Spinal Cord Injuries

Houston Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Injuries to the spinal cord are most often traumatic, life-altering experiences that will have a permanent impact on the victim’s life. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, it’s important to talk to an attorney right away to have your case evaluated and to be advised of your right to fair compensation if the injury occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence.

At Wilhite & Lea, our attorneys are experienced in handling spinal cord injury cases throughout Houston and surrounding areas including: Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Waller, Grimes, and Wahsington Counties. As your legal counsel, we are responsible for attaining adequate financial compensation for continued medical care, assistance with daily living, physical rehabilitation, and other expenses that you must endure as a result of the injury.

Attorney George W. Wilhite is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Our firm has been handling spinal cord injury and other catastrophic injury cases throughout the Houston area since 1964. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, the best decision you can make is to immediately seek legal advice from an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer. We will be able to analyze the facts in your case and your right to receive proper monetary compensation for the injury. Contact us today for your free initial consultation and we will advise you of the best course of legal action.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Our firm is dedicated to helping Texans who have suffered a serious spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is a very delicate part of the human anatomy, when the spinal cord is injured, the trauma endured by the victim can be extremely severe. The Attorneys at Wilhite & Lea are experienced in representing victims who have suffered adverse spinal cord related injuries, including:

• Neck and Back Injuries
• Paralysis resulting from a severed spine
• Quadriplegia
• Paraplegia
• Injury to the Lumbar Vertebrae
• Damage to the Cervical Vertebrae
• Herniated, bulging, or slipped disc
• Subluxation Injury
• Autonomic Hyperreflexia
• Spinal Contusions
• Anterior Cord Syndrome
• Central Cord Syndrome
• Posterior Cord Syndrome
• Brown-Sequard Syndrome
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Pinched nerves resulting in chronic pain or loss of functions

The impacts that any of these spinal cord injuries will have on the victim are both devastating and long term. When the injury is caused by the negligence of an individual or entity, the victim must immediately seek legal advice in order to have the best chance at receiving the maximum monetary compensation for the injuries and medical hardship suffered as a result of the injury.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are numerous causes of spinal cord injuries. Some of the most common causes for SCI include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Violence / gunshot or stab wounds
• Sports / athletic / recreational incidents
• Tumors
• Disease or disorder
• Blunt force trauma
• Surgical mistakes during neck or back surgery

If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury due to any of these situations; speaking with an attorney soon after the injury will allow you to be advised of your right to fair compensation.

Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal Cord Injuries of any kind may result in one or more of a number of different signs and symptoms, including:

• Loss of sensation
• Loss of movement
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Spasms or exaggerated reflex activities
• Changes in sexual function, sensitivity, or fertility
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Sharp, stinging back or neck pains
• Weakness or loss of coordination
• Numbness or tingling in extremities
• Difficulty with balance or walking

A spinal cord injury is not always obvious. Symptoms from the injury may result immediately following the injury, or in some cases, may occur gradually over time as bleeding or swelling occurs in or around the spinal cord.

For anyone who has suffered significant trauma to the head, back, or neck; an immediate medical evaluation is vitally important to understanding the extent of the injury and for receiving proper treatment and rehabilitation.

Anatomy of the Human Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is categorized into 5 regions, Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal. Each section is made up of certain vertebrae or individual bones that make up the spine and certain spinal nerves that carry signals and are part of the peripheral nervous system. Injuries to different regions of the spine will result in different effects on the injured.

Cervical Region – This region is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) and eight cervical nerves (C1-C8).

C1 (Atlas) and C2 (Axis) – The topmost vertebrae connecting forming the joint that connects the skull to the spine. Injuries to these vertebrae can result in a loss of involuntary functions such as breathing.

C3 – C4 – Injuries to the cervical (neck) vertebrae from C4 and above may require a ventilator so the person can breathe properly.

C5 – Fifth cervical vertebrae down from the skull. Injury here may result in losing all wrist and hand control.

C6 – C7 – The last of the seven cervical vertebrae, an injury between C6 and C7 vertebrae is called a C6-7 injury. These injuries generally allow wrist control, but no hand function.

C8 – This is not a vertebrae but a cervical nerve root. While other cervical nerves (C1-C7) emerge above their corresponding vertebrae, C8 emerges below the C7 vertebrae.

Thoracic Region – This region is made up of 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12). These vertebrae provide attachment for the rigs and make up part of the back of the chest or thorax. Injuries below the T1 vertebrae usually do no affect the arms and hands but do affect the legs and may cause paralysis of the legs (paraplegia).

T1 – T8 – The nerves in this region control the chest muscles.

T9 – T12 – The nerves in this region control the abdominal muscles. Injuries to these vertebrae may cause dysfunction of the bowel and bladder.

Lumbar Region – This region endures much of the body’s weight and biomechanical stress. The Lumbar vertebrae are the largest segments of the vertebral column.

L1 – L2 - These vertebrae are at the level known as the transpyloric plane where the stomach is.

L3 – L5 – These segments take a great deal of stress and can be worn down causing Osteoarthritis. The L4 and L5 vertebrae are most likely to herniated, resulting in a herniated disk, bulging disk, prolapsed disk, compressed disk, ruptured disk, or slipped disk. These injuries can cause pain and numbness to radiate through the legs to the feet.

Sacral Spine – Located behind the pelvis, the sacral vertebrae consist of five bones (S1-S5) fused together. This region fits between the hipbones and connects the spine to the pelvis. The sacral nerves control bowel, bladder, and sexual function.

Coccygeal – Also known as the coccyx, tailbone, or cauda equina, this region consists of 3-5 bones fused together at the very bottom of the spine.

Spinal Cord Injury Resources

American Spinal Injury Association – The ASIA’s mission is to promote healthy living of injury victims, educate healthcare professionals, patients, and their families, and foster research aimed at preventing injuries, improving care, and finding a cure for both acute and chronic SCI.

The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research Memorial Hermann – The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Hermann is one of the few hospitals in the country designated as a Model System for both spinal cord and brain injury.

1333 Moursund Street
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 704-4000

Wilhite & Lea P.C. – Texas Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

If you have suffered trauma due to an injury to the spinal cord, it’s important to immediately seek proper medical attention. If this injury may have occurred due to an accident or possible negligence of someone else; it’s important to seek legal advice from an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer.

At Wilhite & Lea, we’re dedicated to helping Texans receive maximum compensation for the damages they have suffered as a result of a spinal cord injury. Contact us today for any case in Southeast Texas, including Harris County, Houston, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, Montgomery County, Conroe, The Woodlands, Fort Bend County, Sugarland, Grimes County, Washington County, or Waller County. Our attorneys are ready to immediately speak with you in a free initial consultation. regarding your spinal cord injury.