If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury with paralysis, you may have a civil case against the party who caused the injury. The role of a lawyer in a paralysis injury case is to help the victim and their family get justice. This usually comes in the form of compensation to cover their related costs and losses, including medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and diminished quality of life.
Many paralysis injuries occur because of personal injury accidents. That is, they happen because another party acted negligently. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the leading cause of these injuries include:
- Traffic accidents
- Falls
- Violent crimes such as stabbings and gunshots
- Diving accidents
- Other sports and recreational activities
Your Attorney Will Build a Strong Case Because There Is a Lot at Stake
Spinal cord injuries—and traumatic brain injuries that limit mobility—are among the most expensive injuries to treat and manage. Not only is the time spent in inpatient treatment and rehabilitation usually extensive, but continued therapies, medication, and management add to the cost. Then there are the required modifications to the home and mobility equipment to consider.
In many cases, the injured party cannot return to their previous job and may not be able to work any career, depending on their field of work, education, and injury.
Personal injury attorneys understand how important it is to secure fair and appropriate compensation based on your family’s losses, expenses, future care costs, and more. They can develop your case, file a claim, or represent you at trial.
Your Attorney Will Gather Evidence
One of the biggest ways your lawyer will help develop a strong case is by investigating what happened, who is responsible, and your options for pursuing compensation. The evidence available in these cases could include:
- The police report or other official reports
- Video or photos
- Witness testimony
- Physical evidence
- A survey of the scene
- Accident reconstruction
- Expert testimony
- Your relevant medical records
- Documentation of expenses and economic losses
They Will Work With Experts
Spinal cord injury experts, medical specialists, and economists can all play a significant role in determining the value of a paralysis injury case. Their input helps to put a price on future treatment needs, equipment replacement costs, and ongoing care and support expenses.
Our law firm has a network of experts we can call in to help value your case, prove the significance of your injuries, and otherwise pursue appropriate damages through an insurance claim or civil lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation, call 877-239-4878
Your Lawyer Will Handle Your Claim While You Cannot
Recovering from a spinal cord injury takes time. There is almost always some improvement following the acute phase, but this requires weeks or months of inpatient rehabilitation and a lot of hard work. It could be months or even years before you fully understand your prognosis.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, most people only have up to two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. This means you need to get started building a case as soon as possible after your injuries occur. Since you or your loved one will likely still be in the hospital or rehabilitation for a while, letting a personal injury law firm handle your case makes sense.
In addition, they have the knowledge, resources, and experience to develop the strongest case possible and value your family’s economic and non-economic losses accurately.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis Are Expensive to Treat and Manage
Most of the expenses related to treating a spinal cord injury come in the first year during the acute treatment and rehabilitation phase. However, there are ongoing expenses necessary to keep the injured person healthy and living the highest quality of life possible. These expenses depend on the severity of their injury. They could include:
- Medications
- Adaptive equipment and assistive devices
- Mobility aids
- Lifts
- Specially equipped vehicles
- Equipment to aid independence
According to the NSCISC, in 2015, the average first-year cost of managing a spinal cord injury included:
- High Tetraplegia (C1-C4): $1,064,716
- Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8): $769,351
- Paraplegia: $518,904
- Incomplete Injury: $347,484
The average costs of living with a spinal cord injury per year beyond the first year included:
- High Tetraplegia (C1-C4): $184,891
- Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8): $113,423
- Paraplegia: $68,739
- Incomplete Injury: $42,206
Contact our personal injury lawyers today
Get Your Free Case Review With Loncar Lyon Jenkins Today
At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, our attorneys help injured parties and those who lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence. We provide complimentary consultations for accident victims and their families, helping them understand their rights and how we can help them get justice. If you or a loved one was hurt, call in the Strong Arm.
Call or text 877-239-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
