Maritime workers are vulnerable to a whole host of different accidents while working offshore. One very serious type of injury that workers can suffer is damage to their spinal cord after an accident. If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury after an offshore incident, it is important fo you to understand the symptoms and possible complications of this type of injury.

Maritime workers and serious spinal cord injury

Any serious accident has the potential to cause a major injury or death, something many maritime workers know all too well. Working offshore on a ship or other vessel can be dangerous work, but it is work that “somebody” needs to do to keep the wheels of American commerce turning.

If you have spent time working offshore, then you know some of the risks that maritime workers face every day. One of the more serious types of injuries that a worker can experience is damage to their spinal cord from a crash, fall, explosion, or other type of accident.

Workers who injure their spinal cords while on the job deserve compensation from their employer if the accident was caused by negligence either by the vessel owner, the employer, or another worker.

Spinal cord damage

Why is spinal cord damage so serious? Along with the brain, the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. This is the system that controls activity in all parts of your body; you simply could not survive without it.

Damage to the spinal cord can be major or minor, depending on where the injury is located on the spine and the severity of the injury (i.e. was the spinal cord severed?). A minor injury can lead to symptoms like numbness and tingling, but a more serious injury can mean partial or complete paralysis – sometimes for life.

Signs of a spinal cord injury

If you suspect a spinal cord injury, be on the lookout for the following signs:

· Pain or intense stinging in parts of your body

· Inability to move part of your body

· Loss of sensation in one or more of your limbs

· Inability to feel heat, cold, or pressure on your skin

· Loss of bladder or bowel control

· Spasms or twitches

· Difficulty breathing or bouts of coughing that won’t stop

Complications from a spinal cord injury

Because your spinal cord houses many nerves and blood vessels, damage to your spine can lead to a wide variety of complications, including:

· Bladder or bowel problems from nerve damage

· Circulation problems like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism from sitting in one place too long due to partial or complete paralysis

· Pressure sores (also known as bed sores) when a paralyzed victim can’t feel or move well

· Breathing problems from nerve damage and weak muscles

· Muscle atrophy in unused or difficult to move limbs or other body parts

· Pain and discomfort from damaged nerves of parts of the body that were affected in the accident

After suffering from a spinal cord injury it is very important for maritime workers to consider their futures. As you can see from the above partial list of potential complications, spinal cord damage can have a wide-reaching impact on a victim’s life.

You deserve compensation after a maritime accident that leads to a serious spinal cord injury, something a qualified offshore injury attorney can help you with. Please contact the New Orleans based office of The Young Firm to find out how our lawyers can protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

The Young Firm

400 Poydras Street, Suite 2090

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Phone: (504) 680-4100

Toll Free: (866) 968-6113


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