Spinal Cord Injury

Attorneys at The Venardi Elam Firm, LLP represent individuals in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area who have suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI) due to a defective product or the negligence or wrongful conduct of another party.  Any damage to the spinal cord will cause some loss of sensation and function to the body, ranging in severity from numbness or tingling in the lower extremities to total paralysis from the neck down.   

Paralysis occurs because of the inability of the nerves below the point of injury to communicate with the brain; consequently, the higher up along the spine the injury, the more extensive the paralysis to the victim.  An injury below the seven cervical vertebrae in the neck will cause paraplegia, which involves paralysis of the legs and loss of sexual function, and loss of bowel and bladder control.  An injury to the spinal cord along the cervical region causes quadriplegia, which includes paralysis of the arms as well as possibly the entire body from the neck down.  An injury high up on the neck may cause loss of ability to move the diaphragm, in which case the injured individual will require the assistance of a mechanical ventilator to breathe. 

Some common causes of spinal cord injuries which may be compensable include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, including where the injured person is a passenger in the automobile, a motorcycle rider, bicyclist, or pedestrian, or is hit by a semi-truck
• Slipping and falling on the head, neck, or back due to unsafe conditions in a grocery store or restaurant, or on the sidewalk outside the premises of a shop
• Medical malpractice, such as incorrectly performed back surgery or birth trauma

Nerve damage is permanent, and at present there is no cure or way to regrow neurons.  However, research is continually on-going worldwide, and investigations into the use of stem cells and various drugs and treatments offer hope of a possible cure someday.  Even now, with effective emergency treatment, intensive rehabilitation and other therapies, much of the function initially lost may be regained.  However, treatment and rehabilitation for SCI is lengthy and costly, and not all rehabilitative services are fully covered by insurance.  An experienced personal injury attorney who has handled spinal cord injuries and understands the extensive rehabilitation costs and lifetime expenses one can expect as a result of SCI can increase the chances of obtaining a settlement or judgment that adequately compensates the victim for his or her past and future damages.

The Venardi Elam Firm, LLP has successfully represented numerous victims of serious spinal cord injuries, and is currently representing an individual who became a quadriplegic after a defective Segway motorized scooter malfunctioned.  If you or a loved one has suffered a serious spinal cord injury, contact The Venardi Elam Firm, LLP today for a free consultation.