Northern California Bike Accident Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
Northern California Bicycle Accident Spinal Cord Injuries
When a cyclist experiences a severe blow to the back, the bones that make up the spine (vertebrae) can break or dislocate and damage the spinal cord. Tiny fractured pieces of vertebrae can dig into spinal cord tissue or compress sensitive nerve cells. Damaged spinal nerves may not have the ability to send or receive information, resulting in either incomplete or complete paralysis. Complete paralysis symptoms are total loss of feeling and movement below the injury site while victims of an incomplete spinal cord injury will have some feeling and movement at the injury site and below. Typically, victims of a spinal cord injury will require life-long medical care and rehabilitation services. Victims may never regain full mobility and in addition to loss of feeling and movement, victims can often experience other medical complications, such as respiratory issues, neuropathic pain, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, gallbladder stones, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and inability to regulate heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury, you may be able to take legal action against the person or entity responsible for your injury. Talk to a northern California spinal cord injury attorney at Estey Bomberger for a complete analysis of your case. If we can help, we will make sure you are aware of your legal rights and options. Taking legal action can mean obtaining monetary compensation and justice for your injuries. Contact our northern California bicycle accident attorneys today.
Treatment of Northern California Spinal Cord Injuries
The sooner a spinal cord injury is treated, the better. After being injured, the patient’s outcome and prognosis is often determined by how quickly the patient can be treated. Usually, doctors will immediately administer corticosteroids, which is a class of steroid hormones, to reduce any swelling of the spinal cord and prevent destruction of the spinal nerves. In addition to administering medicine, doctors may perform surgery to relieve any pressure bone fragments may be placing on the spinal cord or to prevent tearing of the spinal cord by a foreign object.
After the initial treatment of a spinal cord injury and once the patient has healed, spinal cord injury victims may need extensive rehabilitation and pain management care. Muscle relaxants or painkillers may be prescribed to relieve the patient’s pain.
Preventing a Northern California Spinal Cord Injury
Cyclists can take measures to reduce their chances of being inflicted with a spinal cord injury. Following the simple safety tips below, cyclists can make every trip a safe trip.
- Always wear a helmet and have all passengers wear a helmet. Helmets should fit properly and be replaced after being involved in a crash or impact of any type. For a perfect helmet fit, bicyclinginfo.org recommends that straps should join under each ear at the jawbone, and pads should have two-fingers width between the forehead and front of the helmet.
- Dress for safety. Wear reflective or brightly colored clothing, especially at night.
- Ride with the flow of traffic. Many studies have shown that riding with the flow of traffic actually prevents bicycle accidents. Drivers are much more likely to see cyclists when they are traveling next to them, especially at intersections.
- Before beginning a ride, always check your bike for worn or broken parts. Worn or broken brakes, tires or handlebars can lead to a malfunction, which can result in a northern California bicycle accident taking place.
Despite every effort, cyclists cannot prevent a negligent or reckless motorist from hitting them. If you have been the victim of someone else’s wrongdoings, seek the counsel of a northern California bicycle accident attorney at Estey Bomberger. Our attorneys are widely regarded as some of the best in personal injury litigation throughout the state. As a firm, we have won millions of dollars for our clients, including money for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We Work On a Contingency Fee Basis
At Estey Bomberger, our fee is contingent upon your bicycle accident case outcome. Your chances of obtaining compensation in a personal injury lawsuit are greatly increased by acquiring the help of one of our northern California bike injury lawyers. Call us directly at (800) 890-6722 for a free consultation. If you prefer, a free online case evaluation form may be submitted and one of our northern California bicycle accident lawyers will get in touch with you shortly.