Thursday, December 24, 2009

Spinal injuries - hope for the future

With the right care and assistance, even the most devastating of injuries doesn't have to mean the end of your dreams and aspirations, as one 15 year old girl found out.

Jordan was a bright, bubbly 15-year-old girl with a great future ahead of her. She was due to take her GCSEs and her school teachers had high hopes for her academically. As well as being academically gifted, Jordan was also making her first inroads into the competitive world of fashion modelling, and had been singled out by an agency to do modelling work. This was her dream - to become a successful model. But a car accident one wet day suddenly halted those dreams in their tracks.

Jordan was a rear-seat passenger in a friend's car and was travelling to meet some school friends. The rain had been heavy enough to leave pools of standing water on the road, and her friend lost control of the car after aquaplaning on the wet surface. The accident, although it didn't involve any other vehicle, was serious. Jordan suffered spinal injuries and was rushed to intensive care at her local hospital.

The worst news

Jordan had suffered a high level break in her spine, resulting in tetraplegia. This meant she had lost the use of her arms and legs - the worst possible news for an active teenager. She was transferred to a specialist spinal injuries unit where her long road to recovery began.

After being transferred to the specialist unit, Jordan's family spoke to a specialist solicitor with expert knowledge in spinal injuries. Although it may not seem that claiming compensation for her injuries was a priority at that point, the family knew that because of the nature of Jordan's injuries, they had to plan for her future and that she would need specialist care for a long time to come. The solicitor was instructed to act on the family's behalf and immediately called in a team of investigators to reconstruct the events leading to Jordan's injury. Within seven days, the team had received confirmation that liability had been admitted in favour of Jordan.

A week later, a substantial interim payment had been made. But that wasn't all her team of solicitors did. Whilst she was still receiving hospital treatment, the team worked closely with her family and other agencies including Jordan's school to put in place a care package that would ensure Jordan not only received the best possible medical treatment, but also that her home environment would be adapted to cater for her long term needs. This included the purchase of a new home with a specially adapted 'wet room', as well as making sure that her education didn't suffer. The school worked closely with the team to make sure that Jordan could continue her studies when she was well enough.

Planning for the future

Today, Jordan is on the road to building a new life for herself. With the help and care she received, she has now managed to secure her GCSEs and is once again pursuing her dream of becoming a successful model. Her story demonstrates that, whilst the initial medical care is vitally important, it is also paramount to plan for the future.

Long term spinal injuries mean a lifetime of care but do not mean that life is over. Jordan's determination to succeed has been an inspiration to everyone around her, including the specialist legal team that have made sure that her financial future is secure. During a difficult time for the family, the legal team didn't just concentrate on getting the compensation Jordan needed, but also acted as a support team for her and her family. That support has meant that Jordan, despite her injuries, can live a full life with financial security and the specialist care that she needs on a daily basis to make her dreams a reality.

About the Author

Article from Serious Law - Specialist support services for those affected by spinal injury from the UK's leading specialised injury law practice.



Article Source:- GoArticle.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Little Information On Spinal Cord Injury

One of the most common results to a fall or car accident is the occurrence of a spinal injury. There are many different ways this damage can occur, but car accidents cover almost fifty percent of them. It is possibly one of the most serious conditions known to man and can often take many years for the patient to recover. Spinal cord damage is known to be a direct cause of vertebrae damage.

Although it is more common to receive the injury during some kind of accident, it can be caused by significant medical reasons. Sometimes during a stroke, the patient will sustain spinal cord damage which sometimes paralyzes the patient and greatly affects their speech. Multiple sclerosis is another medical condition that will often cause damage to the spinal cord.

There are two levels to the spinal cord damage. They are usually classified as complete injury or incomplete injury. When complete injury has occurred, there is paralysis to the area that is affected. For example, patients that have had complete damage lose control of all body function, but are still able to comprehend their surroundings. On the other hand, those that have incomplete damage can still move parts of their bodies, even slightly.

The injury occurs when the damaged bones in the back puncture, bruise, cut or severe the tender gray matter in the center of the vertebrae. This is the area that controls the movement and speech actions of every human. When this becomes damaged in any way, it will cause symptoms to other parts of the body. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord in the center and runs down the back, from the neck to the bottom of the back.

There are many complications that result from a patient having spinal damage at one time in their life. It can often lead to a life time of back pain, cardio vascular disease and sometimes even pneumonia. Complications such as osteoporosis are a common result of a patient that has some type of spine and spinal cord damage.

The patients and their families of spinal cord damage often have a really hard time adjusting to the situation. Sometimes the damage is so severe; it causes the patient to be paralyzed for the rest of their life, never to recover.

Since most insurance companies do not cover many of the expenses to long term medical care, the families are responsible for either paying someone to do it or do it themselves. Most of the time the latter is chosen, putting the family in emotional and financial stress. Sometimes the patient does recover and can live somewhat of a happy, normal life.

About the Author

Jo Wilson is an expert in spinal injury claims. If you would like more information about spinal injury compensation or are searching for a trusted spinal injury law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com



Article Source:- GoArticle.com

*****************Other Source of Article********************

Other Source of Information:- Spinal Cord Injury Attorney | Car Accident Attorney

About Me

My photo
Best Law article collection from the Web.