Spinal cord injuries are incredibly scary. They are often associated with permanent injury, including paralysis. While spinal cord injuries have many possible causes, they are most often caused by motor vehicle accidents and falls.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury because of another person’s careless, reckless, or intentional behavior, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them. Through a personal injury claim, you can recover financial compensation for your property damage, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. A skilled Walnut Creek spinal cord injury attorney will fight for your right to full compensation.
The Appel Law Firm represents individuals who have been hurt in all types of accidents in and around Walnut Creek, California. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Give our law offices a call to talk to a member of our team about how we can help.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are many possible causes of spinal cord injuries. Any traumatic event that affects the spine can cause this type of injury. Some of the more common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Truck accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Sports injuries
- Violence and abuse
- Dangerous and defective products
- Truck accidents
- Workplace injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States is car accidents, followed by falls. Approximately 38.6% of all spinal cord injuries are caused by vehicular crashes, while an additional 32.2% of these injuries are caused by falls.
There are two types of spinal cord injuries. A complete spinal cord injury occurs when all feeling and ability to control movement below the injury site are lost. If a person has some motor or sensory function below the affected area, then it is considered an incomplete spinal cord injury.
Depending on the type and severity of the injury, a person with a spinal cord injury may have a range of symptoms, including:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of movement or paralysis
- Changes in sexual function
- Loss or altered sensation
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Pain
- Difficulty breathing
Spinal cord injuries are often associated with paralysis, such as quadriplegia and paraplegia. They are also linked with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, as victims and survivors deal with the challenges that come with this type of serious injury.
Can I File a Lawsuit for a Spinal Cord Injury?
If another person caused your spinal cord injury – directly or indirectly – then you may be able to file a lawsuit against them. Through this type of personal injury claim, you can recover financial compensation for all of your losses, including lost wages, medical expenses, future medical treatment, emotional distress, reduced earning capacity, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Personal injury lawsuits are usually based on a theory of negligence, which is a type of carelessness. In some cases, such as a violent attack or physical abuse, the case is based on a theory of intentional or reckless conduct.
A person can be negligent in a number of ways, including by failing to do something that they should have done. For example, if a business owner knows that their floors are slippery from a spill and doesn’t either clean up the spill or warn customers about it, then they could be held responsible for any injuries that occur. Similarly, if another driver t-bones your car by trying to “beat” a red light, then they will likely be considered negligent.
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against:
- An at-fault driver
- Product manufacturers
- An employer
- A building or property owner
- A government entity
- Any other responsible party
Through this type of lawsuit, you can recover financial compensation for your full range of losses.
During a free initial consultation, a Walnut Creek spinal cord injury attorney will listen to your story and offer you advice on your legal rights and options for pursuing a claim. They will explore potentially liable parties, and work hard to get you maximum compensation for your injuries.
How Can a Walnut Creek Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help?
Spinal cord injuries can cause devastating and often permanent injuries. These cases are often complex and require a thorough understanding of the losses involved. An experienced lawyer won’t simply accept a lowball settlement offer but will take the time to put together a comprehensive claim so that you get the money that you need to move forward with your life.
Insurance companies are in business to make money, and part of how they do that is by denying or minimizing legitimate claims. Even in spinal cord injury cases, it isn’t unusual for an insurance adjuster to make a settlement offer for a fraction of the true value of the claim. This can leave an injury victim without the money that they need to move forward with their lives or make a full recovery.
Your Walnut Creek spinal cord injury lawyer will fully investigate the facts of your case, gathering medical records, accident reports, and videos and photographs of the scene while also interviewing witnesses and experts. They will also do legal research to put together the strongest possible claim for damages. Importantly, they won’t just consider your current losses but will incorporate your future needs.
Spinal cord injuries – particularly those that result in paralysis – may require lifelong medical care. You may also need to make renovations to your house and vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair. An experienced attorney will include all of these expenses as part of your claim.
Your lawyer won’t just take the first settlement offer that the insurance company makes. They will aggressively negotiate a deal that covers all of your losses. If the insurer won’t offer you a fair settlement, they won’t hesitate to take your case to trial to get you the money that you deserve.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident, a fall, or any other type of accident, then you need a seasoned advocate by your side. The Appel Law Firm will take on the insurance company for you, handling all paperwork and communications. Our legal team will fight to make sure that you get top dollar for your injuries.
How Our Law Firm Can Help
Spinal cord injuries can change your life in a blink of an eye. When your injury was caused by another person, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault party. Our law firm will stand by your side throughout the process.
Based in Walnut Creek, the Appel Law Firm represents accident victims throughout Northern California. Whether you have been hurt in a workplace accident, a motor vehicle crash, or any other type of accident, we are here for you. Reach out to our law offices at 925-938-2000 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a Walnut Creek spinal cord injury attorney.
