Complexities of a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most complex, dangerous, and sensitive that surgeons see. A victim who suffers an injury of this kind in a car accident, construction zone accident, or other type of accident faces a range of possible effects:

  • Minor head/neck pain with few long-lasting consequences

  • Reduced function of the eyes, ears, taste, speech, or limbs

  • Paralysis of the feet, legs, hands, and/or arms

  • Death

Because spinal cord injuries are so devastating and difficult to repair, they usually cost the victims very high amounts of money in the form of missed work, recovery and medical expenses, and often lifelong care in order to perform normal daily tasks. Victims should not take chances when seeking a financial settlement for a catastrophic injury of this nature; Killian Davis Richter & Mayle offers New Mexico residents top quality representation combined with compassion and experience.

Understanding a Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord is the “information highway” that carries impulses from the body’s many systems to the brain and carries instructions from the brain to those systems. When that highway is damaged by an injury, the system fails, causing paralysis. The spinal cord itself is protected by the bones of the vertebrae, but a severe impact can crush the small bones or pierce between them, severing the sensitive cord inside. Because the spinal cord is so critical to the body’s function, it is critical to stabilize the victim immediately following an injury.

  • Never move a victim with a possible spinal cord injury or ask him to move.

  • Emergency response personnel use specialized techniques and equipment to prevent any further damage to the cord by crushed bones or foreign materials.

  • Experts in spinal cord surgery minimize the long-term effects with advanced procedures.

  • Years of recovery and rehabilitation are often needed to restore function fully, and some damage is permanent.

Dealing With Spinal Cord Injuries

New Mexico car accident victims who have sustained spinal cord injuries face a road to recovery that is very long, difficult, and expensive. The personal injury attorneys at Killian Davis Richter & Mayle understand that, and they also understand how much evidence, testimony, and paperwork it takes to convince an insurance company to pay those victims a fair amount. When you choose to work with us, you will receive:

  • A free initial consultation, during which you can tell us your story and get our expert opinion on your next legal steps

  • Close personal attention and frequent updates on the status of negotiations

  • Respect, dignity, and the genuine concern of our lawyers and staff

  • Determined legal expertise on your behalf, working hard to win you a settlement that will cover all your expenses, not just the ones you face today

New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury

If you or a loved one have suffered from a serious personal injury due to negligence from one of the following, you need someone on your side fighting for your rights and to get you the compensation you deserve:

  • A defective product

  • An irresponsible manufacturer

  • A medical professional

  • A private business owner or public maintenance

At Killian Davis Richter & Mayle, PC, we honestly evaluate each and every case on an individual basis, and if we believe that you indeed have a case, we will professionally represent you every step along the way.

First Steps in a Personal Injury Case

If you’ve been injured in an accident or in a case where someone else was at fault, your lawyer will help you notify those responsible, depending on the type of accident involved:

  • Motor vehicle accident

  • Slip and fall

  • Medical malpractice

  • Defective product

  • Animal bites

Killian Davis Richter & Mayle, PC can navigate you this complex process for you. Following the correct procedures during the first steps of a personal injury case are critical to winning a fast, fair settlement. With extensive experience practicing law in New Mexico, we can quickly get your case started so that you can get your recovery costs paid as soon as possible.

How We Help You Win Your Personal Injury Claim

At Killian Davis Richter & Mayle, PC, we take the time necessary to thoroughly understand, research, and prepare your case for the best possible outcome. Our skill and expertise covers a broad range of practice areas including personal injury, vehicle accidents, products liability law, Social Security and Disability law, wrongful death, and many others. We can help you:

  • Protect your rights after personal injury

  • Deal with uncooperative parties

  • Determine what your personal injury claim may be worth

  • Navigate and counter the tactics that insurance companies use to avoid compensation

  • Stay on top of the details of your case

  • Negotiate a full and fair settlement

Indications of Neglect or Abuse

Nursing Home Neglectabuse

When family members entrust the elderly to the care of a New Mexico nursing home staff, they assume their loved ones will be provided with professional protection and assistance. Neglect or abuse are insidious violations of this trust and should be noticed and addressed as soon as possible for the safety and health of loved ones who often cannot defend themselves. Family members who commit the care of their elderly loved ones to a nursing home should continually watch for both blatant and subtle signs of neglect or abuse.

  • Nursing home neglect or abuse directly violates the trust family members place in a nursing home staff.

  • Elderly within a nursing home facility should be carefully watched for signs of nursing home neglect or abuse.

  • Blatant indications of neglect or abuse include physical damage to the skin, such as unexplained bruising, open cuts, abrasions, and bedsores; frequent or unusual infections; sudden weight loss or gain; hair loss; soiled clothes and poor condition of hygiene; and damaged, stained, or bloody bedding.

  • Subtle indications of neglect of abuse may include unusual financial needs; personal items disappearing; unusual emotional responses; withdrawal or unresponsiveness physically or emotionally.

Types of Neglect or Abuse

The extensive nature of the care provided within a nursing home facility creates a broad spectrum of possibilities for this care to be neglected or abused. Sexual abuse and wrongful death are the ultimate violations of a vulnerable person seeking a place of rest and care. And while simple, daily tasks may seem insignificant to someone unskilled and untrained, the neglect of any of these can also result in serious ramifications for the elderly. Bed sores, falls, malnutrition, or incorrect medication doses create serious side effects and are clearly neglect of the needs of people who can no longer care for themselves. Neglect can quickly turn into abuse when these needs are continually ignored and the health and life of an elderly person becomes threatened.

  • Sexual abuse and wrongful death seriously violate the rights of the helpless and weak.

  • Neglect of daily care that results in bedsores, falls, malnutrition, dehydration, poor wound care, and inaccurate medication can easily become abuse as this neglect can quickly destroy the body of the elderly.

  • Abuse and neglect in the form of refusal to provide proper hygiene and basic needs threatens the well-being, emotional, and physical state of the elderly.

Immediate Action Required

Because of the serious threat to the elderly, the speed with which a person in fragile health can deteriorate, and the limited window of time for filing a complaint or lawsuit, any case of suspected nursing home neglect or abuse should be immediately addressed. Initial action to protect and then steps to make the facility responsible for their actions should take place with the proper legal backing.

  • The needs of the elderly demand immediate physical protection.

  • Limitations in the time for filing require urgent action.

  • Legal coverage of nursing home facilities necessitate skilled representation.