Each year spinal cord damage accounts for thousands of injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 11,000 spinal cord injuries every year in the U.S. Sometimes disease causes spinal cord damage, but most cases result from some type of accident or injury. Spinal cord injury attorney Robert A. Brenner discusses his experience representing spinal cord injury victims.

“A spinal cord injury can be really devastating to the victim and their family,” said Los Angeles, California spinal cord injury attorney Brenner who has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 35 years. “Even though I interact with people that suffer from spinal cord injuries, I can hardly imagine what it is like to be incapable of walking or even feeding myself. I think people have a tendency to take for granted these commonplace tasks that are performed without even a second thought.”

Brenner's practice has focused on catastrophic injuries like spinal cord injuries. Brenner's Web site www.Catastrophicinjury.com reports that the main causes of spinal cord injuries are car accidents, but falls, violent attacks and sports injuries are also common causes. Brenner's site estimates that 52 percent of those with spinal cord injuries are paraplegic and 47 percent are quadriplegic. “Any type of severe trauma to the spine,” said Brenner, “can cause it to fracture or can cause the dislocation of the vertebrae.” The bones in the spinal column comprise the vertebrae, which surrounds the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is an essential part the nervous system. The brain, along with the spinal cord, work in conjunction to control the body's movements. While spinal cord injuries are either complete or incomplete, a complete injury is not typically caused by the severance of the spinal cord. Most complete spinal cord injuries lead to incapacitation or restrained movement below the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury leaves the patient with some feeling and movement.

“Unfortunately,” commented Brenner, “spinal cord injuries lead to tremendous medical care costs. It is very trying on the families.” Brenner's Web site reports that only 52 percent of spinal cord injury patients have private health insurance coverage. “The stress of trying to pay for the medical care that their loved one needs to survive is quite overwhelming. It truly is distressing to witness this kind of situation,” said Brenner.

Brenner speaks about the available options for spinal cord injury victims. “Oftentimes,” said Brenner, “these types of severe injuries require long-term medical care. Typically, this type of personal injury settlement results in a life care plan.” Life care plans provide for the cost of future medical care for the person's lifetime. “The goal is that the life care plan will fully provide for the needs of the spinal cord victim, so that their life is more comfortable.”

Robert A. Brenner earned a J.D. from Whittier College, Beverly School of Law. Benner is an active member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and he has been selected as a Super Lawyer for the last five years.