Spinal Cord Injury Accident Lawyers

Indiana wouldn’t be what it is today without the men and women of the construction industry, who created an infrastructure capable of sustaining more than six million permanent residents out of thousands of square miles of prairie land. Yet despite everything that construction workers continue to do for the Hoosier State, they are forced to endure some of the most dangerous conditions in the private employment sector.

There were 31 deaths recorded on Indiana construction sites in 2020 alone, but non-fatal construction accidents can still manage to inflict catastrophic injuries, and among the worst are injuries of the spinal cord, which could break the bank of most families without assistance. Fortunately, that assistance may be available if you get in touch with the Indiana construction accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, where we have been getting justice for the wrongfully injured since 1998.

For a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indiana spinal cord injury accident attorney, just call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form at your earliest convenience.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury? 

The spinal cord is a pivotal part of the human body, but what is it, and how can a spinal cord injury negatively impact our well-being?

Made up of millions of tightly bundled cells, nerve fibers, and blood vessels, the spinal cord runs through the center of the spine and transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the body that allow us to walk, breathe, and engage in other movements. Every spinal cord is surrounded by three layers of tissue and immersed in cerebrospinal fluid that cushions it from shock or injury.

The symptoms experienced after a spinal cord injury will be influenced by the “completeness” of the damage incurred, with the most extreme symptom being paralysis, which is a loss of nerve or muscle function that hinders or eliminates mobility in the affected area of the body. In general, paralysis may be classified as either:

Complete – There is total loss of nerve communication below the point of injury, such that no sensation, function, or muscle control remains; or

Incomplete – Some messages can be transmitted to and from the brain, thereby preserving a degree of sensation, function, and muscle control below the point of injury.

The higher up on a patient’s body that a spinal cord injury is located, the more extensive that his or her paralysis can be. Consequently, an injury farther down the spinal cord might result in paraplegia or paralysis of the lower body and legs, whereas a spinal cord injury at the neck level could lead to quadriplegia or tetraplegia, in which most of the body and all of the limbs are immobilized.

Paralysis is an especially devastating symptom of a spinal cord injury, though it is not the only one, as other symptoms may include:

Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

Head, neck, or back pain or pressure

Incontinence

Weakness or enfeeblement

Trouble breathing or walking

Loss of sexual function

Spinal bruising

Anyone exhibiting these symptoms after a construction accident should seek medical attention before more dire complications associated with spinal cord injuries can develop, such as:

Pneumonia

Restricted respiration

Circulatory problems (blood clots, unstable blood pressure, arrythmias)

Bladder or bowel dysfunction

Autonomic dysreflexia

Pressure sores

Neurogenic pain

As you might imagine, a spinal cord injury could turn your whole world upside down, transforming ordinary activities into extraordinary ordeals. Nevertheless, you can rely on our Indiana spinal cord injury accident lawyers to get you the resources necessary to meet the challenges that are bound to emerge when you injure your spinal cord on a construction site.

Common Spinal Cord Injury Accidents on Indiana Construction Sites

Construction accidents can take various forms, though there are certain incidents that could put the spinal cord at significant risk of harm. Common spinal cord injury accidents on Indiana construction sites include:

Falls

Blows from moving objects

Crushing events

Scaffold and building collapses

Cave-ins

Construction vehicle, crane, and forklift collisions

Mechanical malfunctions

Explosions

Regardless of how you were hurt, our Indiana spinal cord injury accident attorneys will analyze the root causes so that everyone who is at fault can be held to account.

Who Is at Fault for an Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Accident?

But exactly who is at fault for an Indiana spinal cord injury accident? The answer is not always obvious thanks to the inherent complexities of construction work. Even a relatively simple construction project can be a major undertaking, with a host of professionals performing numerous tasks simultaneously in order to achieve a larger goal, and a single error could cost lives.

Because the stakes are so serious, Indiana construction projects are not permitted to go forward until they are approved by the Construction Safety Division of the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which oversees construction sites across the state. Construction employers who hope to pass inspection must:

Evaluate job sites for hazards.

Implement thorough safety protocols.

Train workers on the correct use of tools and machinery.

Provide protective gear to avoid construction accidents.

Shirking these obligations could be an indication of negligence, which is a core element in a personal injury case for a spinal cord injury on a construction site, and the potential defendants in such a case might include the:

Property owner

Project developer

General contractor

Contractors and subcontractors

Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of defective equipment and supplies

Government body with authority over a public space under construction

In some situations, multiple individuals and entities could be liable for the same spinal cord injury accident, and each of them must be pursued within the time allotted by law, known as the Statute of Limitations. If you fail to file a lawsuit or otherwise resolve your claim before the Statute expires, you could be forever barred from obtaining full compensation, the sort of careless mistake that will not happen when our meticulous Indiana spinal cord injury accident lawyers are on the case.

How Hensley’s Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Accident Attorneys Can Make a Difference

Injuring your spinal cord in a construction accident can change your life in an instant, making it immeasurably tougher to make ends meet, much less meet the new demands on your wallet. Moreover, you could encounter stiff opposition from any insurance companies with applicable coverage, who may do everything in their power to minimize their financial exposure.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this trying period and the wisdom to guide you through it, like the Indiana spinal cord injury accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group.

If you hire Hensley, we will carry out a comprehensive investigation into your construction accident and everybody who contributed to it, then take swift action to amass the materials to shore up your claim and partner with top experts in their fields if the circumstances warrant it.

After putting together the strongest case possible, our tenacious Indiana spinal cord injury accident lawyers will enter into exhaustive negotiations for a settlement that reflects the entirety of your losses, including your:

Medical bills

Lost income

Pain and suffering

Mental and emotional trauma

Diminished quality of living

Loss of consortium

Punitive damages (if relevant)

And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim, we are not afraid to proceed to trial for a verdict that is, unlike many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture into a courtroom – and leave money on the table that belongs in their clients’ pockets.

We realize that you may be reluctant to agree to more expenditures when you can least afford them, but our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana spinal cord injury accident attorneys win your case.

You have enough to worry about at this moment merely recovering from your spinal cord injury. Let us worry about recovering the funds you require to do it.

Reach Out to Our Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been fiercely advocating for the innocent victims of negligence for over a quarter century. If you are struggling to return to normal after damaging your spinal cord on a construction site, reach out to our Indiana spinal cord injury accident lawyers to explore your legal options.

You can schedule a free consultation with an accomplished Indiana spinal cord injury accident attorney by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form now.