I’ve Hired a Paralysis Injury Lawyer – Now What
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Sustaining a paralyzing injury is devastating to both you and your family. Facing physical and financial hardships can quickly take a toll on you and everyone around you. Seeking the help of a paralysis injury lawyer at our law firm can help you move forward and ensure you are taken care of today and in the future.
Paralysis can result in the aftermath of a car accident, workplace mishap, medical malpractice, a slip and fall, or various other circumstances. If negligence is involved, you have the right to seek damages. Catastrophic injuries like paralysis require hiring a paralysis injury lawyer to help you obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Here is what you can expect once you’ve hired a personal injury lawyer for your paralysis injury accident claim.
Investigation and Compilation of Documentation
Over 17,000 new cases of paralysis due to spinal cord injury occur every year. The type of paralysis ranges from full to partial and from temporary to permanent.
When negligence is involved, your paralysis lawyer focuses on proving the other party owed you a duty to use reasonable care; they breached that duty, and, as a result, you were injured.
To do this, they conduct a thorough investigation and compile all required documents to prove your paralysis case.
Your personal injury attorney asks you questions to help you provide as much information as possible. From there, they collect documents including:
- Medical records, before and after the injury
- Accident reports (from law enforcement, employers, etc.)
- Witness statements
- Photos of the accident scene and surroundings
- Work records to show lost wages and benefits
Your attorney devotes time to investigating claims and compiling evidential documentation to prove fault, negligence, and the circumstances contributing to your spinal cord injury.
Witness Interviews
Your spinal cord injury lawyer might want to speak with each witness in the case, in addition to their witness statement in the accident report. Questioning can prompt the witness to reveal more details or a forgotten memory which may be essential to your case.
Expert Witness
An attorney with both legal and medical experience, like senior partner Eileen Kroll, approaches your case with an understanding on two levels: how a physical injury can occur and its effects on your quality of life and the legal options available to pursue the compensation you need under these circumstances.
In addition to utilizing their own experience, your paralysis attorney seeks the assistance of expert witnesses to bolster your case. There are a variety of experts to work with, including:
- Medical professionals
- Mental health professionals
- Accident reconstructionists
- Engineers
- Manufacturing experts
- Economic and Financial experts
- Vocational experts
For example, if a vehicle accident caused your injury, in addition to collecting any available accident reports, your attorney may consult with an accident reconstruction expert. This expert recreates the accident scene to show what happened and how it resulted in your injury.
Compensation Calculations
Every paralysis injury case is different. Damages to calculate in your case may include:
- Medical costs, past, and future (including medical treatments, doctor visits, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and assistive devices such as wheelchairs)
- Pain and suffering, both physical and mental
- Reduced quality of life
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
In addition to the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages sought, a paralytic injury also incurs long-term hidden costs. Complications and additional illnesses can arise relating to the paralysis and be unknown at the time of your claim. A good attorney prepares for this and includes medical care compensation amounts to help you through the trying years ahead.
If a loved one dies as a result of a paralysis-causing injury, your attorney may file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Insurance Company Negotiations
Once documentation is compiled and damages calculated, your attorney begins negotiations with the insurance companies. However, if no settlement can be reached, your attorney’s next steps are filing a lawsuit on your behalf against the negligent parties.
Contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., for a Free Consultation
Learning to live with paralysis brings not only physical challenges but emotional ones as well. You may need to modify your home and car to make them accessible, along with other significant adjustments to your daily routine. You need a confident and skilled personal injury attorney with extensive experience on your side.
If you or a loved one are experiencing paralysis due to the negligence of another party, you need to know how to obtain the maximum compensation available to help now and in the future.
The paralysis injury attorneys with Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. understand the nuances involved in personal injury cases and work hard for a successful outcome. Contact our law office today at 866-MICH-LAW to schedule a free consultation and learn what your options are going forward.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.