To understand spinal injuries, you must understand the three major sections of the spine, each with unique functions and vulnerability.

1. Cervical Spine (Neck Region – C1–C7)

Supports the head, allows rotation, and protects nerves controlling arms and hands.

Common cervical injuries:

• Herniated discs
  
• Bulging discs
  
• Facet joint injuries
  
• Cervical radiculopathy (nerve compression)
  
• Cervical fractures
  
• Whiplash-associated disorders
  
• Spinal cord injury leading to partial or total paralysis (quadriplegia)
  

Mechanisms include rear-end collisions, falls, high-speed impacts, rollover accidents, sudden hyperflexion/hyperextension.

2. Thoracic Spine (Mid-Back – T1–T12)

Stabilizes the upper body and protects vital organs.

Common thoracic injuries:

• Compression fractures
  
• Burst fractures
  
• Disc herniations
  
• Thoracic radiculopathy
  
• Spinal cord trauma causing paraplegia

Most thoracic injuries occur from high-energy impacts:

• Motorcycle accidents
  
• Falls from height
  
• Roof or structure collapse
  
• Heavy falling objects
  
• High-speed vehicle collisions

3. Lumbar Spine (Lower Back – L1–L5/Sacrum)

Carries body weight, controls walking, bending, sitting, lifting.

Common lumbar injuries:

• Disc herniation
  
• Bulging discs
  
• Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
  
• Spondylolisthesis
  
• Facet joint syndrome
  
• Spinal stenosis
  
• Lumbar fractures
  
• Cauda equina syndrome (medical emergency)

Lumbar injuries are extremely common in slip and falls, car accidents, and lifting/impact trauma.

1. Herniated Discs

Occurs when disc material protrudes into the spinal canal, impinging nerves.

2. Bulging Discs

Disc protrudes outward but doesn’t rupture. Still causes pain and nerve compression.

3. Nerve Impingement / Radiculopathy

Radiating pain into arms (cervical) or legs (lumbar), numbness, tingling, weakness.

4. Spinal Fractures

• Compression fracture
  
• Burst fracture
  
• Transverse process fracture
  
• Fractures from high-impact trauma

5. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Partial or complete loss of motor or sensory function.

6. Soft Tissue & Ligament Injuries

• Whiplash
  
• Sprains
  
• Strains
  
• Facet joint injuries
  

7. Lumbar Instability

Occurs when vertebrae become misaligned or unstable due to trauma.

Treatment can be conservative or surgical depending on severity.

Non-Surgical Treatments

1. Physical Therapy

Strengthens stabilizing muscles and improves mobility.

2. Chiropractic Care

Spinal adjustments and mobilization for pain relief.

3. Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI)

Reduces inflammation around compressed nerves.

4. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Burning of nerve endings to reduce chronic facet joint pain.

5. Medication Management

• Anti-inflammatories
  
• Muscle relaxants
  
• Nerve pain medications
  

Surgical Interventions

1. Discectomy / Microdiscectomy

Removal of herniated disc material compressing nerves.

2. Laminectomy

Removal of part of the vertebrae to relieve spinal stenosis.

3. Fusion Surgery

Stabilizing vertebrae using rods, screws, cages, or bone grafts.

4. Artificial Disc Replacement

Implantation of a prosthetic disc to preserve mobility.

5. Kyphoplasty / Vertebroplasty

Treatment for compression fractures.

Spine surgery dramatically affects case value and long-term compensation.

Depending on the accident type, different CACI instructions apply.

1. Negligence (CACI 400, 401, 430)

Used for:

• Car/motorcycle/pedestrian accidents
  
• Truck crashes
  
• Boat accidents
  
• Workplace negligence
  
• School sports negligence
  

Plaintiff must prove duty, breach, causation, and damages

2. Premises Liability (CACI 1000–1011)

Used for spine injuries caused by:

• Slip and falls
  
• Trip and falls
  
• Collapsing structures
  
• Falling merchandise
  
• Dangerous walkways
  

Property owners must maintain safe premises and conduct reasonable inspections.

3. Dangerous Condition of Public Property (CACI 1100–1123)

Used for:

• Government-owned sidewalks
  
• Public buildings
  
• Public staircases
  
• City-owned property hazards
  
• Poor lighting
  
• Broken walkways
  

Requires filing a Government Tort Claim within 6 months.

4. Product Liability (CACI 1200–1206)

Used when a defective product causes spinal injuries:

• Car seat failures
  
• Tire blowouts
  
• Roof crush
  
• Collapsing ladders
  
• Defective chairs
  
• Defective helmets
  
• Industrial equipment failures
  
• E-bike/scooter malfunctions
  

No negligence required—just proof of defect and causation.

5. Negligent Hiring / Entrustment / Supervision (CACI 426, 427)

Used when an employee or driver causes an accident leading to spinal injuries.

6. Wrongful Death (when spinal cord trauma is fatal)

Families may recover economic and non-economic losses.

• Car accidents (rear-end, T-bone, head-on)
  
• Motorcycle accidents
  
• Pedestrian collisions
  
• Bicycle crashes
  
• Truck accidents
  
• Slip/trip and fall incidents
  
• Unsafe staircases
  
• Collapsing balconies or roofs
  
• Falling store merchandise
  
• Workplace or construction injuries
  
• Defective equipment
  
• Sports injuries
  

• Neck, mid-back, or lower-back pain
  
• Radiating pain into limbs
  
• Tingling, numbness, burning
  
• Muscle weakness
  
• Loss of coordination
  
• Bowel/bladder dysfunction (emergency)
  
• Restricted mobility
  

Spine symptoms often worsen over time if untreated.

Victims may recover:

• Medical bills
  
• Physical therapy
  
• Future surgery costs
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional distress
  
• Lost wages
  
• Loss of earning capacity
  
• Home modifications
  
• Assistive devices
  
• Wrongful death damages
  

Spine injuries often have very high case value due to long-term impairment.