Everything You Need to Know: Slips, Trips, and Spinal Cord Injuries

While some slips and trips leave nothing more than a scrape or bruise, others may result in serious injuries, including permanent damage to the spinal cord. In fact, slips and falls are among the leading causes of spinal cord injuries, increasing from 17% in the 1970s to 31% from 2010 to 2013.

An everyday incident can have devastating impacts, setting you on a long road to recovery – and redefining your future. If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, it’s important that the responsible party is held accountable.

Keep reading to learn more about spinal cord injuries, and to find out how the South Carolina attorneys at Hoffman Law Firm can help you get the compensation you deserve!

Spinal Cord Anatomy Behind A Slip and Fall

The spinal cord is an integral part of communication and movement within the nervous system, but despite the vital function it serves, it is incredibly fragile. Formed in a cylindrical structure, the spinal cord is in charge of carrying nerve signals, or messages, to the rest of the body.

The nerve messages have three important functions within the body:

Control movements and functions, both involuntary and direct
Help the brain record and process sensations, such as pain
Manage reflexes

In a slip-and-fall incident, trauma to the spinal cord can disrupt communication to the rest of the body. This may result in temporary or permanent loss of function below that point of the spinal cord.

Slips, Falls, and Spinal Injuries

Characterized by the impact of 150 pounds or more onto a hard surface, slips and falls can cause serious injuries. While it’s natural to reach out your arms to break your fall, time is not always on your side. Depending on how you fall, the force often hits directly onto the spine or center of the back.

The top slip-and-fall spinal injuries can be narrowed down into three categories: herniated discs, spinal fractures, and spinal cord injuries.

Herniated Discs

A slip-and-fall accident causes the spine to twist or bend in an unnatural way, often resulting in a herniated disc. Think of a spinal disc as a rubbery cushion wedged between the vertebrae, with a jelly-like center, the nucleus, at the core.

A herniated disc occurs when some of the nucleus pushes out through a tear in the exterior, most often in the lower back. A herniated disc can cause severe pain, numbness, or weakness.

Spinal Fractures

A spinal fracture is a dislocation or break in one or more of the bones in the spine, ranging in severity from a mild muscle strain to spinal cord damage. There are three types of spinal fractures:

Compression fracture: Typically caused by spinal abnormalities, the front vertebra breaks and deteriorates while the back vertebra remains stable.
Axial burst fracture: Most common in slip and fall accidents, this type of fracture is caused by the loss of height on both the front and back of the vertebra.
Chance fracture: This fracture is caused by the pulling apart of the vertebra due to a violent forward injury, commonly seen in car accidents.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury, or SCI, occurs when the spinal cord is damaged from a fracture, dislocation, or compression. A spinal cord injury can be life-altering, resulting in partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation to areas below the spinal injury, and loss of bladder or bowel control.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury or other spinal injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident, seek medical treatment immediately, then contact our Charleston, SC slip-and-fall attorneys near you.

Who’s to Blame in a Slip and Fall Accident?

A spinal injury after a slip and fall can drastically alter your day-to-day life. After seeking medical attention, contact a slip and fall lawyer at Hoffman Law Firm for guidance. Our experienced team can help you through the legal process, offering trusted advice each step of the way.

Our first step in identifying a valid claim is determining who is to blame. Did you slip in a puddle in the grocery store aisle? Did you fall down after a broken rack of clothes collapsed at the mall?

Our personal injury lawyers will help you determine whether the slip and fall occurred because of negligence or a defective product. If so, we will advocate for your rights and work to recover compensation – including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.

Talk to Your Personal Injury Attorney at Hoffman Law Firm Today

Slips and falls not only cause physical damage but impact your emotional wellbeing as well. But with a strong legal team on your side, you may receive compensation in the aftermath.

Our Charleston personal injury lawyers support accident victims throughout the Palmetto State, putting our extensive experience to work for the clients we proudly serve.

Plus, you only pay if we win your case!

We have established a reputation for success, as well as great service! To meet with one of our slip and fall lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina, schedule your free consultation today.

Our personal injury law firm offers trusted legal representation right here in the Lowcountry, including these practice areas:

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Slips, Trips and Falls: What’s the Difference?

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Who is Responsible for Your Slip and Fall Accident?

Can A Personal Injury Case Be Reopened in South Carolina?