Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete spinal cord injuries result in total loss of sensation and motor function below the injury site. These injuries typically cause permanent paralysis, with tetraplegia (affecting all limbs) occurring with higher-placed injuries and paraplegia (affecting the lower limbs) with lower-placed injuries.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries allow some signals to pass through the damaged area. With these injuries, you may retain some function below the injury site, though the extent varies widely among individuals.
Long-Term Effects
Spinal cord injuries often cause:
- Paralysis (paraplegia or tetraplegia)
- Loss of sensation
- Chronic pain
- Respiratory difficulties
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Increased risk of secondary conditions
- Mental health challenges
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Car Accidents: Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. The violent impact of a crash can fracture or dislocate vertebrae, damaging the delicate spinal cord tissue within.
- Slips and Falls: Falls—particularly among older adults and construction workers on a jobsite—are another common cause. Whether falling from a ladder or roof or because of unsafe property conditions, these accidents can result in devastating spinal damage.
- Other Workplace Accidents: Heavy machinery, falling objects, and unsafe working conditions put workers at risk for spinal cord injuries, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and industrial settings.
- Medical Malpractice: Surgical errors, missed diagnoses, and improper treatment can sometimes lead to preventable spinal cord damage.
Your Legal Rights After a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury can result in millions of dollars in lifetime expenses. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Ongoing medical care
- Rehabilitation services
- Assistive technology and home modifications for disability accommodation
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Tennessee Personal Injury Laws Impact Your Case
Tennessee follows comparative negligence rules, which can affect your compensation if you were found to be partly at fault for your accident. Tennessee also has a short, one-year statute of limitations, making it critical to consult an attorney quickly after your injury.
Why Time Is Critical
Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and legal deadlines approach with each passing day. The sooner you contact us, the better we can protect your rights and build your case.
How Massey & Associates Can Help
Insider Knowledge of Insurance Companies
Before founding Massey & Associates, Gary Massey worked for insurance companies. This experience gives our firm unique insight into how insurance adjusters evaluate claims and the tactics they use to minimize payouts. We know their playbook—and how to counter it.
Building Strong Cases with Expert Testimony
Spinal cord injury cases require sophisticated medical and economic evidence. We work with neurologists, life care planners, and other experts to document the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
Skilled Negotiation and Litigation
While we resolve many cases through negotiation, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know we’re ready to fight in court if they don’t offer a fair settlement.
The Massey Promise
Choosing Massey & Associates means partnering with a firm that puts your interests above all else:
- Our Core Commitment: We fight for your rights with a rare combination of tenacity, truthfulness, and empathy.
- Risk-Free Representation: If you are dissatisfied with our service in the first 30 days, you can end our relationship without paying a single expense.
- Transparent Counsel: We provide straightforward assessments of your case – never sugarcoating reality or distorting facts.
- Highly Selective Practice: We deliberately accept fewer than 1 in 10 potential cases, ensuring we fully commit to clients whose causes we believe in.
- Your Success Is Our Metric: Every recommendation and strategy we develop is guided by one principle: maximizing your ultimate benefit.
Contact Massey & Associates Today
Getting maximum compensation after a spinal cord injury requires working with a team who knows how to get results. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s negligence, Massey & Associates is here to help.
Whether you need legal advice, have a question about your case, or want to schedule a consultation, we’re ready with the support you need. Contact us today to get started.
