Understanding How Oregon Medical Malpractice Can Result in Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, there are almost 18,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year. Further research reveals that spinal cord injuries are the leading cause of paralysis in the United States. This means that spinal cord injuries are more prevalent than brachial plexus injuries, strokes, heart attacks, facial nerve injuries, and other types of paralyzing injuries. Accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. This includes Oregon medical malpractice which could result in serious and debilitating personal injuries.
Victims of Oregon medical malpractice who have suffered a spinal cord injury may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. This compensation includes the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings if unable to return to the same line of work
- Medical bills
- Loss of consortium and services of loved ones
- Equipment such as wheelchairs or mobility assistance devices
- Modifications to one’s home or vehicle
- Nursing care, including the likely future need for nursing home assistance
- Future surgeries, and
- Many other types of compensation related to the accident.
How Spinal Cord Injuries from Oregon Medical Malpractice Occur
There are many possible causes of spinal cord injuries from Oregon medical malpractice. Unfortunately, many spinal cord injuries caused by medical errors could be preventable but were caused reckless or careless errors. Generally, most spinal cord injuries are debilitating and permanent to some effect. Even if there is minor damage to the spinal cord, it could still have a massive effect. Thus, spinal cord injuries are usually caused by mistakes by healthcare providers.
Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include the following:
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Failure to diagnose
- Delays in Treatment or diagnosis
- Dropped patient during a transfer
- Nursing home malpractice
- Failure to protect a fall risk patient
- Abuse and neglect
- Pressure sores
- Strokes, and
- Any other common causes.
Disability from Spinal Cord Injuries
The amount of disability from a spinal cord injury depends on the extent of the injury and the location of the injury. The more severe the damage and the higher up on the spinal cord, the debilitating the injury.
There are two types of spinal cord injuries. The first is a partial spinal cord injury which means the spinal cord is only partially damaged but still connected. This means that some signals may be sent up and down the spinal cord, but not all messages can be sent and received. The second is a complete spinal cord injury which means the spinal cord is completely damaged and messages cannot be sent between the brain and the rest of the body. Oregon medical malpractice could result in partial or complete spinal cord injuries, but while auto accidents are likely to cause completely spinal cord injuries, medical malpractice is more likely to cause partial spinal cord injuries.
The location of the spinal cord injury also dictates how much of the body is disabled. An injury in the lower back only affects what is below that point, which is just the legs. An injury in the mid back will affect part of the torso and the lower legs. An injury in the neck could affect all four limbs and the torso. This is known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia and it is the most severe.
Spinal Cord Injuries After Oregon Medical Malpractice Need Our Lawyers
We can help protect the rights of victims injured due to Oregon medical malpractice and suffering from any type of injury, including spinal cord injuries. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
