Spinal Cord Injury
A severe spine injury is a catastrophic injury. It can happen in a moment in an accident, but the consequences can be felt forever. Spine injuries often affect the spinal cord so paralysis and a diminished quality of life are possible. Whether the injury happened because of an auto accident or a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury claim If someone else caused the accident.
The Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C., is well known in New York for obtaining fair settlements and verdicts for our personal injury clients. Attorney Brown is pleased to be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the US. He also has a perfect 10.0 Avvo ‘Superb’ rating, which attests to his outstanding skills and case results. Speak to one of our spinal cord injury attorneys today to find out if you have a strong case.
What Is A Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is a traumatic injury that affects the normal function of the spine and spinal cord. The spine is a flexible column of bones that goes from the base of the neck to the tailbone. It has 24 vertebrae, and the spinal cord is contained within.
Spinal cord nerves relay electrical signals between the body and brain. Any damage to spinal cord nerves in an accident can damage the body’s ability to function and communicate. After a spinal cord injury, you could have the following symptoms:
- Trouble breathing and swallowing
- Dysregulation of body temperature
- Paralysis or limited mobility
- Tingling or loss of sensation in your extremities
The spinal cord is also critical to the automatic nervous system, so essential bodily functions that occur automatically may be compromised.
There are two general types of spinal cord injury:
- Complete spinal cord injury happens when the nerves that are affected are permanently damaged. A complete spinal cord injury cannot be repaired. These injuries tend to be the most severe, and partial or full paralysis is possible.
- Incomplete spinal cord injury happens when the spinal cord and column are partly damaged. Your prognosis hinges on how seriously the vertebrae and cord were damaged and where the injury is located. Some incomplete spinal cord injuries have mild symptoms, but others can be more serious and possibly lead to paralysis.
Spinal Cord Injury Levels
The location of the spine damage is critical to understanding how the body will be affected. These are the levels of spinal cord injuries:
- Cervical: This part of the spine is below the neck and has seven vertebrae. A cervical spinal injury is the most serious and quadriplegia is common. Many of these injuries are fatal.
- Thoracic: This is the part of the spine in the upper back and has 12 vertebrae. The thoracic spine controls the trunk, upper chest, and mid-back.
- Lumbar: This is the part of the mid and lower back spine with five vertebrae. It controls the region’s legs, hips, organs, and muscles.
- Sacral: This is at the base of the spine, just above the tailbone, which has five fused bones. Injuries to this area may affect bowel and bladder control and the legs.
The more nerves and bodily functions are affected by the spinal cord injury, the higher the potential case value. Even a moderate spinal cord injury can cost the injury victim more than $1.7 million over their life, and a more severe injury could cost them $5 million or more.
Most spine injury victims lack the financial resources to pay such exorbitant costs. The only option for most is to file a personal injury claim against the liable party if negligence is involved.
What Are Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The Mayo Clinic states that spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can be caused by damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or discs in the spine. It is estimated that 70% of traumatic spine injuries occur from motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents. Other common reasons for spinal cord injuries are:
- Falls at construction sites
- Bus accidents
- Truck accidents
- Subway accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Acts of violence, including assault and attempted murder
- Sports accidents
- Diseases that damage the spine or spinal cord such as cancer
You Face A Lifetime Of Additional Expenses
Retaining an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer is essential after an accident caused by another party. The typical healthcare and living expenses for spine injury victims can run into six and seven figures annually. You may need modifications to your home, mobility devices, specialized vehicles, and round-the-clock medical care. There are also risks of infections, fractures, and diseases.
All of this extensive medical care adds up fast. Research states that people with paraplegia spend an average of $520,000 in their first year of care and $67,000 in subsequent years. The exorbitant expenses associated with spinal cord injuries strongly indicate the need to work with a seasoned NYC spinal cord injury law firm. Your spine injury lawyer will carefully assess your claim’s value, including for current and future medical expenses, lack of ability to earn a living, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Then, they will negotiate for the best settlement with the appropriate insurance company.
Some of the factors that will influence the amount of a potential spine injury case include:
- Your age when the accident happened. Younger people usually obtain more compensation because their potential lifespan is longer.
- Whether you have a temporary or permanent disability.
- If you can continue to work and earn an income.
- If you are partly responsible for the spine injury.
- The required medical treatment now and in the future.
- The severity of the spinal cord injury.
- The location and level of the spine injury.
- How the accident trauma and injury affect your mental and emotional well-being.
Your choice of personal injury attorney will also affect the value of your case. Attorney Brown is highly experienced in catastrophic personal injury cases and will fight for the most compensation for your injuries and other damages.
How A Spinal Cord Injury Case Is Resolved
Most spine injury claims are handled by a personal injury lawyer negotiating with the insurance company, person, or business that caused the injury. Every spinal cord injury claim is different, but typical steps for resolving these cases include:
- Speaking to a spinal cord injury attorney: The first step is to talk to an experienced spine injury attorney in New York. The two of you will discuss your diagnosis and how the accident or incident that injured you happened. After you hire your attorney, they will collect vital information about the claim, including medical records, eyewitness statements, accident scene evidence, video footage, if available, police reports, and more.
- Communicating with the appropriate insurance company: The insurance company for the liable party will defend them and try to resolve the claim. Remember that the insurance company serves its financial interests, not yours. Insurance adjusters will do anything to reduce their liability. It may even blame you for your injuries.
- Negotiating a fair financial settlement: Your attorney will conduct settlement negotiations with the insurance adjuster. Their goal is to reach a fair settlement that pays for your current and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and more. You should reject any initial settlement offer for a spinal cord injury. Always get a settlement offer reviewed by your lawyer.
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit: If a fair settlement cannot be negotiated, your attorney may recommend going to trial. However, the case can still be settled under the jury’s verdict. Attorney Brown is one of New York’s most seasoned personal injury attorneys and can take your case to court to fight for a favorable jury verdict.
Who Is Liable For A New York Spine Injury?
A key to your case is proving liability. The following are potentially liable parties in spinal cord injury cases, depending on the nature of the accident:
- Vehicle drivers
- Property managers
- Manufacturers of defective vehicles or equipment
- Government agencies
- Adults who supervise school sports and recreational activities
- Criminal assailants
The party who is liable for your spinal cord injury depends on the case details. In many cases, more than one party could owe you damages. Attorney Brown will examine your circumstances and help get the most compensation for your losses.
How A New York Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help
Your potential spinal cord injury claim will involve several critical elements, all of which a skilled personal injury attorney will manage for you:
- Cause: How did the spinal cord injury happen? Your attorney must pinpoint the circumstances that caused the injury or accident. For example, if a drunk Manhattan driver hit you near Columbia Circle, your attorney will collect evidence, including the police report, any crash scene surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, etc.
- Liability: Who is liable for the accident and injuries? Your attorney will determine who should be named as the defendant and held liable. Using the example above, the driver is the defendant, but if they were working during the accident, their employer could also be named. A bar that served a drunk driver could also be another defendant.
- Compensation: What is the spine injury case worth? Your attorney will gather medical and other evidence to support every loss you suffered. Key evidence to prove damages includes medical records, pay stubs, bills and invoices for treatments and rehabilitation, doctor statements about prognosis, and much more.
Also, many insurance companies may attempt to dismiss some of your neurological conditions to reduce compensation. Neurological problems can seem unrelated to a spinal cord injury. For instance, if you suffer constipation and muscle spasms after the spine injury, they are likely related. Spinal cord injury accident Attorney Brown will connect the cause and the effect of the injury to ensure the most compensation.
Speak To A New York Spine Injury Attorney Today
Did you suffer a spine injury because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act? You might have excessive medical bills and other expenses. You don’t need to go through this alone. A New York spinal injury case can lead to compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, and more.
The Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C., are fierce advocates for our personal injury clients and will fight for financial justice in your spinal injury case. We are proud of our perfect 10.0 Avvo ‘Superb’ rating, demonstrating our attorneys’ skill and success in settlement negotiations and court trials. Attorney Brown is also a retired NYPD captain and Harvard graduate.
Our NY spinal cord injury attorneys are compensated by a contingency agreement, so you don’t pay legal fees unless we obtain damages from a settlement or jury trial. If you do not receive compensation in your case, you pay no legal fees. For a free consultation about your spinal cord injury claim, call (212) 766-9779 today.
