Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day

How Can Spinal Cord Injuries Happen?

Every four hours, one person in the UK suffers a spinal cord injury. A traumatic spinal cord injury can be caused by a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine, and the majority of these injuries happen as a result of preventable accidents such as:

• Road traffic accidents
• Accidents at work e.g., falls from height or being crushed by a falling object
• Sports injuries
• Horse riding accidents

Our Personal Injury Lawyers have helped hundreds of people claim compensation for spinal cord injuries, so they can get a sense of both justice and access the support and rehabilitation they need. Our team of Medical Negligence Solicitors also supports those with spinal cord injuries that were caused, or made worse by, medical mistakes and oversights, for example:

• Misdiagnosis of cauda equina syndrome
• Misdiagnosis of neurological conditions
• Late diagnosis of diseases such as cancer or arthritis, which can cause serious spinal cord damage
• Spinal surgical errors or nerve injuries

Accidents that cause spinal cord injuries can happen in the blink of an eye and can change someone’s life forever. Sometimes, serious spinal injuries aren’t obvious immediately after an accident due to the symptoms, such as numbness or paralysis, developing gradually. Our Lawyers, and charities such as SIA, are here to help people living with spinal cord injuries – we aim to help people have the chance to live a fulfilled life by taking their exact circumstances into account and signposting them to the help they need.

What Challenges Do People with Spinal Cord Injuries Face?

The spinal cord is an extension of our brain, made up of many nerves that carry messages to the rest of our body. Spinal cord injuries affect our nervous system by disrupting and damaging the messages between our brains and bodies.

All spinal cord injuries are serious, but every person and accident is different, so the physical symptoms of spinal cord injuries can vary significantly. You can have either a complete spinal cord injury (where all feeling and ability to control movement is lost) or incomplete (where you have some sensory function or ability to move).

Many people with spinal cord injuries are tragically left with chronic pain conditions and paralysis, but many people don’t realise spinal cord injuries can also affect your ability to control your temperature, retain memories, or even talk and breathe effectively. Spinal cord injuries can also lead to loss of bladder and bowel control and sexual dysfunction, which may be embarrassing for people to deal with and talk about. Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day is about helping people understand the full impact of these injuries, not just the physical affects you can see, but also the hidden challenges people live with every day. It aims to break down the stigma, start honest conversations, and make sure those affected feel seen, heard and supported.

The physical effects of a spinal cord injury can be life-changing, but it's just as important to recognise the emotional toll it can take. Coming to terms with such a major change can feel overwhelming, and many people understandably struggle with their mental health as they adjust to a very different way of life.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 20-30% of people with spinal cord injuries experience depression. Which is hardly surprising, as losing your independence so suddenly is one of the most difficult life changes a person can face. Physical symptoms can mean that people lose their independence, freedom to socialise and continue with their hobbies in the way they used to.

While we have helped hundreds of people with spinal cord injuries, our Serious Injury team always treat every person as an individual. SIA offers a free specialist counselling service, and our dedicated lawyers will take the time to understand everything we can about your or your loved one’s injuries, to ensure you can access the exact help you need.

How We Can Help if You’ve Suffered a Spinal Cord Injury

If you or a family member has suffered a spinal injury, claiming compensation might not be your first thought because of how much the injury can disrupt your life. Whilst no amount of money can undo what has happened, if your spinal cord injury was at least partly someone else’s fault, our dedicated Solicitors could help you claim compensation.

Our expert Lawyers have years of experience helping people with spinal cord injuries and with their expertise, they can take your exact situation into account to secure the best possible compensation for you. We can help you access:

• Specialist private personal injury rehabilitation;
• Loss of earnings, if you’ve had to take time off work, or compensation for earnings you may miss out on in the future if you’re sadly unable to return to your career.
• The resources you need to adjust to life with your injury, which can include anything from a wheelchair, cuffs for picking up objects, adaptations to your home, or even a new house.
• Any therapy you might benefit from, including physiotherapy, counselling, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy;
• Pain management experts.

The list above does not cover absolutely everything you could access, as the exact help you need will depend on your or your relative’s situation. To see whether you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation, contact our Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case assessment, so we can explore your options and help put the right support in place for your future.