Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Portland, Oregon

Spinal cord injuries often leave accident victims with severe medical conditions, including paralysis, paraplegia and quadriplegia. This can have devastating effects on their family’s livelihood. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury caused by the someone else’s negligence, contact a reputable lawyer who will fight tirelessly for the justice and compensation you deserve. At Rizk Law, our knowledgeable Portland spinal cord injury lawyers understand the challenges and frustrations that come with these types of injuries and can help hold any at-fault party responsible for the harm they have caused. We have helped many clients within Portland and the surrounding areas recover more than $15 million in personal injury claims over the years.

Our legal team offers complimentary consultations and works on a contingency fee basis. That means we do not get paid unless we help you recover maximum compensation for your case.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury is a damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. The spinal cord is comprised of a bundle of nerve fibers and tissues that lie within the spine and transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord can disrupt these signals and impact sensory, motor and reflex skills.

Spinal cord injuries have two levels of severity – complete and incomplete. The spinal cord is entirely severed in a complete injury, eliminating any bodily function below the injury site. The person experiences no sensation or movement in the affected areas. An incomplete injury involves some movement or sensation in the body below the site of the injury. In these situations, the spinal cord is only partially severed, allowing the person to regain some function.

Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries

Paralysis or loss of sensation from a spinal cord injury can be classified as:

Paraplegia – This type of paralysis affects parts or all of the torso, legs, and organs below the waist.
Quadriplegia – Also known as tetraplegia, this type of paralysis affects your torso, arms, hands, legs and organs below the neck.

Causes of Spinal Injuries

There are many different causes of spinal cord injuries. These injuries are generally caused by a sudden blow or impact to the spine that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. Nearly half of all spinal cord injuries are the result of auto accidents. In many cases, the injury is due to someone else’s negligence.

Our Portland spinal cord injury attorneys at Rizk Law have experience handling these type of cases and assisting victims who have suffered spinal cord injuries caused by:

Our spinal injury attorneys in Portland, Oregon can review your spinal cord injury claim during a free consultation and determine whether you have a valid case for compensation.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.

Spinal Cord Injury Complications

Spinal cord injuries require immediate medical attention at a local hospital to help reduce the risk of developing severe, long-term complications. A serious spinal injury is not always apparent. Numbness or paralysis can happen instantly or gradually as bleeding or swelling occurs in or around the spinal cord.

Some potential complications may include:

Bladder control – A spinal cord injury can affect the body’s ability to control the bladder. That could increase your risk of urinary tract infections, kidney infections or kidney stones.
Bowel control – You may experience difficulty controlling your bowel. To improve bowel function, a high-fiber diet may help regulate the bowels.
Circulatory problems – A spinal cord injury can also cause circulatory problems, such as low blood pressure and swelling in the upper arms. This may increase your chances of having blood clots or a pulmonary embolus.
Respiratory issues – You may experience difficulty breathing and coughing, increasing your risk of developing pneumonia or other lung problems. Medicine and therapy may be able to prevent these problems from arising.
Loss of sensation – It is common to lose part or all skin sensations after a spinal cord injury. Your skin may lose the ability to send a signal to the brain when it is affected by pressure, heat or cold. This can ultimately make you more vulnerable to bedsores. Frequent rotations may be necessary to decrease the possibility of these sores.

Any damage to the spine can be life-changing, impacting your ability to work and perform the activities you normally enjoy. Complications from your injury can make it so you are unable to continue full-time employment or work at all.

The inability to work due to a spinal cord injury can be devastating if you are the breadwinner for your family. Spinal cord injuries can affect you and your loved ones financially, physically and emotionally.

A spinal cord injury lawyer in Portland can evaluate your expenses and the value of what you have lost due to your injury. He or she can handle every aspect of your case, from dealing with the insurance company to filing a lawsuit against the party liable for your injuries.

Contact our office today by calling 503.245.5677.

Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries?

Currently, there is no cure or way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. Rehabilitation aims to help prevent further injuries from happening and educating individuals on how to get back to an active and productive lifestyle. A rehabilitation specialist can improve muscle strength in other parts of the body and help the injured person learn new methods to accomplish everyday activities.

Developments in modern technology are continuously advancing that may also help individuals with spinal cord injuries improve their quality of life. Modern lightweight wheelchairs can enhance mobility, while computer-controlled and voice-activated devices can assist with performing day-to-day tasks like making a phone call or searching on a computer. Recent studies and developments have led to the creation of intelligent devices that can be implanted into the body and revive movement or, in some cases, help with breathing.

Medical and scientific research on spinal cord injuries is ongoing to help those living with spinal cord injuries improve their living standards. Nevertheless, the costs to the injured party can be substantial. That is why hiring a skilled personal injury attorney who can assess future costs of medical and rehabilitation care to pursue in a spinal cord lawsuit is so vital.

What Should I Do If I Suspect a Spinal Cord Injury?

According to the Mayo Clinic, if you suspect a spinal injury, the most important thing to do is to remain still or not move the injured person until medical help arrives. Keep the person still by placing heavy towels on both sides of the neck or holding the head and neck area to prevent any movement. Even slightly moving someone with a spinal cord injury can result in serious or worsening injuries.

Sudden trauma to the spinal cord can cause any number of symptoms including numbness, muscle spasms, pain or stinging, loss of skin sensation and the inability to move parts of your body.

Call 9-1-1 right away if the person is having difficulty breathing or coughing. However, do not attempt to tilt the head back. Gently grab the jaw and move it forward to open the airway. If there is no pulse, the next step would be chest compressions.

Once in medical care, a doctor will perform a series of tests (MRIs, CT Scans, X-rays) to determine the neurological level and completeness of the spinal injury.

Following medical advice and keeping up with treatments after a spinal cord injury can help preserve your claim and show insurance companies that your injuries were serious and require extensive care. Make sure to also keep all your medical records and bills for your doctor visits, treatments, rehabilitation costs, surgeries and medications.

A Portland spinal injury attorney can inform you of your legal options and help determine if you are entitled to compensation to cover the costs associated with this type of injury.

Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form to get started.

How Are Spinal Cord Injury Cases Different from Other Personal Injury Cases?

Spine injuries are highly involved because they are a type of catastrophic injury. These complex cases typically require filing lawsuits against multiple defendants who had a role in causing your injury, along with managing various medical fields.

The medical care that is necessary for spinal cord injuries is also highly costly. A person who has paralysis will likely spend millions of dollars in their lifetime on medical treatments and rehabilitation, excluding the loss of income or health benefits. When our Portland spinal cord injury attorneys take on a spinal cord injury case, we need to calculate what losses you’ll sustain throughout your lifetime in order to seek a just and favorable amount for damages.

What Damages Can You Recover in Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?

Compensation that our attorneys fight for spinal cord injury victims to receive include:

Medical expenses for medication, hospital stays, surgeries, medical devices, and ongoing rehabilitation and care
Expenses for assistive technologies, like wheelchairs, computer hardware, and mobility devices
Lost income and future earning capacity
Loss of health benefits and other out-of-pocket costs
Persistent pain and discomfort
Inability to keep the same quality of life as before the incident
Overwhelming stress, anxiety, and depression
Physical pain and suffering
Mental and emotional anguish

If you or someone you love has sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury, obtaining sound legal counsel from an experienced spine injury attorney in Portland can help you navigate the challenging process. Multiple parties are at fault in many spinal cord injury lawsuits if you believe your injury was caused by negligence, willful, or unintentional harm.

The Portland spinal cord injury attorneys of Rizk Law are ready to represent your best interests vigorously. Our skilled catastrophic injury attorneys possess insightful knowledge on both sides of an injury claim, fighting for the benefit of spinal cord injury victims and their families in Portland and throughout Oregon. We have the necessary resources and background to handle your claim effectively and recover the compensation you deserve.

Speak with an Experienced Spine Injury Attorney in Portland Today

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, speak with an experienced Portland personal injury lawyer at Rizk Law as soon as possible. Spinal cord injuries are traumatic and devastating enough without attempting to represent yourself in court. Retain a spinal injury attorney who understands your case, how the insurance companies work, and who is willing to see it through so you and your family receive the compensation you need to move forward in your lives and focus on your recovery. Our firm has helped injured victims obtain the compensation they need for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and lifelong care.

Let our Portland spine injury lawyers handle the details of your spine injury lawsuit, so you can focus on your recovery. We can help hold any negligent party accountable for your injury.

Request a free, no-obligation consultation today. There are no upfront fees or costs involved. You only pay us if we successfully recover favorable compensation on your behalf.

Give us a call at 503.245.5677 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form now.

$1,250,000
Car v. Pedestrian Crash

Pedestrian’s Stroll

FACTS: Commercial motorist strikes pedestrian on Oregon roadway. No witnesses. Litigated case.

INJURIES: 1. Brain injury; 2. Broken bones. Other details are confidential.

$900,000
Truck Accident

Car T-Boned by Commercial Delivery Truck

FACTS: Client t-boned by a commercial delivery truck. Delivery driver cited for distracted driving and careless driving. Client left pinned in her car with obvious compound arm fractures.

INJURIES: Compound left arm fracture, chest pain, neck sprain, back sprain, and shoulder and knee injuries.

$695,000
Car Accident

PDX Rent-a-Car Head Injury

FACTS: PDX shuttle driver struck by SUV while walking across airport parking lot. Strikes head on pavement. Loses consciousness. No witnesses. Insurer resists claim suggesting client at fault and claims brain injury is due to pot smoking. Wife also files claim for loss of affection. Litigated case.

INJURIES: Concussion, contusions, loss of intimacy.

$625,000
Car Accident

Drunk Driver Collides Head On with Postal Worker

FACTS: Client, an off-duty postal worker, drove home after completing a 12 hour shift on December 26. Two bars overserved the defendant driver leaving her to drive home 3 times above the legal alcohol limit. Defendant driver traveled on a rural road without headlights on when she collided head on into postal worker.

INJURIES: Client suffered PTSD, including frequent nightmares and fractures to right arm, leading to several shoulder surgeries.

$625,000
Car Accident

SUV Driver Hit by Full-Size Pick-Up Truck on US-30 Outside Astoria, Oregon.

FACTS: SUV driver hit by oncoming full-size pick-up truck on US-30 outside Astoria, Oregon. Litigated case.

INJURIES: Fractured T3-T9 rib fractures requiring surgical repair with plates; transverse process L1-L5 fractured; pulmonary contusion, bruise on the left; simple pneumothorax resulting in pneumonia; seat belt abrasions on neck and around hips. Left hand lacerations. Middle finger cut. Arm and leg bruises.