Motor Vehicle Accidents and their Resulting Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious and debilitating injuries a person can endure.  A spinal cord injury is any damage or trauma to the spine that results in either a temporary or permanent change in normal motor or sensory functioning.  They are generally caused by injury resulting in compression of the spinal cord.  According to the National Spinal cord Injury Association, 44 percent of all spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents.  Additionally, approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury are reported each year in the United States.

Spinal cord injuries from motor vehicle accidents can result in any of the following:

Paraplegia, or loss of voluntary motor function (also known as paralysis) of the lower body, including the legs and often internal organs below the waist.  Although the degree of paralysis can vary from mere impairment of leg movement to complete paralysis of legs, paraplegics have full use of their arms and hands.

Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia. Unlike paraplegics who lose motor function of their lower region, quadriplegics are unable to move both their upper and lower body (arms and legs).  The accurate term to describe quadriplegia is “tetraplegia,” although the term “quadriplegia” is commonly used.  Quadripilegia occurs when the person endures a spinal cord injury located to the top of the spine or backbone.  It typically starts at the upper body, usually at or around the shoulder area, and travels downward.  A quadriplegic may lack sensation in affected areas or lose the ability to control the affected body parts.

Bulging Discs. A bulging disc occurs when a disc bulges through a crevice in the spine when the disc shifts out of its normal position.  Bulging discs result in numbness, tingling in limbs, weakness and back or neck pain.  A disc bulge is often the first step toward a more serious problem known as a herniated disc.

Herniated Discs. A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the tissue that separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column ruptures.  The nucleus is at the center of the disc and absorbs shock from standing, walking, running, etc.  The outer ring of the disc, known as the annulus, holds the nucleus in place.  If the nucleus tissue in the center of the disc is placed under substantial pressure from a car accident, it can cause the annulus to rupture, resulting in numbness in limbs and neck and back pain.  Herniated discs often result in spine surgery.

Spinal cord injuries are serious and can lead to loss of some or all of an individual’s sensation and movement.

If the spinal cord appears to be compressed by a herniated disc, the surgeon may wish to operate on a patient immediately.  Surgery is most commonly performed on patients with incomplete spinal cord injury or with progressive neurological deterioration.  Surgery may also be necessary to stabilize the spine in the area of the spinal cord injury.  During a surgical procedure, metal rods and screws are attached to normal vertebrae and the vertebrae is fused together.

York Law Firm would like to help minimize your suffering.  While we can’t lessen your physical pain, we can help you recover your past and future medical care costs, as well as damages for your pain and suffering, the resulting physical limitations and emotional trauma.

York Law Corporation
Sacramento, California
www.yorklawcorp.com
Call today: (800) 939-1832
Local: (916) 643-2200

The Dangers of Texting while Driving

No one denies the convenience of cell phones.  Lately, text messaging has become a faster, more efficient way to communicate.  Texting seems to be the prevalent mode of communication by Generation Y (people born between the mid 1970s to the early 2000s).

Younger generations nowadays are constantly texting.  Nearly 46% of drivers under the age of 18 admit to sending text messages while driving!

With the texting while driving phenomenon increases, so does the probability of being seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident.  A study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that people who send text messages while driving are 23 more times likely to be in a crash than drivers who are not distracted.

It is illegal in the state of California to text while driving.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger banned reading or sending text messages while driving.  Texting while driving distracts even the best driver or the fastest texter.  As of 2009, anyone caught texting while driving is fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses.  Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using any electronic devices while driving.  The law is meant to encourage driving with hands on the wheel and to promote eyes on the road.

Even with the ban on texting, I have personally seen many people (usually younger people) texting while driving.  As a result, their reactions are slowed and their attention is elsewhere, increasing the risk of causing a motor vehicle accident.  Sadly, many people are permanently injured or die because the other party could not wait to send a text message.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motor vehicle accident whereby the other party was texting while driving, contact York Law Firm.  We can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

York Law Corporation
Sacramento, California
www.yorklawcorp.com
Call today: (800) 939-1832
Local: (916) 643-2200

The Importance of UM/UIM Insurance – Everyone Should Have it!

In California, it is illegal to drive without certain minimum liability insurance requirements.  A driver of passenger vehicles must carry at least $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and at least $5,000 for damage to property.  In addition, there is optional insurance that protects the driver or owner of a vehicle involved in a motor vehicle crash.  Uninsured driver (UM) protects you and your family if an uninsured driver negligently operates his or her vehicle and causes an accident.

It is no secret that we are experiencing hard economic times.  The unemployment rate in California reached 12.4 percent in May of 2010, nearly an all-time high.  And even though insurance is essential, more and more people are driving without insurance or with minimum coverage.  If they can’t afford insurance, they probably can’t afford to pay for your medical bills or property damage.  Now more than ever, uninsured motorist insurance is increasingly important.  And, it is relatively inexpensive.

Underinsured motorist insurance (UIM) protects you and your family if you are injured by a driver who causes more injuries than his or her insurance can pay.  UIM insurance pays the difference.

So many people nowadays are driving without insurance or too little insurance.  If you or your family gets injured in a motor vehicle accident, you want to ensure that you are covered from all of the uninsured drivers on the road.  If the other driver is driving without insurance or without adequate insurance, you won’t be able to get sufficient recovery to cover your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

York Law Firm represents clients who have been injured by drivers who have no insurance or who are underinsured.  It is unfair for anyone to have to pay out of pocket for their own injuries because they have had the misfortune of colliding with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, which is why we encourage you to increase your UM/UIM insurance to at a minimum of $300,000.  If you or a family member have been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact our law office to find out your legal rights.

York Law Corporation
Sacramento, California
www.yorklawcorp.com
Call today: (800) 939-1832
Local: (916) 643-2200

What to do after a Motor Vehicle Accident

You’ve just been involved in a motor vehicle accident.  What now?

Knowing what to do after an auto accident is important, and can mean the difference between recovery and no recovery.  You will likely be “shaken up,” maybe even unable to think.  Here are some tips on what to do.

Of course, if anyone is hurt, call 911.  Immediate medical attention after an injury can prevent it from getting worse.

Also, notify the police.  California requires that the police are notified of any collision before you leave the scene.  Make sure to ask the name of the officer at the scene and write it down as soon as you can for your personal records.

At the scene of the crash, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license and license plate numbers from each vehicle.  If there are any witnesses, take down his or her name and phone number.  A witness will help corroborate your version of events should there be any disagreement on how the crash occurred and who is at fault.  If you can, use a camera to document the damage to your vehicle.  Then, make sure to file an accident report with your Department of Motor Vehicles.

Do not discuss any fault on your part.  If the other driver admits he or she was “in the wrong,” take a mental note of it and write it down a soon as possible.  You want to be freed from liability, and verbatim quotes of admission of fault from the other party can help bolster your case should there later be disagreement about fault.

Contact your insurance agent to notify your insurance company of the accident.  This must be done as soon as possible; failure to notify the insurance company within a reasonable time may result in denial of your claim.  Also, try not to interact with the other party’s insurance company.  No matter how nice or accommodating they may seem, it is their job to minimize your recovery.  It is best to steer clear of the opposing party’s insurance company altogether.

If you are injured by the accident and decide to file a car accident injury claim, find an experienced car accident injury attorney to help protect your legal claim.  An attorney can help you obtain damages for your past and future medical bills, emotional trauma, loss of future income, pain and suffering, and your resulting injuries.  Do not talk to the insurance adjuster – they do not have your best interests at heart.  Insurance adjusters seek to minimize your injuries and pay as little money on claims.

Lastly, make sure you file your claim within the statute of limitations.  The statute of limitation differs depending in the subject matter of your case.  The attorneys at York Law Firm can advise you on the applicable statute of limitations.

Car accident injury claims have complex legal issues that only an experienced personal injury attorney can handle.  The attorneys at York Law Firm have been successful in numerous car accident injury cases and will use all available resources to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

York Law Corporation
Sacramento, California
www.yorklawcorp.com
Call today: (800) 939-1832
Local: (916) 643-2200