The spinal cord runs through the middle of the spine’s vertebrae and serves as the central transit corridor for nervous system signals traveling to and from the brain. Any damage to any part of this cord can result in those signals getting lost on their way up from the body’s nerve endings or down from the brain stem, which could manifest as paralysis—the loss of motor and sensory function—in numerous areas of the body below the injury site.
This is one of the most severe consequences that a traumatic accident can have, and anyone who causes this sort of harm through their own misconduct should be held accountable. If you are living with spinal cord trauma due to another person’s negligence, contacting a Tampa spinal cord injury lawyer at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys could be a crucial first step toward getting the compensation you deserve. Call today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the fragile nerves in the spinal column can develop due to sudden or gradual trauma. For example, a parent on their way to pick up their child from school may get side-swiped by a drunk driver, causing their car to roll over. In the process, the vehicle may pin the parent down, inflicting irreversible damage to their spinal cord.
Likewise, slipping and falling down a flight of concrete steps at a mall may lead a patron to fracture their neck. As a result, they may have ongoing nerve pain and lacerations that limit their ability to use their arms or legs. In contrast, a misdiagnosed medical condition may cause someone to develop spinal meningitis, resulting in life-altering paralysis.
Improper techniques used during the birthing process may also irreparably damage a newborn baby’s spinal cord due to the unnecessary and unnatural twisting and pulling motions involved in careless delivery practices. Our Tampa attorneys understand the immense weight that a spinal injury can place on you and your family. For many, suffering this condition due to someone else’s mistakes can forever change their life and alter their sense of self. Our legal team wants to help you seek justice.
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Worth?
Having an injured spine can inflict extensive financial, physical, and emotional harm, impacting your ability to engage with the world around you and those you love. Securing a fair and comprehensive settlement could help you pay for past and future medical treatments, such as in-home care and accommodation for a disability. Personal injury laws empower you to pursue a range of damages to address your pain, anguish, and financial losses, including the overall impact on your quality of life.
One category of funds that might be available includes the financial costs of the incident and the resulting injuries. This consists of the things you may have receipts for, such as:
- Lost wages
- Assistive devices
- Prescription drugs
- Surgical interventions
- Damage to personal property
You may also qualify for money to address the psychological, social, and relational consequences of the event—such as loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and decreased enjoyment in life.
An attorney in Tampa has the necessary tools to assist in calculating a fair settlement for your spinal cord injury claim. A proactive legal professional could thoroughly research the applicable laws to discover potential avenues to increase your compensation. Likewise, they could find ways to successfully respond to any defenses the at-fault person or agency raises, such as claims you caused or contributed to what happened.
Recovering Fairly for Specific Injuries and Losses
Part of what makes spinal cord injuries uniquely tricky to file civil lawsuits or demand fair settlements over is how much the severity and specific effects of such an injury can vary depending on the circumstances. Individuals who suffer only “incomplete” bruising, twisting, or tearing of the spinal cord may experience only partial paralysis and may even have some prospects of long-term recovery. In contrast, “complete” severing of the spinal cord invariably causes total and permanent paralysis below the injury site.
Likewise, the location of the injury itself can have a big impact on the value of an ensuing civil claim. For instance, someone becoming paralyzed below the waist because of a lower spinal cord injury has certainly suffered a catastrophic injury, but if their main source of income pre-injury was working behind a desk or in front of a computer, that particular type of spinal cord damage might not cause the same loss of earning capacity that a primarily manual laborer might suffer.
Other specific losses that may play a role in cases of this nature include:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Psychological and emotional suffering
- Lost enjoyment of life, including lost consortium
- Emergency medical bills and expected future care costs
- Disability-related expenses for things like assistive equipment, in-home care, and home/vehicle modifications
One of our knowledgeable Tampa spinal cord injury attorneys could discuss the specific losses you may be able to recover for during a private consultation.
Navigating Around Possible Roadblocks to Recovery
Another key way legal counsel could help improve the chances of a successful outcome from a spinal cord injury claim is by contesting allegations of “comparative fault” made by the person being sued. As per Florida Statutes § 768.81, any percentage of total fault assigned to an injured person for causing their injury through their own negligent conduct may be held against them as a proportional reduction from their final damage award’s value.
Furthermore, individuals generally only have two years after getting hurt to file suit, which means contacting a qualified lawyer should be a top priority after suffering any sort of spinal cord damage in Tampa.
A Tampa Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Could Help You Recover
No one deserves to suffer any loss of bodily function solely because of someone else’s misconduct. If you have found yourself in this unimaginable situation, you have help available to you from our team of experienced legal professionals at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys.
A conversation with a Tampa spinal cord injury lawyer from our firm could provide you with clarity about your recovery options and confidence about what legal action you should take. Call today to set up a meeting.
(727) 669-2828
