Your Maine Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Seeking Justice for Spinal Cord, Neck, and Back Injury Victims

Unfortunately, many accident victims who suffer spinal cord, neck and back injuries never receive the money they deserve for medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wages. Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are among the most serious and devastating injuries a person can suffer. An estimated 275,000 Americans are living with a spinal cord injury, and each year, another 12,500 are injured. These injuries require expensive medical care and ongoing treatment and services, sometimes for the rest of a person’s life.

SCI is typically caused by a traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. This is commonly referred to as a broken neck or broken back. The trauma causes bones, bone fragments, discs, or other structures to damage the spinal cord tissue. If the spinal cord is torn or severed, the victim can suffer paralysis.

The level of injury is the lowest point on the spinal cord below which sensory feeling and motor movement are impacted.

• Cervical spinal cord injuries (C1–C8) can cause quadriplegia, affecting arms, legs, and body regions below the injury. Respiratory issues, bowel, bladder dysfunction, and sensation loss are common. Neck flexibility makes stabilization challenging, often requiring braces.
• Thoracic injuries (T1–T12) affect the mid-spine, potentially causing paraplegia, bowel, bladder dysfunction, and physical sensation loss. Arms and hands are usually unaffected, but braces are often needed for stability.
• Lumbar injuries (L1–L5) impact the lower spine, leading to paraplegia and dysfunction in bowel, bladder, and sensation. Surgery and stabilization are frequently required.
• Sacral injuries (S1–S5) cause bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction, along with paralysis or weakness in the hips, legs, and feet.

The two main types of spinal cord injuries are tetraplegia and paraplegia.

• Tetraplegia affects both arms and legs, caused by trauma between the C1 and T1 vertebrae. It can result in loss of sensation, movement, or function in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, pelvic organs, and legs.
• Paraplegia impacts the lower body, caused by trauma between the T2 and S5 vertebrae. It results in partial or complete loss of sensation and motor function in the stomach, hips, legs, and feet.

Degree of severity of spinal cord injury

The severity of spinal cord injuries is described as either complete or incomplete.

Complete Injury

A complete injury means there is no voluntary movement or sensation below the level of the injury.

Incomplete Injury

An incomplete injury means there is some functioning below the level of the injury.

Strong advocates for victims of spinal cord injuries in Maine and New England

Spinal cord injuries are often caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless action, such as a car accident, an act of violence, a workplace fall or by some other means. In those cases, Maine law entitles the injured person and their families to recover financial damages. Berman & Simmons is widely recognized as the best personal injury lawyers in Maine and among the best in the U.S. It’s our mission to hold the responsible party accountable and to make sure you receive full compensation for your losses.

A Law Firm That Listens

Berman & Simmons is widely recognized as the best personal injury lawyers in Maine and among the best in the U.S., having won many of the largest jury verdicts and settlements ever obtained for injured people in Maine.

Our trial lawyers have won thousands of claims on behalf of those injured in a car accident, and each year we build on that successful track record.

Our attorneys and staff members will take the time to listen to you, work to understand your concerns, and come up with solutions that can make your life better, including obtaining payment for or deferral of your debts until your case is resolved. We help you recover and make sure you receive full compensation for your injuries and loss.

Don’t wait to hire a personal injury lawyer:

• Maine has strict deadlines for filing many personal injury claims.
• The other insurance company is likely already building their client’s case against you.
• Witnesses may become unavailable and evidence may be lost or degraded with time.
• You’ll need help navigating your medical care and dealing with financial pressures.
• You need peace of mind to focus on your recovery.