Portland Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

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 503.342.0783.

What Our Clients Say

“There are few times that I can recall feeling as welcome at business as I did at Rizk Law. It feels like your walking in to a friend’s home. Everyone there is so polite and friendly and quick to offer coffee or cake (even got offered ice cream once!). Don took the time, every time I called, to help me understand what my options were and allow me to make the best choices. Really made the place 1st class!”

- Client

What Our Clients Say

“Mr. Rizk was a great advocate for me in dealing with the multiple insurance companies. He kept me up to date on the claims process and ultimately ensured the best possible settlement for the injuries I sustained in the car crash. I was very satisfied with the outcome.”

- Client

What Our Clients Say

“Exceptional staff and an amazing office define the Rizk Law team and place them above the competition. Richard fights for his clients and makes insurance pay out. I could not recommend this firm more highly.”

- Client

What Our Clients Say

“Richard Rizk is the attorney I would recommend to anyone trying to do battle with an insurance company. He used to work for insurance companies, so he knows how they think and the methods they use.”

- Client

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.

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.

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 503.342.0783 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form now.

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