When a patient presents after a fall, motor vehicle collision, or other high-impact event, medical providers must immediately recognize the possibility of spinal involvement and take certain precautions to protect the spinal cord. Even minor mishandling can transform a survivable injury into permanent paralysis or death. Negligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury often occurs in emergency rooms, ambulances, or inpatient hospital settings when providers rush assessments, fail to immobilize the spine, or disregard established trauma protocols. If you or a loved one suffered devastating outcomes due to such failures, you may be able to recover damages in a medical malpractice claim, and you should talk to an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys take pride in advocating for individuals whose lives have been permanently altered by negligent spinal injury care, and if you engage our services, we will zealously pursue the justice you deserve. We regularly represent victims of medical negligence throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.
The Serious Risks Associated With Negligent Handling of Patients With Suspected Spinal InjuryNegligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury can cause profound and permanent harm because the spinal cord is uniquely sensitive to movement, compression, and delayed stabilization. When providers fail to immobilize the neck or spine, improperly transfer a patient from a stretcher, delay imaging, or allow unnecessary movement before spinal injury has been ruled out, the risk of secondary injury increases dramatically. In trauma medicine, the initial injury may not fully sever or damage the spinal cord, but improper handling can exacerbate swelling, bleeding, or compression, converting a partial injury into a complete one.
The consequences of negligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury often include paralysis, loss of motor function, chronic pain, respiratory compromise, bladder and bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and loss of independence. Patients may require lifelong medical care, assistive devices, home modifications, and personal attendants. In severe cases, improper spinal handling can lead to quadriplegia or death.
Establishing Liability for Negligent Handling of Patients With Suspected Spinal InjuryPeople harmed by medical professionals’ carelessness often seek redress through medical malpractice claims. To prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit arising from negligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury, a plaintiff generally must establish the elements of negligence recognized under New York law: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Duty is established once a provider–patient relationship is formed, which typically occurs when emergency medical technicians, nurses, physicians, or hospital staff begin evaluating or treating an injured individual. From that moment forward, the provider owes the patient a legal obligation to act in accordance with the accepted standard of care, including proper spinal precautions when spinal injury is suspected.
A breach of duty occurs when a medical professional fails to meet that standard. In cases involving negligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury, breaches may include failing to apply cervical collars or spinal immobilization devices, improperly removing a patient from a vehicle or stretcher, allowing unnecessary movement during examination, delaying appropriate imaging such as CT scans or MRIs, or failing to communicate spinal precautions during handoffs between providers. Because these issues involve specialized medical knowledge, expert testimony is almost always required. A qualified medical expert can explain what a reasonably competent provider would have done under similar circumstances and how the defendant’s conduct deviated from accepted practice.
Causation requires proof that the negligent handling directly caused or substantially contributed to the patient’s injuries. In spinal injury cases, this often involves expert analysis demonstrating that the patient’s neurological deterioration, paralysis, or worsening condition would likely have been avoided had proper precautions been taken. Experts may testify that the spinal cord injury was exacerbated by movement or delayed stabilization rather than by the initial trauma alone.
Damages are the final element of a medical malpractice claim. Under New York law, patients injured by negligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury may recover economic damages, including emergency care costs, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, long-term medical treatment, assistive devices, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic damages may also be awarded and can include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the profound psychological impact of permanent disability. In cases involving fatal outcomes, surviving family members may pursue damages through a wrongful death claim.
Consult a Dedicated Medical Malpractice Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New YorkNegligent handling of patients with suspected spinal injury can permanently destroy a person’s mobility, independence, and future, often in a matter of moments. If you or someone you love suffered paralysis or other severe harm because medical professionals failed to properly handle a suspected spinal injury, it is important to understand your rights, and you should speak with an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our knowledgeable Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to holding negligent providers, and if we represent you, we will craft compelling arguments in your favor. We have an office in Syracuse, and we proudly represent individuals and families throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York. You can contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation by completing our online form or calling 833-200-2000.