Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
When an accident results in brain or spinal cord injuries, the effects can be life-altering. Brain and spinal cord injuries have the potential to impact a person’s physical, cognitive, and emotional functions, and the effects are often long-lasting or lifelong.
Personal injury attorney Michael E. Shelton understands the catastrophic impact that brain and spinal cord injuries can have. He works with injury victims from the Houston, TX, area to hold liable parties accountable for the economic and non-economic damages related to these types of injuries.
Types of Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
During an accident, it is common for the head, neck, or back to either be directly impacted, or for the force of the accident to cause the head and neck to suddenly move back and forth, which can lead to brain or spinal cord injuries. There are various types of brain and spinal cord injuries that our Houston clients may suffer as a result of an accident, and each of them varies in severity. Some of the most common types of brain and spinal cord injuries include:
- Concussion
- Brain contusions (internal bleeding)
- Penetrating brain injury (an object enters the brain)
- Anoxic brain injury (the brain is deprived of oxygen)
- Complete spinal cord injury (there is no feeling or movement below the level of the injury)
- Incomplete spinal cord injury (there is some degree of feeling or movement below the level of the injury)
Symptoms of Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Just as the severity of a brain or spinal cord injury varies, so do the symptoms that these types of injuries cause. The type of symptoms experienced by each person depends on how severe their injuries are, and the location of the injury. Potential symptoms of brain and spinal cord injuries include:
- Complete or partial paralysis
- Complete or partial loss of sensory functions
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Change or loss of sexual functions
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
- Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
- Headaches
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Sensitivity to lights or sounds
- Memory or concentration problems
- Slurred speech
- Changes in mood or personality
- Depression or anxiety
Although these symptoms vary greatly, what they have in common is that they tend to be long-lasting (or permanent), and they have a huge impact on a person’s ability to perform daily functions, as well as their quality of life.
Damages for Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
When seeking compensation for those of his Houston clients who have suffered brain or spinal cord injuries, attorney Michael E. Shelton takes into account both economic and non-economic damages. He also considers the losses that the injury victim has already suffered, as well as those that they are likely to suffer in the future. Depending on the circumstances of each case, potential damages in a case involving brain and spinal cord injuries may include:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of ongoing therapy or rehabilitation
- Anticipated cost of future medical expenses
- Cost of assistive medical devices
- Lost wages
- Diminished wage-earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
Get In Touch
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that resulted in brain or spinal cord injuries, attorney Michael E. Shelton can help you hold liable parties accountable for related damages. To discuss the details of your case and consider your best course of legal action, contact our law firm online or call (713) 807-0700 and schedule a legal consultation.
