West Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

Recent sporting injuries like the spinal cord injury of a football player from Rutgers University this month are shedding light on developments in treating these devastating injuries. According to an October 18, 2010 article in the LA Times newspaper, new uses for embryonic stems cells are giving hope to victims of spinal cord injuries.

The article outlines the story of an Atlanta-based patient who was the first to be treated this month with therapy that utilized human embryonic stem cells. Research clinicians were testing the safety of specialized nerve cells that they hoped would repair damaged spinal cords. The results remain to be seen in the human patients of the study, but rats that were treated using the same methods showed marked improvement in the ability to walk and even run with a limp.

The hope of researchers is that patients who are treated with this new stem cell process will be able to not only regain mobility, but that they will also be able to regain the use of their bladders, legs and arms where applicable. There is no cure for spinal cord injury paralysis, but this new method could enhance the use of limbs and joints that were previously limited.

Every year, an estimated 262,000 people in the U.S. deal with some level of paralysis from a spinal cord injury. Many of those people suffered their injuries in car accidents or slip and falls. If you have been paralyzed in an accident, contact a West Virginia lawyer right away to determine your rights under the law.

In West Virginia, most spinal cord injuries are the direct result of auto accidents, falls or violent crimes. These types of injuries are devastating to many victims, causing permanent paralysis either below the waist (paraplegia) or chest (quadriplegia) in vast majority of cases. Although you can recover damages for catastrophic spinal cord injuries caused by the negligence of someone else, lesser injuries may be harder to prove. This is why you need a West Virginia personal injury lawyer on your side.

Spinal cord injuries typically occur after a direct blow to your spine. The most obvious symptoms include immediate paralysis below the injury site, loss of movement and sensation, loss of bowel or bladder control and weakness or loss of muscle function altogether. According to the Mayo Clinic, though, symptoms of spinal cord injuries aren't always as easily detected. Lesser, but still significant, symptoms of spinal cord injury include exaggerated reflexes or spasms, changes in sexual function or sensitivity, pain or stinging in your back, difficulty breathing or general numbness.

Getting an immediate medical examination is crucial if you think you've experienced a spinal cord injury. More than half of the 10,000 annual spinal cord injuries occur from car accidents, so it's especially important to have your spinal cord and back examined after a crash. Keep in mind that a spinal cord injury doesn't have to be as extreme as a tear or severing of the spinal cord. Injuries can also include spinal cord bruises (contusions that can cause internal bleeding), spinal cord concussions and spinal compression.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in West Virginia and across the United States are motor vehicle accidents (including automobiles and motorcycles), which account for more than 40% of new spinal cord injuries each year. 25% of spinal cord injuries are caused by falls (especially in victims over the age of 65), and another 15% are attributed to acts of violence, most often gun shot cases. The remaining 20% of injuries are the result of sporting and recreation incidents, alcohol use and degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis and spinal cord inflammation.

In most cases, a sudden blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae causes a permanent spinal cord injury. Symptoms of this condition can range from extreme pain to complete loss of feeling in the limbs. Further, victims of spinal cord injury may have trouble breathing or maintaining normal bowel function.

There are more than 11,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year. That means about 30 people experience this type of traumatic injury every day in America. The most often observed results are paraplegia (loss of sensation below the waist) and quadriplegia (loss of sensation and functionality below the neck/chest).

Spinal cord injuries are not to be taken lightly. Many times, when people have been seriously injured, they are not sure who to call. If you or someone close to you has experienced a spinal cord injury, you must contact a West Virginia personal injury lawyer right away to discuss your case. The insurance company may pressure you to quickly settle your case, but it's best to get a qualified legal opinion before you do anything. Spinal cord injuries change lives forever and a reliable lawyer can help make your situation more comfortable.