The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers | January 13, 2026 | Medical Malpractice
Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating medical conditions a person can experience. These injuries often result in permanent disabilities, chronic pain, loss of mobility, and profound changes to a person’s quality of life.
While many spinal cord injuries occur due to accidents or trauma, a significant number are caused—or worsened—by medical errors. When healthcare providers fail to meet accepted standards of care, the consequences can be life-altering for patients and their families.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a critical part of the central nervous system, responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord can impair movement, sensation, and bodily functions such as breathing, bladder control, and digestion. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, a patient may suffer partial or complete paralysis, including paraplegia or quadriplegia.
Because the spinal cord is so delicate, even minor mistakes during medical treatment can result in catastrophic harm.
Common Medical Errors That Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
Medical errors can occur at many stages of care, from diagnosis to surgery to post-operative monitoring.
Some of the most common ways spinal cord injuries occur due to medical negligence include:
Surgical Errors
Mistakes during spinal surgery are a leading cause of medical-related spinal cord injuries. Errors such as operating at the wrong spinal level, improper placement of screws or hardware, excessive force, or failure to protect the spinal cord during surgery can cause permanent damage.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Failing to properly diagnose conditions like spinal infections, tumors, herniated discs, or fractures can allow the condition to worsen. Delayed treatment may result in preventable spinal cord compression or irreversible nerve damage.
Anesthesia Errors
Improper administration of anesthesia, including epidural or spinal anesthesia, can damage the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. Dosage errors, incorrect needle placement, or failure to monitor the patient can lead to paralysis or long-term neurological deficits.
Birth Injuries
In some cases, spinal cord injuries occur during childbirth due to excessive force, improper use of delivery tools, or failure to perform a timely cesarean section. These injuries can leave a child with lifelong disabilities.
Failure to Monitor or Respond
After surgery or trauma, healthcare providers must closely monitor patients for signs of spinal cord distress, such as numbness, weakness, or loss of sensation. Ignoring these warning signs can allow a reversible injury to become permanent.
The Long-Term Impact on Victims
A spinal cord injury caused by a medical error often results in extensive and ongoing challenges. Victims may require multiple surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, mobility aids, home modifications, and continuous medical care. Many are unable to return to work, leading to lost income and financial instability.
Beyond the physical consequences, victims frequently suffer emotional and psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and loss of independence. Families are also affected, as loved ones often take on caregiving roles and experience significant emotional and financial strain.
When a Medical Error Becomes Medical Malpractice
Not every poor medical outcome qualifies as malpractice.
To establish a valid medical malpractice claim, it must be shown that:
- A doctor or healthcare provider owed the patient a duty of care
- The provider breached that duty by failing to meet accepted medical standards
- The breach directly caused the spinal cord injury
- The injury resulted in measurable damages
Proving these elements often requires extensive medical records, expert testimony, and a thorough investigation.
Contact The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury due to a medical error, you may be entitled to compensation. A successful claim can help recover damages for medical expenses, future care costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Medical malpractice cases involving spinal cord injuries are complex and aggressively defended. Having an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer in Atlanta, GA, on your side can make a critical difference. Contact The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
We are proud to serve clients throughout Atlanta, Fulton County, and the surrounding communities in Georgia.
The Moses Firm: Medical Malpractice Lawyers
3490 Piedmont Rd NE #1206,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 721-1050
Available 24/7