Spinal cord injuries can have a serious impact on everyday life. A spinal cord injury can affect mobility and a range of other bodily functions that can impair a person’s ability to perform even simple tasks on his or her own. Additionally, a spinal cord injury can require long-term medical treatment, and the costs associated with these can be huge. If an accident caused by the negligence of another person caused a spinal cord injury, you may be eligible for compensation.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is damage caused to the nerves that are housed within the spinal column that carries messages to your brain and body. This type of injury will result in partial or full loss of motor control and sensation. A victim of a spinal cord injury can be left paralyzed. Additionally, the spinal cord is responsible for breathing, body temperature, bladder functions and more, which can leave a victim suffering from numerous serious health problems.
Some common causes of spinal cord injuries include motor vehicle accidents, falls, violent acts (such as gun shots) and recreational sporting activities. Additionally, a spinal cord injury can be a result of surgical errors, which can result in a medical malpractice claim.
Liability in Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits
The nature of the accident that caused a spinal cord injury will determine who can be held liable. If you were in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, then the driver can be held responsible for damages. If a surgeon caused your injury, then you may have a medical malpractice claim if you can prove that your doctor was negligent and that the negligence directly led to your injury.
You may have a products liability lawsuit if a defective or dangerous product caused your spinal cord injury. For example, a faulty seat belt may have led to more serious injuries in a car accident. In this case, you may be able to file a claim against the company or companies responsible for designing, manufacturing or selling the defective product.
Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Because a spinal cord injury can lead to long-term medical care, damages can be awarded to reflect your future needs. Therefore, you may be awarded compensation for:
- medical expenses
- lost wages
- pain and suffering<
- ongoing health care and rehabilitation
- the cost of assistive devices (i.e. wheelchairs)
- assistive modifications to your home (i.e. ramps or stair lifts)
Phoenix Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
When you choose Witson Law as your Phoenix personal injury law firm, you can be sure to receive quality legal counsel from competent injury attorneys who will make your rights their number one priority. A Phoenix spinal cord injury lawyer will begin building a robust strategy that will hold in court and will yield the best results possible. Therefore, it is crucial that you seek expert advice immediately after your accident. Don’t put your life on hold; contact a Phoenix spinal cord injury attorney at (602) 358.8686 to schedule a free consultation.