The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates 17,730 new spinal cord injury (SCI) cases per year, and between 249,000 and 363,000 people in the United States currently live with an SCI. Damage to your spinal cord can be catastrophic, often causing lifelong issues that require long-term care. An injury to your spine may involve damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or spinal discs, which could lead to painful and costly complications.
A spinal cord injury can paralyze you and make it nearly impossible to maintain your standard of living. Usually, people who suffer from an SCI cannot return to their old careers. Eventually, they may struggle to pay for long-term care, which could include medical care, psychological support, physical and occupational therapy, and the use of technology to improve your quality of life. If your spinal cord injury occurred because of another person’s careless actions, you have the right to work with a knowledgeable spinal cord injury lawyer like Robert Baker to pursue a personal injury claim.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Typically Occur?
Spinal cord injuries lead to the reduction or loss of bodily functions, such as mobility and/or feeling. The spinal cord doesn’t need to be severed to experience loss of function. Most people with SCIs have an intact spinal cord, but the damage to the cord is still debilitating.
Common effects of a spinal cord include:
- Partial or total loss of your mobility in one or more limbs
- Paralysis below the injury site
- Muscle spasms
- Loss of bladder control
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain near the damaged nerves
Usually, spinal injuries are a result of trauma from an accident or diseases like polio. More often than not, however, spinal cord injuries occur in situations in which people show disregard for others’ safety.
- Car accidents
- Sporting accidents
- Physical abuse
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Gunshots
- Stabbings
If you sustain an SCI, you will likely require several kinds of treatment, which can add up over time. With an attorney by your side, you may be able to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions by initiating a legal claim. Attorney Robert Baker has years of experience helping clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries fight for the compensation they need to carry on with their lives after a devastating incident.
Can I Recover Compensation for a Spinal Injury in Boca Raton?
You can pursue financial compensation for your spinal cord injury if your accident was caused by another person’s negligence. Your lawyer must show the following elements took place to win a lawsuit in court:
- The other party owed you a duty of care;
- The other party failed to exercise reasonable care;
- The failure of the other party to exercise care caused your accident; and
- Your accident resulted in damages.
Common damages you may pursue compensation for include medical costs, lost income, lost work ability, disability, pain and suffering, and more. Your attorney can help you determine whether your case contains the above elements and its potential value.
What Determines the Value of My Spinal Cord Injury Case?
To achieve a fair settlement, your lawyer will need to investigate several details of your accident. The value of your claim depends on several factors:
- The severity of your injury
- Your age
- Your likely salary post-injury
- Your salary pre-injury
- Other factors
Ideally, you will recover compensation for all current and future expenses that apply to your case:
- Medical care and rehabilitation
- Assisted living and in-home care
- Disability and disfigurement
- Household services
- Medical devices (wheelchairs, computer adaptations, electronic aids)
- Counseling and mental healthcare
- Renovations to your home
- Emotional and psychological effects
- Pain and suffering and mental anguish
- Negative impacts on your relationships and overall quality of life
Your expenses and level of suffering all contribute to the financial compensation you should receive from the defendant. When discussing your claim with your attorney, it’s a good idea to have a record of all your medical bills, even if you’ve paid them.
Talk to Robert Baker for Quality Legal Counsel in Boca Raton
People who sustain spinal cord injuries require many different resources throughout their lifetime. Immediately after an accident, you may be in shock and experiencing several different emotions. You might be anxious about your immediate future and how your treatment will affect your finances. Put your mind to rest by working with a compassionate and experienced spinal cord injury lawyer in Boca Raton.
Robert Baker excels in representing clients who sustain catastrophic injuries. He is one of a handful of attorneys who has received the Florida Bar Board Certification for his competency and experience as a civil trial lawyer. Learn your options for legal recourse by calling (561) 320-0000 for a free consultation today or complete our contact form.