Your Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 1-888-404-5167
Preszler Injury Lawyers

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries: Beyond the Physical Trauma

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can have far-reaching impacts on a victim’s life. In addition to the physical concerns, the victim likely will experience financial, emotional, social and psychological repercussions from the injury. The victim’s loved ones also may experience the negative impact of injury. Understanding the non-physical concerns may offer insight into how to move forward with a comprehensive recovery.

The Emotional Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries: Victim

Spinal cord injuries that result in partial or complete paralysis will be life-altering events for the victim and his or her loved ones. The victim may experience fear and confusion as he or she adjusts to the new realities of living with a disability. It is not unusual for a spinal cord injury victim to report depression.

SCI patients may experience denial, disbelief, shock, sadness and anger. These all are normal parts of the grieving process. The victim likely will progress to the “acceptance” stage, and from there, move forward with adjusting to a new life.

Patients will have to make many adjustments in daily activities, learning how to cope with challenges involving self-care and hygiene, performing chores and even intimacy. It may help for a victim to educate himself or herself about the injury and how to work toward independence. Family and friends – as well as medical and therapeutic professionals – can be tremendous assets in a victim’s emotional recovery.

The Emotional Impact of Spinal Cord Injury: The Family

A spinal cord injury patient’s loved ones also will experience the effects of the injury. This may include sadness, disbelief, shock and anger. Any children involved may feel confusion and even fear, particularly if a parent or sibling has suffered an injury. There will be a period of adjustment for all loved ones. It may be beneficial for the family to seek counseling together or separately to address issues with anger or depression.

There may be a shifting of roles within the household following a serious SCI. For instance, a parent may be unable to return to work after suffering total paralysis or may need to find new ways to interact with the children.

The Financial Impact of Spinal Cord Injury

Victims of spinal cord injuries will experience numerous financial concerns, including:

  • potential loss of past and future income (the Rick Hansen Institute reports chronic unemployment is a concern for 60 percent of spinal cord injury patients in Canada);
  • ongoing medical and therapeutic care;
  • attendant care; and
  • the cost of outfitting a home and vehicle to accommodate the injury.

In the event of a motor vehicle accident, Accident benefits and/or a tort claim may be able to help recover some or all of the expense associated with the injury. All other related accidents, have only a tort claim; provided that someone else’s negligence caused the injury.

Recovering From Spinal Cord Injuries

Have you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident, such as a motor vehicle crash or slip and fall? The injury lawyers at Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help victims of spinal cord injury recover fair compensation to treat their injuries. Call 1-800-JUSTICE® or complete this confidential online form to learn more. There is no charge to you unless we can recover compensation.

 

 

Call us now at
1-800-JUSTICE
®

151 Eglinton Ave W,
Toronto, ON
M4R 1A6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
4145 N Service Rd
Burlington, ON
L7L 4X6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
2 County Ct Blvd #400,
Brampton, ON
L6W 3W8
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
105 Consumers Drive
Whitby, ON
L1N 1C4
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
92 Caplan Ave #121,
Barrie, ON
L4N 0Z7
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
380 Wellington St Tower B, 6th Floor,
London, ON
N6A 5B5
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
2233 Argentia Rd Suite 302,
East Tower Mississauga, ON
L5N 6A6
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
1 Hunter St E,
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3W1
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
459 George St N,
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3R9
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
22 Frederick Street,
Suite 700
Kitchener, ON N2H 6M6
Fax: 1-855-364-7027
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
116 Lisgar Street, Suite 300
Ottawa ON
K2P 0C2
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
10 Milner Business Ct #300,
Scarborough, ON
M1B 3C6
Toll Free: 1-888-608-2111
*consultation offices

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the header image and other images throughout this website may include both lawyer and non-lawyer/paralegal employees of Preszler Injury Lawyers and DPJP Professional Corporation and unrelated third parties. Our spokesperson John Fraser, or any other non-lawyer/paralegals in our marketing is not to be construed in any way as misleading to the public. Our marketing efforts are not intended to suggest qualitative superiority to other lawyers, paralegals or law firms in any way. Any questions regarding the usage of non-lawyers in our legal marketing or otherwise can be directed to our management team. Please also note that past results are not indicative of future results and that each case is unique and that case results listed on site are from experiences across Canada and are not specific to any province. Please be advised that some of the content on this website may be out of date. None of the content is intended to act as legal advice as each situation is independent and unique and requires individual legal advice from a licensed lawyer or paralegal. For legal advice on your individual situation – we can provide legal guidance after you have contacted our firm and we have established a lawyer-client relationship contractually. Maximum contingency fee charged is 33%. Finally, our usage of awards and logos for awards does not suggest qualitative superiority to other lawyers, paralegals or law firms. All awards received from third party organizations have been done so through their own reasonable evaluative process and do not include any payment for these awards except for the use of the award logos for our marketing assets. We are also proud to service additional provinces like Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.