Construction workers face numerous hazards daily, especially those who work from heights on scaffolds and ladders. Unfortunately, falls on construction sites are not uncommon and can cause many debilitating — and sometimes fatal — injuries. Among some of the most dangerous injuries are those involving the spinal cord. If you are a construction worker who suffered a spinal cord injury on a job site due to the negligence of a third party, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages by filing a personal injury action.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Construction Falls
Falls from heights present a significant risk in construction due to the inherent nature of the work. Many of the tasks carried out on construction sites involve scaffolds, ladders, roofs, platforms, and elevated surfaces. When a fall from a great height occurs, it can lead to serious spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis, nerve damage, and other long-term injuries.
The spine has four main sections — and where the impact occurs will affect the severity of the injury. Specifically, the following types of injuries can occur to the spine:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries — Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the head and neck. These types of spinal cord injuries are the most severe as this region is closest to the brain and affects a larger portion of the body. An injury to the cervical area can result in quadriplegia, resulting in limited movement below the shoulders and neck.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries — Thoracic spine injuries impact the upper back area and typically affect the abdominal, lower back muscles, and legs, resulting in paraplegia.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries — The lumbar spine is the lowest major portion of the spinal cord. Injuries to this area generally result in loss of function in the hips and legs.
- Sacral spine injuries — The sacral spine is located above the tailbone and below the lumbar spine. Depending on the type of injury, you may lose function in your legs or hips. In addition, sacral spine injuries can also impact bladder and bowel control.
The severity of a spinal cord injury can depend upon a variety of factors, including the height from which you fell, the type surface you landed upon, and the angle of impact. Even for less serious spinal cord injuries, recovery often involves extensive medical treatment, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling. You may also lose time from work, and experience a considerable amount of physical pain and emotional suffering. In such cases, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury action against a responsible third party for your injuries.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Construction Falls
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating — physically, financially, and emotionally. Although you cannot sue your employer due to New York’s Workers’ Compensation laws, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury action if you can show that a third party’s negligence was to blame for the accident that caused your injuries. In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be eligible to receive monetary recovery beyond Workers’ Compensation benefits, including your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages in a personal injury lawsuit for spinal cord injuries caused by a construction fall can include unreimbursed medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and future lost earnings. Non-economic damages are meant to cover the non-pecuniary losses that are much more difficult to quantify, such as the physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life suffered because of your accident-related injuries. Due to the nature of a spinal cord injury and the impact it can have on your life and livelihood, the economic and non-economic damages that can be recovered in a personal injury action are often substantial.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a construction accident due to a third party’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a personal injury action. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can best advise you regarding your legal rights and remedies — and fight for the compensation you deserve. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has represented construction accident victims for over three decades and provides skillful advocacy to obtain the best possible outcome in each unique case. Contact us today for a consultation.