Back and Spine Injury Lawyer

Call Our Spokane Law Firm Today At (509) 444-4444!

Nearly 350,000 Americans live with spinal cord injuries. Approximately 17,000 new back and spinal cord injuries are diagnosed each and over 80 percent of these serious injuries occur in men under the age of 50. On average, less than one-third of those with spinal cord injuries can walk up a flight of stairs even after a year of treatment. More than half are confined to a wheelchair, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center.

The spine is one of the most complex parts of the body. In many ways, the back is the foundation for the entire human body, and the hub of the central nervous system. Understanding the medical facts and being able to explain them to a jury are skills that a trial lawyer develops with time and experience. Former Elected Spokane County Prosecutor, James R. Sweetser, and his team at Sweetser Law Office have handled the most serious spinal cord injury cases, including those where the victim is left paraplegic or quadriplegic. Making sure the victim and their family receive the maximum recovery for the accident and injury is our goal.

Understanding Damage to the Spinal Cord

Damage to the spinal cord often affects the bundle of nerves that runs through the backbone. Because the nerve network in a human body transmits sensation and controls movement throughout the body, damage to it can cause loss of mobility and feeling below the injured area, and can be fatal in catastrophic accidents.

Our backbone, the spine, is composed of a column of 33 bones and tissue that extends from the skull to pelvis. The spinal bones, which are called vertebrae, protect and enclose the bundle of nerves and tissues known as the spinal cord. Between each vertebra in the spine is a band of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber, called intervertebral discs. An injury to one of the vertebrae, discs or even the spinal cord can be debilitating and painful, causing loss of work and difficulty performing regular daily activities, along with diminishing the enjoyment of time spent with family, friends, doing hobbies and sleeping. In general, the higher up on the spinal cord where the injury occurs, the greater the side-effects.

The spine's vertebrae closest to the brain contains our High Cervical Nerves (C1-C4). The next set of vertebrae in the spine are the Low Cervical Nerves (C5-C8). The center of a person's spine contains the Thoracic Vertebrae (T1-T12), which is the area of the spine that controls stability, allows a person to sit and stand upright, and gives support for all of the organs in the upper torso. Directly beneath the low cervical nerves the Lumbar Nerves (L1-L5), which provide the strength and an ability to lift, bend, twist, and turn. The lowest point of a person's spine contains the Sacral Nerves (S1-S5).

Any trauma that compresses, pulls, pushes sideways or cuts the spinal cord can cause spinal cord injury. At the neck level, spinal cord injury impairs breathing and paralyzes the arms, torso, and legs (quadriplegia). Lower in the spine, spinal cord injury weakness and loses movement or feeling in the lower parts of the body and legs (paraplegia). A severed spinal cord can never be repaired.

We will fight to hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries and losses. Contact us today at (509) 444-4444.