result in lifelong health problems like paralysis, difficulty breathing, and chronic pain. Medical professionals must be held to the highest standards when working with the spine; otherwise, they are putting their patients at risk of medical malpractice. If something goes wrong during your medical treatment, there are ways to hold the provider responsible under the law. Because of this, it is important to understand your legal rights.
What to Know About Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a collection of nerves traveling from your brain down your back, allowing your brain to control the muscles in your arms and legs and organ functioning. An injury to this area can disrupt these signals and cause significant health problems. Spinal cord injuries are specific to the area of injury. The higher up on the spine the damage occurs, the worse the outcome. Common complications caused by a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of sensation: Injury to the spinal cord prevents it from communicating with other parts of the body, which can cause tingling or numbness.
- Pain: In some cases, patients have spinal surgery to relieve pain and end up with an injury, causing more pain than before.
- Chronic health issues: Spinal cord injuries can lead to chronic problems like muscle spasms, urinary tract infections, and blood clots.
- Paralysis: If an injury occurs high enough up the spinal cord, a patient can suffer partial or complete paralysis.
Medical Malpractice and Spinal Cord Injuries
There are several ways a patient can sustain a spinal cord injury from improper medical care. One of the most common causes of medical malpractice spinal cord injuries is during birth. Misusing forceps causes an infant to sustain a spinal cord injury upon delivery. Also, surgeries are a common cause of spinal cord injuries if done improperly. Unfortunately, any back and neck surgeries have caused paralysis in thousands of patients. Types of medical malpractice that can lead to a spinal cord injury include:
- Negligence at any stage of treatment
- Failure to diagnose a tumor or other conditions
- Delay in scheduling for surgery or other necessary treatment
- Surgical errors, including anesthetic errors
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, or call us at 410-843-3476, for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.