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Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Your spinal cord works a lot like a multi-lane information highway. Signals from the brain travel through this two-way communication line that is made of nerve cells and fibres and looks similar to a cable. Then they branch off to secondary roads to reach different parts of your body. Similarly, messages from nerve endings in the body travel back through these side roads, are routed through the spinal cord and are brought back to your brain for decoding and processing. This communication network allows the brain to control muscles, ensure proper organ function, and provide important sensory feedback (such as knowing when you are touching something that could burn you if you don’t pull away).
Your spine provides vital protection for this important information highway while remaining flexible enough to allow a range of motion. But if your spine suffers trauma that causes or permits damage to the spinal cord, it could result in a kind of message traffic jam where some lanes of that highway become blocked or closed off completely. Unfortunately, if damage is permanent, there is no known alternate route between the brain and body.
Traumatic spinal cord injuries can be caused by falls, contact sports, surgical errors, or intentionally inflicted violence. But if you or a loved one sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident in Ontario, you may be eligible for certain medical benefits and compensation from the province’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) or no-fault auto insurance.
Severe debilitating spinal cord damage can be life-altering. Ensuring you receive the maximum amount of benefits and compensation you need and deserve will be critical as you recover and build your best life possible. Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers’ catastrophic spinal cord injury team has the experience, knowledge and skill you’ll want in your legal representative. As your fierce advocate, we can help you build a strong case to convince an insurer to settle your claim fairly, and we’ll be ready to take the matter to court if they won’t.
Understanding the spine and spinal cord.
Design and function.
Most people are born with 33 vertebrae in the spine. Seven cervical vertebrae in the neck (C1 to C7), 12 thoracic vertebrae in the upper back (T1 to T12), five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back (L1 to L5), five sacral vertebrae between the hip bones (S1 to S5), and four vertebrae that form the coccyx. By adulthood, the sacral and coccyx vertebrae have normally fused together.
Vertebrae are joined by ligaments on each side of the spine and separated by cartilage discs that absorb pressure as a person moves. Together these parts form the spine, a protective tube-like casing designed to protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord begins at the base of the brain and continues through to the L2 lumbar vertebrae. There it branches into a series of nerves that extend to the coccyx.
Spinal cord injury symptoms.
Injuries to the spinal cord, which are also called spinal lesions, may affect the functionality of multiple systems in the body, including:
- Muscle movement.
- Sensory issues.
- The respiratory system.
- The circulatory system.
- The urinary tract and bowels.
The extent of the damage from the injury and the parts of the cord affected determine the severity, type of disability, and whether loss of physiological function is permanent.
Common symptoms indicating a possible spinal cord injury include:
- Weakness in limbs.
- Loss of sensation, numbness or tingling in limbs.
- Loss of coordination and/or balance.
- Severe neck or back pain.
- Spasms.
- Altered reflexes.
- Incontinence.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Changes in sexual function.
Assessing injury severity.
Spinal cord injuries are categorized as complete or incomplete, depending on the loss of function. If all sensory and motor control function is lost, the injury is complete. If some function remains, the injury is incomplete. Approximately three out of five spinal cord injuries are considered incomplete.
Some common incomplete spinal injuries include:
- Anterior cord syndrome - the injury is located at the front of the spinal cord and generally causes paralysis below the lesion (the neurological level of injury) and some sensory loss. This syndrome usually has the worst prognosis of incomplete injuries and is most likely to mirror complete injury.
- Central cord syndrome - the injury is to the central spinal cord and tends to lead to loss of motor control, sensory deficits and bladder dysfunction. Usually there is greater loss of function in the arms and especially the hands as opposed to the legs. Prognosis is generally good but full recovery is rare. Recovery of some function in the legs is also significantly more likely than any recovery to arm function.
- Brown-Sequard syndrome - the injury occurs on the left or right side of the cord. On the side of the injury weakness, paralysis or proprioceptive issues are likely. There tends to be sensory deficits on the opposite side. This syndrome has the best prognosis for full recovery.
- Cauda Equina syndrome (CES)/Conus Medullaris Syndrome(CMS) - CES is a spinal compression injury that affects nerve roots in the lumbar area resulting in muscle weakness and sensory deficits but may not affect movement. CMS has similar symptoms and affects the sacral cord and lumbar nerve roots.
- Posterior Cord syndrome - the injury occurs to the back of the spinal cord and results in poor coordination. Prognosis for recovery depends on the severity of the neurological deficit.
Complete spinal cord injuries result in paralysis and full loss of sensory messaging. A complete injury affecting the lower half of the body is called paraplegia. A complete injury affecting the entire body below the neck is called tetraplegia or quadriplegia.
Spinal cord injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
Whether a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident can be at risk of a spinal cord injury. Collisions with other vehicles, other road users, or stationary objects are most likely to cause traumatic injury to the spinal cord. In the moments after such an accident it is important not to move a person with a potential spinal cord injury until medical responders arrive to assess the situation. Improper positioning of a person with such an injury could accidentally worsen the prognosis for recovery or cause permanent paralysis and complete injury.
Once an accident victim is in hospital, doctors will generally question the person (if they are able to respond) while conducting a physical exam. Further diagnostic imaging from X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can help to clarify where the damage to the spinal cord occurred and its extent.
The hours, days, weeks and even months following the accident can be an emotional rollercoaster as the prognosis for recovery and restored function becomes clear and as the injured person experiences life with a disability. The cost of rehabilitation, home renovations for accessibility, lost income and medical expenses and attendant care can be astronomical, and put even more strain on a person who is already facing a difficult time in their life.
Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule provides funds for accident victims to cover some of their expenses and losses. Spinal cord injuries usually do not fall under SABS’ Minor Injury Guideline. Rather the question becomes whether or not they will qualify as a catastrophic impairment. People with non-catastrophic injuries can access up to $65,000 for medical expenses, attendant care, income replacement, housekeeping services and assistive devices for up to five years. When a person is deemed to have a catastrophic injury, they are eligible for up to $1 million in benefits and compensation over a lifetime. Higher benefit limits are available to those who have purchased this optional increased coverage under their automobile insurance policies.
Help for catastrophic benefits denials.
The vast difference in funds available to accident victims who fall into these two categories ensures that insurers may try to deny top tier benefits to a person whose injury is not undeniably catastrophic. When you are already at a low point in your life and focussing all your energy on rehabilitation and recovery, just thinking about having to battle over insurance can be demoralizing and distressing. You should know that you are not alone in this fight. Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers’ catastrophic spinal cord injury team is here to help you with your claim in whatever way we can.
By choosing a skilled, experienced and knowledgeable spinal cord injury lawyer as your advocate, you can be confident that your legal representative understands how to build a strong case that will either encourage the insurer to offer a fair settlement or be very persuasive to a judge or jury in the unlikely event it goes to trial. The Gluckstein spinal cord injury team draws on our extensive network of medical specialists to provide expert opinions regarding the extent of your injury and your likely prognosis. Having handled hundreds of severe personal injury cases like yours, we have a proven record for results. We also only receive payment if we are successful in negotiating a settlement or winning a court award.
Consistently ranked by our legal profession peers as one of Canada’s top personal injury law firms, Gluckstein’s reputation for excellence is well known across Canada. Moreover, our reputation among current and past clients for providing compassionate full-circle care can help to reassure you that we always see you as more than a case.
We treat our clients as we would treat our own family both during and after any legal proceedings. We always put your best interests first in everything we do and work diligently to give you the comprehensive care and service you deserve. While we may first meet you during one of the worst periods of your life, we are determined to see you get what you need to live your best life.
Trust Gluckstein Lawyers to be your tireless and fierce advocate for justice. Our personal injury lawyers in Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara, and Barrie serve clients across Ontario and are here to work with you. Contact us for an initial no obligation, free consultation to learn more about what we can do for you.
Related Expertise.
Spinal Cord Injury FAQs.
- Why is it important to receive a catastrophic designation?
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Receiving a catastrophic designation after being injured in a personal injury accident in Ontario is crucial for several significant reasons.
A catastrophic designation often leads to increased benefits under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS). This designation can result in higher coverage limits for medical expenses, attendant care, rehabilitation, and other essential services.
Individuals with a catastrophic designation may gain access to specialized medical treatments, therapies, and support services tailored to address the specific needs arising from severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Catastrophic designations can lead to higher compensation amounts for future care costs, income replacement, and other financial losses incurred due to the catastrophic injury. This financial support is crucial for long-term recovery and rehabilitation.
Having a catastrophic designation ensures individuals receive ongoing support, including long-term medical care, rehabilitation services, vocational assistance, and other resources aimed at promoting independence and quality of life. Recognition of a catastrophic injury through the designation allows individuals to access resources such as adaptive equipment, home modifications, and specialized therapies that can significantly improve their quality of life post-injury.
Receiving a catastrophic designation in Ontario is instrumental in ensuring individuals with severe injuries receive the necessary benefits, care, financial support, and legal advantages required for their recovery, well-being, and overall quality of life.
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- What is considered to be a catastrophic injury?
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A catastrophic injury causes significant and permanent impact or damage to a victim. However, the term catastrophic injury has a specific meaning and is defined by certain criteria when applied to Ontario's Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) for motor vehicle accidents.
Some examples of catastrophic injuries according to SABS criteria include:- A severe brain injury;
- Loss of a limb;
- Extreme loss of vision; and
- Paralysis, among other injuries.
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- How do our spinal injury lawyers help accident victims?
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Our spinal cord injury lawyers can help an injured party pursue compensation for the losses they've suffered. Gluckstein's catastrophic injury lawyers are experienced in navigating claims, calculating an injured person’s losses, and seeking compensation from at-fault parties, both in and out of court.
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- How do I seek fair compensation after an automobile spinal cord injury?
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Seeking compensation after a spinal cord injury often involves filing several insurance claims. If you or a loved one has suffered spinal cord damage in a car crash, you will need to file a claim through the Statutory Accident Benefit Schedule (SABS). The accident benefits system can provide direct compensation to injured accident victims for their economic losses, including lost wages, medical expenses, non-earner benefits, and caregiver benefits.
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- What are my rights if I've suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of another person's negligence?
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Where spinal cord injuries are the result of another person’s actions, affected individuals have the right to seek compensation for their losses, including pain and suffering, the cost of past and future medical care, and income losses.
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- What are the time limits on filing a catastrophic injury claim?
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In Ontario, the time limits for filing a catastrophic injury claim are governed by the province's Limitations Act, 2002.
In Ontario, individuals generally have two years from the date of the accident or the date they discover their injury to file a personal injury claim, including claims related to catastrophic injuries. This two-year period is known as the limitation period.
If the catastrophic injury was not immediately apparent at the time of the accident and was discovered later, the limitation period may start from the date the injury was discovered or when the individual should have reasonably discovered it.
For individuals who were minors (under the age of 18) at the time of the accident, the two-year limitation period begins to run on their 18th birthday. This provision allows minors extra time to bring a claim.
While there are no formal notice requirements for catastrophic injury claims in Ontario, it is advisable to notify relevant parties, such as insurance companies, as soon as possible after the accident to initiate the claims process.
In certain circumstances, there may be exceptions or extensions to the limitation period. For example, if the injured individual lacks the legal capacity to file a claim, the limitation period may be extended. It is crucial to seek legal advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer promptly after sustaining a catastrophic injury in Ontario to ensure compliance with the applicable time limits for filing a claim.
Missing the deadline could result in the loss of the right to seek compensation for the injuries suffered. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer at Gluckstein Lawyers can help navigate the complexities of filing a catastrophic injury claim within the specified time limits.
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- Why is it important to seek representation from a personal injury lawyer with experience in catastrophic injuries?
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It is crucial to seek representation from a personal injury lawyer with experience in catastrophic injuries. Personal injury lawyers with experience in catastrophic injuries have specialized knowledge and expertise in handling complex cases involving severe and life-altering injuries. They understand the unique challenges and nuances associated with catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and severe burns.
Lawyers who specialize in catastrophic injuries not only provide legal guidance but also offer emotional support and guidance throughout the legal process, helping clients cope with the challenges they face. By seeking representation from a personal injury lawyer at Gluckstein Lawyers with experience in catastrophic injuries, individuals can ensure they receive the level of care, expertise, and advocacy needed to navigate the complexities of their case, pursue justice, and obtain the compensation they deserve for the profound impact of catastrophic injuries on their lives.
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- What benefits can I access if my injury is deemed catastrophic?
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If your injury is deemed catastrophic, you may gain access to a range of benefits that can provide crucial support for your recovery and well-being.
Here are some of the benefits you may be able to access:
- Enhanced Medical Benefits.
- Income Replacement.
- Attendant Care Services.
- Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Benefits.
- Rehabilitation Services.
- Transportation Expenses.
- Case Management Services.
- Home Modifications.
- Future Care Costs.
- Legal and Advocacy Support.
By accessing these benefits, individuals with catastrophic injuries can receive comprehensive support to aid in their recovery, enhance their quality of life, and address the long-term impact of their injuries effectively.
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