Spinal Cord Injury From a Construction Accident Attorney in New York

One of the most catastrophic types of personal injuries after a construction accident is a spinal cord injury, or SCI.  According to statistics from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), each year there are almost 18,000 new SCI cases in the United States.  The most common causes of SCIs including motor vehicle accidents and falls, which falls are part of the “fatal four” in construction accidents (the most common causes of fatal construction accidents) along with being hit by a falling object, caught-in/betweens, and electrocutions.  When any of these common causes results in a spinal cord injury in a construction accident, victims and their families should call our Staten Island construction accident lawyer for help.

Here at the O’Connor Law Firm, our personal injury law firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of victims and their families who are injured in construction accidents.  Unlike other types of personal injury cases, New York’s Labor Law places certain requirements on owners, contractors, and others in control of a job site to protect workers from foreseeable harm.  When this does not occur and workers are catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed, they may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages.  If you or a loved one suffered any type of spinal cord injury in a construction accident in New York, call our experienced construction accident lawyer for help by scheduling a FREE consultation to learn more about your rights to compensation.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury? 

A spinal cord injury in a construction accident is any type of damage to the spinal cord and its ability to send or receive messages.  The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system along with the brain.  It receives and sends messages between the brain and the rest of the nerves in the body, which are known as the peripheral nervous system.  This includes nerves in the fingers, toes, hands, and feet which can feel pain, temperature, pressure, moisture, and other sensations, as well as movement function and strength.

When parts of the spinal cord are damaged, messages from parts of the body below that damage may not be able to send or receive messages with the brain.  That could result in decreased sensation, strength, or function.  This type of decreased function is known as an incomplete or partial SCI.  This is a form of paralysis.  The extent of the paralysis depends on whether the SCI is high up in the neck or mid-back (quadriplegia or tetraplegia), or if the SCI is lower than mid-torso (paraplegia).

However, when the damage to the spinal cord is severe and total, it could sever any communication between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.  This is known as a compete or total SCI and is also a form of paralysis.  Like an incomplete SCI, the extent of the paralysis depends on the location of the damage on the spinal cord.

Common Causes of a Spinal Cord Injury in a Construction Accident 

There are many common causes of a spinal cord injury in a construction accident in New York.  Most of these common causes are fully preventable.  However, our Staten Island construction accident lawyer knows that far too many owners, contractors, and others in control who are responsible for worker safety will fail to properly protect workers.  As a result, many workers are needlessly injured in a fall.

Some of the most common causes of a SCI in a construction accident include the following:

• Falls from a ladder, scaffolding, lull, roof, or any other elevated height
• Hit by a falling object, including a tool, building materials, or another person
• Caught in/between a fall object and a wall, piece of machinery, vehicle, or otherwise crushed
• Electrocuted
• Hit by a construction vehicle
• Struck by a crane, including a counterbalance
• In a construction truck accident
• Defective power tool accidents
• Caught in a trench or underground excavation event
• Injuries with power tools including nail guns or fasteners
• Product defects or defective materials, and
• Many other common causes of construction site accidents in New York that our construction accident lawyer in Staten Island could handle for you.

Were You Injured in a Construction Accident in New York?  Call Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today

 After sustaining a spinal cord injury in a construction accident in New York, particularly right here in Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York City, The Bronx, Queens, Long Island, and in surrounding areas, please call our construction accident lawyer in Staten Island to schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about your rights.  Statistics show that most spinal cord injuries occur to individuals in their late 20s, where the average lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury at 25 years old is between $1.7 million (any SCI decrease of function) and $5.1 million (for a high quadriplegia injury).  This is why you need an experienced advocate on your side to handle your case.

To learn more about how we can help you and your family recover compensation for these damages after a spinal cord injury in a construction accident, call the O’Connor Law Firm by dialing (718) 948-3500 or by sending us an email through our “Contact Us” box available here.  We are here to help you and your family move forward.