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Incomplete vs. Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: Legal Implications
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, and the legal implications can be complex. However, there is a critical distinction between incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries. Incomplete injuries preserve some sensation and motor function below the level of injury, while complete injuries result in a total loss of sensation and motor function.
This distinction has significant legal implications. For example, in personal injury cases, the amount of compensation awarded to a victim of a spinal cord injury will often depend on the severity of the injury. An incomplete injury may result in a lower award than a complete injury, as the victim may still have some ability to work and earn a living.
In addition, the legal implications of a spinal cord injury can vary depending on the jurisdiction. For example, some jurisdictions have laws that provide additional benefits to victims of complete spinal cord injuries. These benefits may include Medicaid coverage, tax breaks, and vocational rehabilitation services.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it is essential to speak with an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights. An attorney can help you understand the legal implications of your injury and can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Incomplete vs. Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: Legal Implications
The distinction between incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries is crucial when it comes to legal implications. In personal injury cases, the amount of compensation awarded to a victim will often depend on the severity of the injury. An incomplete injury may result in a lower award than a complete injury, as the victim may still have some ability to work and earn a living.
For example, let’s say two people are involved in a car accident. One person suffers an incomplete spinal cord injury, while the other person suffers a complete injury. The person with the incomplete injury may still have some sensation and motor function below the level of injury. This means that they may be able to walk, albeit with difficulty. The person with the complete injury, on the other hand, will have no sensation or motor function below the level of injury. This means that they will be unable to walk or use their legs.
In this scenario, the person with the incomplete injury is likely to receive a lower compensation award than the person with the complete injury. This is because the person with the incomplete injury has a better chance of returning to work and earning a living. The person with the complete injury, on the other hand, will have a more difficult time returning to work and may need long-term care.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it is essential to speak with an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights. An attorney can help you understand the legal implications of your injury and can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve.
**Spinal Cord Injury: Incomplete vs. Complete**
A spinal cord injury can be either incomplete or complete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means that there is some residual function below the level of the injury. A complete spinal cord injury means that there is no residual function below the level of the injury.
**Damages in Incomplete vs. Complete Spinal Cord Injuries**
The damages that are awarded in a spinal cord injury case will vary depending on the severity of the injury. In general, the damages will be higher for a complete spinal cord injury than for an incomplete spinal cord injury. This is because a complete spinal cord injury will result in a greater loss of function and a more significant impact on the victim’s life.
The damages that are awarded in a spinal cord injury case may include:
**Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury**
An incomplete spinal cord injury is one in which the spinal cord is not completely severed. This means that there is still some function below the level of the injury. The amount of function that is preserved will vary depending on the severity of the injury. In some cases, the victim may be able to walk, while in other cases they may be confined to a wheelchair. Which nerves and spinal tracts are damaged and to what degree will affect the preserved function.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries can be classified as either:
- Anterior cord syndrome: occurs when the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in a loss of motor function and some loss of sensation below the level of the injury, but sparing fine touch and proprioception.
- Central cord syndrome: occurs when the central portion of the spinal cord is injured, leading to weakness in the arms greater than in the legs and a loss of fine motor skills and discriminative sensation in the hands.
- Brown-Séquard syndrome: results from a hemisection of the spinal cord, with motor and conscious proprioception loss on the side of the lesion and loss of discriminative sensation on the opposite side.
- Posterior cord syndrome: a rare condition resulting from damage to the posterior columns of the spinal cord. It causes a loss of fine touch, conscious proprioception, and vibration sense below the level of the lesion, while motor function and other sensory modalities remain intact.
**Complete Spinal Cord Injury**
A complete spinal cord injury is one in which the spinal cord is completely severed. This means that there is no function below the level of the injury. The victim will be paralyzed and will have no sensation below the level of the injury.
