What Law Firm Can Help Me With a Spinal Cord Injury?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
There can be many causes of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) including car and motorbike accidents, workplace injuries, falls, slip and fall, and other causes. But no matter the cause, the effects can be traumatic and can cause catastrophic injuries that may last the rest of your life.
When you have suffered devastating spinal injuries, the likelihood is that you will require intensive and ongoing medical attention and care, possibly for your lifetime.
These are costs that will mount up and be expensive. So you want to know what rights you have, if you have grounds for a claim against any liable parties, and that your medical expenses will be covered.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is: “… damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) (that) often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.”
Doctors classify a spinal cord injury as either complete or incomplete. A complete SCI will result in a loss of all motor function in the area of your body below the site of the injury. If you have some motor function or sensory function remaining, then it is classed as incomplete.
There are two further terms in a spinal cord injury case that doctors use in reference to the degree of paralysis you may have suffered.
- Tetraplegia or quadriplegia. This refers to cases where your legs, arms, hands, trunk, and pelvic organs have all been affected.
- Paraplegia. This is where the paralysis affects your legs, pelvic organs, and some or all of your trunk.
Identifying Liable Parties
The crucial starting point before proceeding with any claim is to identify the liable party if there is one. Was your injury as a result of medical malpractice? Or was it as a result of a car accident.
Since 2010, just under 40% of all SCIs are as a result of motor vehicle accidents, making it the biggest cause of these traumatic injuries.
Or was your SCI caused by a workplace or industrial accident. Establishing liability is the foundation of any claim you will make for compensation and for the pain and suffering you have and will endure. Who is liable – whether a private individual or a company – will very much dictate the type of case we may bring.
For example, if your injury was caused by a car accident, is there a question of product liability due to poor or defective design of the vehicle. Or if the injury occurred in a workplace setting, was there any negligence on the part of your employer or a subcontractor.
Although these types of injuries can be classified generally as personal injury cases, the liability and circumstances will affect how we proceed.
Medical Overview
With SCI cases, the medical overview and reports can be very complicated. Due to the level of care needed, both now and in the future, we need to have very precise details on your condition and your future prognosis.
Medical bills can mount up quickly and it is essential that you and your family have assurances that these expenses will be covered.
As a leading personal injury law firm with vast experience in specializing in these cases, Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. would liaise with and consult leading experts in various fields including neurologists, surgeons, rehabilitation experts, physical therapists and care providers.
The awards for many of these claims – depending on liability – can run into millions of dollars. While that may sound like a lot of money, when you begin to add up all the different aspects of medical and personal care involved in a lifetime, then you will realize that it is not as much as it seems.
Of course, any award may cover more than just medical bills. Negligence or malpractice may bring with it some punitive awards as well as recognition of your pain and suffering as well as ensuring financial security for you and your family.
There are also other non-medical costs to consider. Your personal injury attorney will not only focus on all the healthcare costs but also potential additional costs such as modifying your home and car.
And for many people who have suffered a spinal injury, there may be an accompanying brain injury that may have long- or short-term effects. As experienced spinal cord injury lawyers, we are extremely thorough in all preparation for the case so as to make sure you have the most positive outcome possible and that all costs of your medical care will be covered.
In cases where the SCI has led to wrongful death, we will act on behalf of loved ones or family to ensure any negligence or malpractice is highlighted and that they are adequately compensated for any wrongdoing.
Some Final Words
There is little doubt that SCIs can be some of the most devastating injuries to suffer, not only for you but also for family and loved ones. Unlike many other injuries, the effects of an SCI are likely to be life long. And not only is there a need for intensive medical care but also ongoing home or facility-based care and home modification.
When you are looking for an accident attorney to represent you, you want a firm who has specialist knowledge of how to deal with this type of case. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. not only has that knowledge but we also have a specialized nurse attorney in senior partner, Eileen E. Kroll.
With her guidance, our team can cut through medical jargon, go through all relevant records, and talk to leading experts to produce a detailed medical audit of your circumstances. To discuss your case, we offer an initial free consultation. To schedule your complimentary case evaluation, please call us at 866-MICH-LAW.
Our law firm never charges a fee unless we win your case.
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.