Studies conducted by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in 2014 show that between 240,000 and 337,000 people suffered a spinal cord injury in the United States. People with spinal cord injuries spent an average of eleven days in the hospital. The approximate lifetime cost of a 25-year-old diagnosed with low tetraplegia was $3,398,426.00. It is important that you contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney for a consultation regarding your spinal cord injury.
A spinal cord injury can have a significant impact on your life. Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need lifelong medical care. This can result in a loss enjoyment of life, loss of wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. We invite you to contact our California spinal cord personal injury lawyers for a consultation. Our experienced Texas personal injury attorneys will ensure you get the compensation you need to treat your spinal cord injury throughout your lifetime. Read on to learn more about spinal cord injuries and how our attorneys can help you. Our legal team handles catastrophic injury cases throughout the country including California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota.
Spinal cord injuries are either classified as complete or incomplete injuries. A complete injury occurs when a person is no longer able to feel and move below the level of the injury, such as the case when people are diagnosed with complete paraplegia or tetraplegia. If a person is diagnosed with an incomplete spinal injury, he/she is still able to maintain some movement and sensory function below the injury level. Common types of incomplete spinal cord injuries consist of the following:
1. Anterior Cord Syndrome
2. Central Cord Syndrome
3. Posterior Cord Syndrome
4. Brown Sequard Syndrome
5. Cauda Equina Lesion
The majority of spinal cord injuries are due to preventable causes such as auto accidents, falls, or physical violence. Alcohol is a major factor in 25% of spinal cord injuries. Other common causes of spinal cord injuries arise from sports, recreation activities, and genetic diseases such as osteoporosis.
Parts of the spinal cord that can be injured are the Cervical-Spine, Thoracic-Spine, Lumbar-Spine, Sacral-Spine and Coccygeal Spine. Each of these can suffer fractures, the discs can rupture, slip or become herniated. When this happens the victim can experience numbness and tingling in the extremity it serves as the disc presses against the nerve it supplies energy to. This can result in loss of control of bodily function to that area or part of the body.
If a negligent person has caused you or a loved one to incur a spinal cord injury, you will have to establish liability in order to be compensated for damages. This will require you to prove the common elements of a negligence claim: 1) Duty of care; 2) Breach of duty; 3) Causation; and 4) Damages. If the jury finds that the defendant’s actions were negligent and caused your spinal cord injury, you will be able to obtain a judgment for compensatory and perhaps punitive damages.
You will have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for bodily damage in California. See Cal. Code of Civ. Proc. §335.1. If you do not file your civil action during that time frame, the court will not hear your case.
In other states the time frame may be different. The amount of time you have to file a lawsuit is generally 2-3 years from the date of injury. Under no circumstances should you wait that long as it can jeopardize your claim. Contact a personal injury attorney in the state where the injury occurred immediately to discuss your case and what benefits and forms of financial compensation you may be entitled to.
Our team of spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to assist you. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us for a consultation. With our network of resources, our Florida personal injury attorneys will ensure you receive the proper medical treatment and will diligently advocate on your behalf.
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