Virginia Social Security Disability Claims for Spinal Cord Injuries
Every year in the United States, approximately 12,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) – not including those who die at the scene of the accident. The National Spinal Cord Injury Database statistics also state that in January 2008, the number of people in the U.S. with SCI ranged between 227,000 and 300,000.
Spinal cord injuries are usually caused by a traumatic blow to the head, neck, or back that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. This is a sensitive area, because the spinal cord comprises a bundle of nerves that transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body. When a spinal cord injury occurs, this system is damaged, often resulting in physical impairment. While some victims will experience almost complete recovery, others will be completely and permanently paralyzed.
Impact to the spinal cord may fracture, dislocate or compress the vertebrae, which in turn crushes the extensive nerve cells (axons) that carry signals along the spinal cord between the brain and the body. Specific effects of a spinal cord injury on the body usually depend on the location and severity of the injury. An injury to the spinal cord can damage a small number of axons or almost all of them.
Paralysis, or loss of movement and sensation, can be complete or incomplete with a spinal cord injury. The complete/incomplete classification indicates how much movement and feeling is left in the affected areas after initial recovery. The victim of a complete injury totally lacks sensory and motor function below the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury victim retains some sensory motor function below the injury. Less than one percent of those hospitalized with a spinal cord injury completely recover. The major of those with spinal cord injuries have incomplete quadriplegia, followed by complete paraplegia, complete quadriplegia, and incomplete paraplegia.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, or are paraplegic or quadriplegic, you may need a lawyer. An SCI can cause more than physical harm – it can also impact the victims’ family, finances and future. Jerry Lutkenhaus can help you if you need to file for Social Security Disability for this type of injury.
Unfortunately, spinal cord injures are irreversible. They are caused by automobile accidents, injuries on the job, sports mishaps, falls, birth trauma, violence and disease. Caring for those who have survived a spinal cord injury is often a lifelong endeavor. Treating a patient with a spinal cord injury often involves a team of medical professionals dedicated to every aspect of a patient’s well being. Many people who live with spinal cord injury have secondary complications including pain, respiratory and heart problems, bladder and bowel dysfunction, pressure sores, respiratory complications, urinary tract infections, spasticity, and scoliosis.
Jerry Lutkenhaus has experience filing Social Security Disability claims for spinal cord injuries. Contact him now for a free consultation at 1-800-256-8862 or (804) 358-4766 or contact us online with our contact form.
