Slip and Fall Injury

Published on: September 29, 2011

Fall from window severely injures man, leaving him paralyzed, reports a New York Spinal Injury Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

The last thing you would expect to happen is to be walking in your sleep and fall out a window. However, that is what happened in this case. A man was severely injured after a 25 foot fall from a window, reported a New York Spinal Injury Lawyer. He suffered terrible internal injuries, broken bones and a serious spinal cord injury. This wasn’t exactly good news for the man, as he is also blind. In Staten Island and Westchester County this could be called a slip and fall injury.

As a result of his fall, he fractured his skull, which caused bleeding on his brain. He had several broken ribs and his chest filled with blood as a result of his injuries. He broke two parts of his spine as well, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He had to have surgery to put metal into his back to provide him with some form of support. After that, his life was a constant round of trying to use a gym for rehab and learning how to use a wheelchair.

As you may well imagine, due to the seriousness of his injuries, he had problems fighting off infections; something that kept setting his recovery time back. All in all, it’s been an uphill battle for the 34-year old man and he finds it hard to stay positive. In his situation, he may well have considered filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover the costs of his medical care, therapy and rehabilitation, added the NY Spinal Injury Lawyer.

Published on: September 20, 2011

Rehabilitation after spine injury includes a great many aspects

by Stephen Bilkis

Rehabilitation after spine injury includes a great many aspects, New York Spinal Injury Lawyers note. The physical parts of the recovery process includes increasing the range of motion to all limbs and the trunk, first to prevent contracting muscles and control spasms. Strengthening all remaining active muscles is very important. Slip and Fall accidents are the cause of many of these conditions and facilities in The Bronx and Brooklyn are aware of this.

Sensory rehabilitation involves focusing upon motor control, but also awareness of space through movement. These are usually aimed to regaining control of the bowel and bladder, if at all possible. The muscles that control these functions often have to be retrained. Some individuals may even have difficulty maintaining breathing and may have to learn to breath involuntarily all over again from a respiratory therapist, according to NYC Spinal Injury Lawyers. These breathing exercises are extremely important to avoid respiratory complications such as pneumonia.

The changes that come about after traumatic spine injury may require the patient gain the support of a psychologist or psychiatrist. Even if the patient has been severely injured, employment is still a possibility, which will require the assistance of a vocational counselor. When sexual dysfunction occurs as the result of a spinal cord injury, a specific health care professional may be required to deal with that, as well.

Published on: September 12, 2011

Supermarket Fall Returns a Woman $15,000, Says New York Spinal Injury Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

New York Spinal Injury Lawyers understand that accidents can happen anywhere at any time, which is why they are always ready to assist when someone needs compensation after suffering an injury.

Something as mundane as a trip to the supermarket resulted in an injurious fall for one 54-year-old woman. The supermarket attempted to prove that the injuries were not caused by the fall – the jury found the supermarket at fault. The plaintiff suffered two herniated discs, impingements on her spinal cord, and compression of the nerve leading to her shoulder an arm. It was proven these injuries caused her pain and that those injuries happened after the incident in the market. Slip and Fall Injuries are often treated in Manhattan and Brooklyn hospitals.

The jury awarded the woman $15,000 for future pain and suffering, but that was not enough. NYC Spinal Injury Lawyers were quick to show the victim required painkillers, exercise at two-hour intervals and a cervical collar on a daily basis. Her daily activities were severely curtailed by her injuries. In light of this, an award of $100,000 for future pain and suffering was sought, as well as $75,000 for past pain and suffering.

Published on: September 3, 2011

Severity of a Spinal Injury Determines Type of Treatment Conducted

by Stephen Bilkis

In order to improve the condition or prevent the damage caused by a fractured vertebra from trauma to the head, neck, or back. The type of treatment a person with injury to vertebrate in the individual’s thoracic spine needs depends on the severity of the injury. There are two treatment methods to address thoracic spine fractures. They are either a nonsurgical treatment or a surgical treatment, a New York Spinal Injury Lawyer conferred. Slip and Fall accidents can cause injuries which require surgical treatment as well as non surgical treatment. In Long Island and New York City, hospitals use both forms of treatment.

A doctor may choice a nonsurgical treatment method for someone with a compression fracture and some burst fractures. Nonsurgical treatments are used to treat fractures that are stable. They also take into account if there are any neurological deficits. If so, the doctor would do surgery.

The nonsurgical treatment involves the individual with the fracture to wear a hyperextension orthotic, cast, or brace. They would wear the brace for four to six weeks. Each person is different resulting in the brace to be worn for a shorter or longer period than others. Along with this treatment, the person will stay bedridden for one to three weeks.

Published on: August 22, 2011

Compression fractures are also known as wedge fractures

by Stephen Bilkis

Doctors and New York Spinal Injury Lawyers recognize four major types of thoracic spine injuries: compression, burst, flexion-distraction, and fracture-dislocation.

Compression fractures are also known as wedge fractures. This is the most common type of thoracic spine fracture. When the spine is bent forward or backward at the time the injury occurs, the front or side of the vertebra is crushed by the force.

Burst fractures occur in a similar manner, except the entire vertebra is crushed, often causing splinters of bone to enter the spinal cord. Burst fractures rarely occur in the upper thoracic, high on the upper back, due to the curving shape of the region, but they do happen where the thoracic becomes the lumbar, or lower, section of the back, Injury Lawyers have discovered. Burst fractures often cause a loss of motor, sensory, and/or reflex function.

Published on: August 11, 2011

Someone who has suffered spinal cord injury will usually have suffered some recent trauma

by Stephen Bilkis

Someone who has suffered spinal cord injury from a slip and fall accident will usually have suffered some recent trauma and will report tenderness on a certain part of the spine and pain when moving, NYC Spinal Injury Lawyers have noted. They may appear to even be paralyzed from the waist down, but still have some sensations, or even some slight movement, in that area.

Signs of real neurologic energy will often include bowel or bladder dysfunction and changes in sensation in the region around the anus (perianal region). Physicians should obtain a history of any previous spinal injury or neurologic difficulties the patient may have suffered in the past. The mechanism of the current injury should also be studied, along with the patient’s general state of health. Injury Lawyers recommend that the patient’s family be interviewed, or even observers, if the patient is unable to respond.

Upon being physically examined, a physician may discover cuts, bruising, and deformity on the back. It may be possible to feel any shifted vertebrae through touch. A seatbelt may have also left bruises or other marks along the chest or abdomen. The patient may also have difficulty moving his or her legs. It is difficult to assess motor function or levels of pain in a patient who is unconscious or intoxicated, NYC Spinal Injury Lawyers have discovered. Sometimes, the only way to tell, at first, if there is spinal cord injury is to watch the involuntary movement of the victim’s limbs. Examination by doctors in Nassau and Suffolk Counties should also include head injury assessment and checks for broken bones or abdominal or urologic trauma.

Published on: July 30, 2011

A fracture of the thoracic spine means a break, or fracture

by Stephen Bilkis

A fracture of the thoracic spine means a break, or fracture, in one of the twelve bones that make up the thoracic region of the spine, in the upper back. This is the longest section of the spin, according to New York Spinal Injury Lawyers, and it has smaller vertebrae, a smaller spinal canal, and a less developed vascular system than the lower region of the back, the lumbar region. It also has more stability, however, due to support from the ribs and rib cage. It takes a great deal of force to harm the thoracic vertebrae.

Spinal Injury Lawyers of New York City have learned major trauma is the most common cause of thoracic fractures, due to such events as motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, and violence. Such injuries result in neurologic impairment in about 10% to 25% of individuals. Thos who suffer from bone conditions like osteoporosis may sustain fractures from minor injuries. Slip and Fall accidents in Queens and Long Island are often the cause of injuries like this.

The length of disability from such injuries can vary according to a number of factors. Things such as neurological damage, age of the victim, any complications, the stability of the fracture, the type of fracture, the treatment, and the type of job can all change the period of disability.

Published on: June 6, 2011

8-year-old Critically Injury During Rugby Game

by Stephen Bilkis

An 8-year-old boy is in a critical condition in the Netcare Unitas Hospital in Pretoria after he was injured while playing rugby at his elementary school in Pretoria North earlier in May.   At the time of the report, the events leading up to the injury were unclear, but it was thought that the boy was injured when he attempted to tackle another player. A Netcare911 spokesperson was able to give that little bit of information.  Paramedics arrived at the scene to find the boy semi-conscious and still on the field. He had sustained serious spinal trauma as well as a significant head injury. He was airlifted to the Netcare Unitas Hospital for treatment. Like slip and fall injuries in Brooklyn and The Bronx, rugby injuries are the cause of many spinal problems.

In another incident in Sino Ville, Pretoria, a 10-year-old schoolboy was seriously injured when a scrum collapsed during another rugby game.   Netcare911 paramedics had to rush from the first child’s incident to the second child’s. He was also found lying on the field, the Netcare911 representative said. It was found that this boy had sustained head and spinal trauma and was transported by ambulance to the same hospital for further care.

A NYC Spinal Injury Lawyer affirms what many parents realize: sports can be quite dangerous when they are not accompanied by adequate supervision and instruction. Proper equipment is also very important for student safety.