Spinal Cord Injuries

More than half of all Canadians currently living with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) sustained them through some kind of traumatic event such as a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall accident, assault, or sports accident. Sustaining an SCI can be emotionally overwhelming, socially isolating, and enormously expensive. 

Trauma that causes one or more of an accident victim’s vertebrae to break can cause damage to their spinal cord. Since the spinal cord acts as a superhighway for the brain to send signals to other parts of the body, an SCI can affect many physiological areas, including sensations, strength, and motor abilities. If the spinal cord is injured, neurological impulses may be impeded, leading to loss of mobility and sensation. 

The location of the injury on an accident victim’s body determines the extent of paralysis. If the injury is sustained higher up on the body, more extremities may be affected. The levels of injury are differentiated as follows:

• Quadriplegic: Injuries in the spine’s upper region cause paralysis in the victim’s arms, trunk, legs, and pelvic region (including bowels and the bladder). 
• Paraplegic: Injuries in the spine’s thoracic or lumbar regions affect the lower portion of the body, but do not affect the accident victim’s arms.

People who sustain permanent, catastrophic injuries such as SCIs face monumental difficulties. Adjusting to life with a disability is one of the most challenging experiences a person can face in their lifetime. And in addition to the physical and psychological ramifications of losing one’s mobility, sustaining SCIs can cause accident victims to endure financial insecurity. 

If you were injured in an accident caused by another party or entity’s negligence, schedule a free initial consultation with our Ontario personal injury lawyers to learn about options for financial recovery that might be available to you. Call 1-800-JUSTICE today.

Damages That Might Be Available

Depending on the circumstances of your injury-causing accident, you may be entitled to different amounts of compensation. Our personal injury lawyers serving Ontario will be able to review possible courses of action you may be entitled to take during your free initial consultation.

If you sustained a permanent, catastrophic injury like an SCI as the result of a motor vehicle collision, regardless of who was at-fault for the accident, you should be able to recover accident benefits through your automobile insurance provider. In accordance with the province’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedules (SABS), catastrophically injured car accident survivors may be entitled to:

• Up to $1 million for medical expenses and attendant care
• Up to $100 per week for housekeeping services and home maintenance 
• Income replacement payments of 70% of a policyholder’s regular earnings (up to a maximum of $400 per week)
• And possibly more

That said, accident benefits alone will most likely not cover the total financial losses incurred by car crash survivors who have sustained SCIs. Furthermore, no funding is allocated through the SABS to compensate catastrophically injured accident victims for the non-economic damages they have sustained, like pain and suffering. Oftentimes, damages with no monetary value have an even greater impact on an injured accident survivor’s overall quality of life.

If someone else’s negligence caused your accident to occur– either behind the wheel of a car, on another person’s property, or in another setting– our Ontario personal injury lawyers may be able to help you file a civil claim against the at-fault party. With the help of our personal injury lawyers, you may be able to recover the maximum amount of damages to which you are entitled. 

Book Your Free Initial Consultation Today

Learn more about how Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to get you the justice, accountability, and financial restitution you deserve. Contact us today to book your free initial consultation with our personal injury lawyers serving all of Ontario.