The Many Challenges of Spinal Cord Injuries

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Canada! As a law firm with firsthand experience with life-changing injuries, James H. Brown and Associates is proud to bring greater awareness and justice to those that have suffered a spinal cord injury due to an accident. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, our team of experienced lawyers is here to help you attain the justice and compensation you deserve. When you or a family member’s future is at stake, it is critical to ensure you have the funds and support you need to provide for their lifelong needs. Below we’ll discuss what a spinal cord injury is, some of the challenges spinal cord injury victims face, and how James H. Brown and Associates can help. Continue reading to learn more, and happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A Spinal Cord Injury or SCI typically starts with a traumatic and sudden impact on the spine. That impact dislocates, compresses, or fractures some of the vertebrae. The spine’s vertebrae are the rings of bones that protect the nerves inside the spinal cord. Damage to these nerves can disrupt the pathway that sends messages between the spinal cord, the brain, and the rest of the body. An SCI can affect feeling and movement below the point of injury, either temporarily or permanently, and severely impacts the victim’s way of life. Below are a few ways a victim’s life can be affected.

Changes in Normal Health Conditions

SCIs can often result in paralysis in the legs, torso, arms, and/or neck. However, aside from paralysis, several other health conditions can arise as comorbidities. For instance, many individuals with an SCI often cannot regulate their body temperature below the injury site, leading to other health complications. People with an SCI also commonly cannot control their bladder or bowel movements independently. This can lead to several other health conditions such as urinary tract infections, constipation, bladder stones, etc. These health complications can significantly impact a person’s daily routine and life. At the same time, secondary conditions can prevent individuals from maintaining the standard of living they were previously used to. It’s vital that after sustaining an SCI, you closely monitor and take steps to care for yourself. 

Physical Barriers

In addition to health complications, people with an SCI also experience physical barriers in public and private settings. According to Statistics Canada, almost three-quarters of Canadians with a disability experience at least one barrier when trying to access organizations or businesses governed by federal law. Many individuals with an SCI utilize a range of mobility aids, from manual wheelchairs to leg braces and more. Those who rely on these mobility aids often require accessibility features like ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. When a business, organization, or space lacks these vital accessibility features, people with an SCI are limited to what and how they can participate in different activities and settings. These physical barriers are demoralizing, exclusionary, and one of the many challenges people with disabilities must face regularly. 

Cost of Living

Unfortunately, the reality of sustaining an SCI is that they’re complicated and expensive. Often people with an SCI will require the assistance of home care, daily medication, regular doctor’s appointments, home modifications, mobility aids, and medical equipment. These services are costly, and many people are forced to pay out-of-pocket. That means for someone with an SCI, their cost of living is significantly higher than those without an SCI. For those with an SCI, the stress of financial instability is a common concern they have to live with. 

James H. Brown and Associates Can Give You Hope

For Spinal Cord Injury claims, there are numerous details to research and consider before a lawyer can formally file a case. That’s why you need the experts at James H. Brown and Associates to help you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Our team utilizes professional accident reconstruction engineers and private investigators to determine your accident’s cause and determine whose actions have contributed to your injuries. Exposing these potential liabilities can assist in strengthening your case. That’s why it’s vital that you hire an injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injury or accident. With over 250 years of combined experience in injury law, our James H. Brown and Associates team is here to help you and your loved ones get the justice and compensation you deserve. 

Ready to learn more about spinal cord injuries and personal injury law? Contact James H. Brown and Associates today for your free, no-obligation consultation!