Introduction
Suffering a spinal cord injury can completely change a person’s life in an instant. From mobility loss to chronic pain and mental health struggles, the impacts are complex and long-lasting. Navigating the aftermath medically, financially, and legally can be incredibly challenging without knowledgeable guidance. An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer should be an integral part of your support team.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur when there is sudden trauma or damage to the spinal cord, severely impairing its ability to transmit signals between the brain and the body. Some common causes include:
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Slip and fall accidents
- Acts of violence
- Sports injuries
- Medical negligence
SCIs are life-altering events characterized by either temporary or permanent changes in muscle function, sensation, or autonomic processes like breathing and heartbeat regulation below the site of injury. A spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation and justice regardless of how the injury occurred.
SCI Classifications
The extent of impairment caused by an SCI depends on the location and severity of damage:
| Injury Level | Effects |
| Cervical (C1-C8) | Loss of arm/hand function, breathing issues, full paralysis |
| Thoracic (T1-T12) | Loss of core control, breathing issues, full/partial paralysis |
| Lumbar (L1-L5) | Loss of leg/foot control, paralysis unlikely |
| Sacral (S1-S5) | Loss of bowel/bladder control |
In addition, doctors classify SCIs as either:
- Complete: No motor/sensory function below injury site
- Incomplete: Some motor/sensory function remains
Understanding your specific SCI diagnosis is crucial when fighting for your rights and planning rehabilitation with your spinal cord injury lawyer.
Also Read:
https://besraha-news.online/mothers-rights-attorneys/
Why Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?
The value of an SCI lawyer comes from both their legal experience with similar cases as well as their ability to compassionately counsel victims who feel helpless and overwhelmed. They can handle diverse responsibilities like:
Investigating the Injury
Your attorney will thoroughly examine how and why your spinal injury occurred, searching for evidence of negligence or liability. Their findings build the foundation for your personal injury claim.
Navigating Insurance Disputes
From denied medical claims to unfair settlement offers, insurers often create obstacles to paying SCI victims what they legally deserve. An attorney levels the playing field.
Managing Litigation
If settling out of court proves impossible, a spinal cord injury lawyer will initiate litigation including:
- Researching case law
- Filing complaints & responses
- Conducting discovery
- Negotiating with opposing counsel
- Going to trial
Securing Compensation
By demonstrating losses like medical bills, lost wages, and pain/suffering, your lawyer fights to recover full, fair compensation through settlement or jury award.
Accessing Healthcare + Rehab
Your attorney can assist you in promptly getting approved care and applying for disability benefits post-injury. They want you focused on healing.
Supporting Your Family
An experienced SCI lawyer provides counsel on how your injury may financially impact loved ones like your spouse and children. They can assist them similarly in accessing benefits.
The right spinal cord injury attorney brings both compassion and expertise to suffering victims when they need it most. Their advocacy makes recovery, adaptation, and financial stability more feasible.
Choosing Your Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
With so much at stake post-injury, vetting and choosing your spinal cord injury lawyer merits care and due diligence. Key criteria include:
Specialized Experience
Seek attorneys with a proven history of managing SCI claims similar to yours, consistently securing victories and maximum compensation. Ask about:
- Years in practice
- Prior case results
- Settlement amounts
Resources + Reputation
Opt for well-respected firms with ample resources to thoroughly investigate your claim, retain expert witnesses if needed, and have staying power if proceedings are lengthy.
Client Outcomes
Ask prospective lawyers about examples of former clients’ positive outcomes they assisted with. How did their counsel tangibly help SCI victims rebuild their lives?
Communication Skills
You want an attorney who is clear, compassionate, patient and makes you feel heard and understood. Ensure they are responsive and accessible throughout the process.
Contingency-Based Fees
Most reputable spinal cord injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront, and they receive an agreed-upon percentage of your final compensation amount.
By fully vetting candidate attorneys, you can find the best fit to advocate for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Victims and their families often have pressing questions when seeking counsel after an SCI. Some common ones include:
Can I file a lawsuit even if my spinal injury happened years ago?
Every state sets legal time limits called “statutes of limitations” to bring injury claims, often 2-4 years. However, exceptions like “discovery rules” may apply to your case that extend limits. Don’t assume an old SCI claim isn’t feasible. Speak to a lawyer.
Who pays my lawyer’s fees if we win? Does it reduce my compensation?
Opposing liable parties (insurers, defendants) pay your attorney fees on top of your court award or settlement amount, so you lose no money paying your lawyer.
How long do these cases usually take?
Every SCI claim has unique aspects impacting timeframes. However, many settle within 1-2 years. Complex litigation involving protracted discovery, medical expert witnesses, negotiations and appeals could require 3+ years. Experienced lawyers make the process efficient.
What evidence proves liability so I can recover damages?
Attorneys use diverse evidence like medical reports, accident reconstructions, product defects, insurance policies, and witness statements to substantiate negligence or liability causing your spinal cord injury.
How are damages calculated?
Compensatory SCI damages fall into main categories like medical treatment, assistive technology, home healthcare, lost income, and pain and suffering. Lawyers often hire finance and medical experts to produce evidence supporting loss totals, which insurers must pay.
Connecting with a compassionate, ethical, and highly competent spinal cord injury lawyer immediately after an accident improves your long-term wellbeing and security after a life-changing SCI. With strong counsel in your corner fighting for justice, you gain power to move forward.
References
Blanck, Peter, and Praveen Kumar. Employment law innovations to enable work for persons with disabilities. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, vol 32(1), 2014, pp. 50-68. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2103. Accessed 23 Feb. 2024.
