Spinal Cord Injuries and Nerve Damage: Your Legal Options
The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton know that people who have sustained a severe spinal cord injury face a number of challenges. These kinds of injuries can change someone’s life, which is why it’s important to hold negligent parties accountable for causing such hardships to others. The team at our Provo, UT law firm would like to consider how spinal cord injuries relate to nerve damage. We’ll note some symptoms of nerve damage and offer some insight into the legal options are available for people who have experienced these kinds of injuries. Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries Spinal cord injuries can be caused by all manner of physical trauma, accidents, and acts of violence. Some potential sources of injury may include: Auto collisions Contact and combat sports Slips and falls Physical assaults Gunshots Medical treatment mistakes Workplace accidents The damage to the spine can affect the nerves and other tissues, which can have negative impacts on general health and wellness. Understanding Nerve Damage Nerve damage related to the spinal cord essentially means that the injury you sustained also impacts the proper function of your nervous system. There are three types of nerves that may be damaged: Autonomic Nerves – These nerves control the predominantly involuntary actions of your body, such as heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure. Motor Nerves – These nerves control the movements of your body, with your brain sending signals to the corresponding muscles. Sensory Nerves – These nerves are responsible for your sensory perceptions, particularly your sense of touch. Different combinations of nerve damage may occur depending on the nature of your spinal injury. Signs and Symptoms of Nerve Damage The signs and symptoms of nerve damage can vary depending on the types of nerves that were injured. Symptoms of autonomic nerve damage include: Difficulty noticing chest pain Excessive sweating Too little sweating Dry mouth Dry eye Constipation Bladder problems Sexual dysfunction Symptoms of motor nerve damage include: Muscle twitches Muscle weakness Muscle atrophy Partial or total paralysis Symptoms of sensory nerve damage include: Numbness Tingling Pain or sensitivity Burning sensation Poor positional awareness Be mindful of combinations of the above symptoms since different kinds of nerves may have been affected by your spinal cord injury. Lasting Effects on Your Health and Wellness Nerve damage can have major impacts on your general wellness as well as your career path. If the damaged nerves are not repaired in a timely manner, the damage can be permanent. Even with proper medical treatment, the health of the affected nerves may only be partially restored. Long-term nerve damage may make it difficult to perform certain tasks we take for granted. Something as common as typing, texting, or using traditional tools can become difficult. How an Attorney Can Help You If your spinal cord injury and related nerve damage were the result of another person’s negligence, an attorney can help you seek damages. These damages will cover the cost of medical care, lost wages, physical rehabilitation, and other losses related to the injuries you have sustained. Going it alone against the negligent party can be stressful. A lawyer can give you and your loved ones peace of mind. While your lawyer focuses on the granular details of the litigation process, you can focus on moving forward and living your life. Speak with Our Experienced Injury Lawyers For more information about your legal rights after a spinal cord injury, it’s important that you contact the personal injury lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton. We will fight for you and your legal rights every step of the way.
Personal Injury: Herniated Disc Injury Cases
A back or spinal cord injury can have life changing consequences. Personal injury and herniated disc injuries are often the result of a catastrophic car or truck accident, can be caused by an on-the-job injury, or result from a slip and fall. Seeking compensation for these injuries can be complicated. At Flickinger, Sutterfield & Boulton in Provo, UT, we have the experience needed to obtain full and fair compensation for your injuries. Symptoms of Herniated Disc Injuries Not all injuries are readily apparent after an accident. In some cases, it takes a while for an injury to manifest. Some common symptoms of a herniated disc are: Pain in the arms or legs: Herniated discs in the lower back are evidenced by leg pain. The pain may be a shooting pain the entire length of the leg and extending to the feet, or may be localized in the upper thigh. A herniated disc in the neck will result in pain in the upper arm and shoulder. In both cases it is critical to seek immediate medical attention and advise the treating doctor you have been in a recent accident. Sensations of numbness or tingling: This symptom is also associated with having suffered a herniated disc. These sensations can be an indicator of nerve damage, resulting from the herniation of the disc. Victims also commonly report feelings of fatigue or weakness resulting in loss of balance or an inability to perform daily tasks. When these symptoms appear after an accident, there is a high probability the injury is related to the accident, and should be treated as soon as possible. What to Do for Herniated Disc Injuries in Personal Injury Cases If you have been in an accident and suffered a herniated disc, the negligent party is responsible for your recovery. This requires the victim to first establish liability for the accident, which can be accomplished by showing the at-fault party acted in a negligent or reckless manner. Once liability has been firmly established, the next step is to prove the injuries suffered were the result of the accident. This may require the use of an expert medical witness, along with presenting medical records and diagnosis. Victims are entitled to recover damages for: Medical costs Lost wages Physical therapy needs Loss of future earnings or earning capacity Pain and suffering Seeking full and fair compensation is our job, and our approach is individualized to the facts of your case. We take an aggressive position so our clients may obtain the maximum recovery possible. Help for Your Personal Injury and Herniated Disc Case The legal team at Flickinger, Sutterfield & Boulton has the experience you need to make a legal demand for compensation after an accident. Contact us online or call our office at (801) 370-0505.
Truck Driver Inattention: Distraction is Dangerous
Any time a driver is preoccupied with something other than driving, it means that they are distracted. The dangers of distracted driving are severe. At highway speeds, a vehicle can travel the length of a football field in a matter of 5 seconds. Many catastrophic accidents can happen in that short amount of time, especially with large vehicles like commercial trucks. A Provo, UT truck accident attorney at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton can help you and your loved ones if a distracted truck driver caused a catastrophic accident. Let’s consider these kinds of collisions in a bit more detail. Distracted Driving Statistics According to numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving caused the deaths of 3,477 people in the year 2015. During the same year, an estimated 391,000 people were injured because of driver distraction. Texting and Cellphone Use While Driving Cellphones are one of the most common sources of driver distraction today. On an average day during daytime, 660,000 American motorists while use their cellphones behind the wheel. Texting, calling, or checking apps while driving can lead to severe collisions. The Dangers of Rubbernecking Old-fashioned distractions can also prove deadly. It’s human nature to slow down and stare at an incident on the side of the road. Yet doing this can result in major collisions. Truck drivers need to exercise caution while driving, which means no rubbernecking. Attention must be paid to the road ahead and the motorists sharing this road. Other Causes of Driver Distraction In addition to the above causes of driver distraction, truck drivers may be distracted by the following: Checking or changing the radio Eating while driving Reading while driving Reaching for objects within the cab of the truck Adjusting seats or mirrors while the vehicle is in motion Again, we stress that hands must remain on the wheel, and eyes must remain on the road. The potential harm to others is simply not worth the risk. Commercial Truck Accidents Can Be Catastrophic As we noted, the size of commercial trucks makes them such a major hazard on the road. According to numbers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks were involved in 53,263 injury collisions and 4,050 fatal collisions. The lasting damage caused by a large truck accident can change a household’s lives forever. How Our Attorneys Can Help Our attorneys will consider all of the evidence in your accident and build a case against the truck driver responsible for the crash. During the lawsuit, we’ll help you seek damages to cover medical expenses, vehicle damage, and other financial losses associated with the accident. If a loved one was killed due to the truck driver’s negligence, we will be aggressive in seeking compensation to address the funerary expenses and the emotional pain and suffering related to the tragic loss of life. We will be here for you every step of the way, providing invaluable legal counsel as well as peace of mind. Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers To learn more about your legal rights and options following a trucking accidents, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you and your loved ones in your time of legal need.
Third-Party Workers Motor Vehicle Accidents
Workplace accidents are extremely common and lead to millions of personal injuries each year. When a workplace accident occurs, injury victims can obtain benefits from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Workers compensation cases may be a little more complicated when there is a third party involved. Third party workplace injuries describe injury-causing work accidents that are caused by the reckless or negligent actions of a third-party, such as a contract worker. Since third-party workplace injuries are more complex than typical work accidents, it is important for victims of these types of injuries to work with attorneys who are experienced in handling these cases. One of the most common types of third-party workplace accidents is motor vehicle accidents. Victims of third-party workers motor vehicle accidents can count on the Provo, UT attorneys at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton to obtain just compensation for all damages stemming from their injuries. What Is a Third-Party Worker Motor Vehicle Accident? A third-party worker motor vehicle accident is an auto accident that takes place while a person is performing work duties (and typically while driving or riding in a company vehicle); the accident also involves a third-party. The third-party may be a contract worker who is driving the work vehicle, or it may be another driver on the road who has no association with the accident victim’s place of employment. Although most people think of work injuries as occurring at a person’s place of employment, motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of work injuries. Employees who are most at risk of being involved in a third-party worker motor vehicle accident include: Truck drivers Delivery drivers Sales representatives Home care workers Construction workers Rights to Compensation When a person is involved in a motor vehicle accident while performing work duties, they have a right to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits should be provided even if the employee is responsible for causing the accident. The exception to this coverage would be if the employee was participating in illegal activities (such as driving under the influence) at the time of the accident. Workers’ compensation benefits typically provide coverage for the cost of any medical expenses, as well as lost wages due to time away from work while the employee recovers from the injuries. In cases where a third-party is involved in the motor vehicle accident, and is found to be responsible for the accident, injury victims can seek additional compensation through a civil lawsuit. A civil lawsuit against the third-party can ensure that accident victims are compensated for damages that are not covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Potential avenues of additional compensation include pain and suffering, physical damages, and other non-economic losses. Cases involving workers’ compensation benefits and a civil lawsuit against a third-party can become complicated. However, our attorneys are experienced in handling complex cases such as these. They work hard to protect our clients’ rights so they can be compensated to the maximum extent of the law. Learn More If you have been injured in a workers’ motor vehicle accident involving a third-party and are unsure of your rights to financial compensation, it is important to work with experienced personal injury attorneys, such as those at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton. Contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case and learn more about your legal options.