Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries result from either direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissue or blood vessels.

Injury may be complete or partial:

• if the spinal cord is completely severed, it cannot send messages below the level of injury, resulting in paralysis of the area.

• if the spinal cord is not completely severed, it can send messages below the level of injury, and there will be some movement and feeling in the area.

Spinal cord injuries, referred to as “SCIs”, are suffered by more than 10,000 people in the United States each year.  

Leading causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents and falls, with males accounting for more than 80% of this category of injury.

Spinal cord injuries can affect a person’s ability to live independently, to work in a chosen field, and to develop social relationships.  Persons with SCIs must also be aware of their increased risk of serious consequences resulting from pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms, and blood poisoning.  

The effects of SCI usually go far beyond simply an inability to walk. Difficulty with bowel and/or bladder function, pressure sores, loss of sexual function, emotional devastation are just a few of the life-altering sequelae of SCI. Scott Charnas has experience in putting together a team of experts who can help fully analyze the physical, emotional and economic cost of SCI. He will be there for you and your family, to help guide you through the legal process.

$5.9 million for construction
accident resulting in brain
damage.

$4.2 million recovery for a
scaffolding collapse.

$1.5 million medical
malpractice settlement.