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Anyone who has suffered from back or neck pain from sitting at a desk too long, playing sports, or sleeping in the wrong position can tell you how much even a small muscle strain or pinched nerve can impact movement and activities. Spinal cord injuries, which affect the bundle of nerves running from the brain stem at the base of the skull to the bottom of the spinal column, can be debilitating.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries annually(opens in a new tab), often due to preventable causes. This can lead to extensive recovery times, and oftentimes, a lifelong disability. Unfortunately, those who suffer from a spinal cord injury are two to five times more likely to die prematurely than those who have never had a spinal cord injury.
In the meantime, such injuries can have a marked impact on your life, limiting your ability to work and earn a living, forcing you to depend on caregivers, or in some cases, making it more difficult to socialize and maintain relationships.
How A Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help
The Ruth Law Team has over 40 years of experience in fighting for justice in cases like yours, so we understand how physically and emotionally traumatic a debilitating spinal cord injury can be.
Our job is to make your life easier in any way that we can. This starts with coming to you where you are, whether that’s at home or in the hospital. We offer our services on contingency; we won’t get paid a dime until we win your settlement.
Our qualified and caring spinal cord lawyers are passionate about seeking justice for every client that we serve. We will work to help you secure the compensation necessary to cover your expenses and ensure your wellbeing, both now and in the future. Your focus should be on the difficult task of healing and getting your life back. Let The Ruth Law Team handle the rest.
If you need help to seek fair compensation in the aftermath of a spinal cord injury, The Ruth Law Team is available 24/7. We will deliver the guidance and support you expect and deserve. Call us at (888) 783-8378 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to learn more about what we can do for you.
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Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
While spinal cord injuries can be caused by illnesses like arthritis, osteoporosis, and even cancer, they are more often related to traumatic incidents. There are several common causes(opens in a new tab) for spinal cord injuries, which include:
- Motor vehicle accidents (automobile, motorcycle, ATV, boat, snowmobile, heavy equipment, etc.)
- Non-motor vehicle accidents (bicycle, tricycle, skateboard, etc.)
- Pedestrian accidents
- Falls or slip and trip accidents
- Trauma from falling or flying objects
- Team sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, or cheerleading
- Recreational activities, like diving, surfing, skiing, parachuting, gymnastics, or horseback riding
- Gunshot wounds
- Penetrating wound (stabbing, impalement, etc.)
- Acts of violence
- Surgical or other medical complications, including medical malpractice
When you suffer from a spinal cord injury, regardless of the cause, it can upend your entire life. The last thing you need is the hassle of fighting insurance companies that are intent on delaying or denying your claim until you accept a fraction of what you deserve or give up completely.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are typically classified based on their severity and the location of the damage along the spinal column. Understanding these classifications can help you better comprehend the scope of your injury and its potential long-term implications.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
- Complete Spinal Cord Injury: Results in total loss of sensation and motor function below the point of injury
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Allows for some sensation and movement below the injury site, with varying degrees of function retained
Injury Location Classifications
- Cervical Injuries (C1-C8): Affect the neck area and can result in quadriplegia, impacting all four limbs
- Thoracic Injuries (T1-T12): Occur in the upper back and typically result in paraplegia, affecting the legs and lower trunk
- Lumbar Injuries (L1-L5): Impact the lower back, potentially affecting hip and leg function
- Sacral Injuries (S1-S5): Affect the tailbone area, potentially impacting bladder, bowel, and sexual function
The Long-term Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury
A serious spinal cord injury can leave you with complete sensory and motor function loss below the injury site, or incomplete loss, in which some feeling and movement remain. You could suffer paraplegia – paralysis of the legs and lower portion of the trunk – or quadriplegia, which is paralysis of the body below the neck.
Spinal cord injury can cause a loss of sensation and movement, but it can also affect the function of internal organs and lead to chronic pain. It can even increase risk factors for secondary conditions like infections, respiratory complications, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), muscle spasms, osteoporosis, and more. Sadly, such injuries are often preventable.
Financial Consequences and Future Economic Strain
The financial impact of a spinal cord injury extends far beyond immediate medical bills. The lifetime costs associated with spinal cord injuries can be overwhelming, often reaching into the millions of dollars. Consider the following ongoing expenses that families face:
- Medical Care: Ongoing rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and specialized medical equipment
- Home Modifications: Wheelchair accessibility improvements, bathroom renovations, ramps, and specialized furniture
- Personal Care Assistance: Daily caregiving services, which can cost hundreds of dollars per day
- Lost Income: Reduced earning capacity or complete inability to work, affecting not just current income but retirement savings and benefits
- Transportation: Adaptive vehicles and ongoing transportation costs for medical appointments
- Technology and Equipment: Wheelchairs, communication devices, and other adaptive technology that requires regular updates and maintenance
For families already navigating the emotional trauma of a spinal cord injury, these escalating costs can feel insurmountable. The financial strain often forces heartbreaking decisions about care options, rehabilitation services, and family stability. These are burdens no family should carry alone when the injury was preventable.
Dealing with the Insurance Company After a Spinal Cord Injury
Insurance companies are businesses primarily concerned with their bottom line, not your wellbeing. After a spinal cord injury, you may find yourself facing tactics designed to minimize their financial responsibility, including:
- Delayed Response: Prolonging the claims process in hopes you’ll accept a lower settlement out of desperation
- Minimizing Severity: Questioning the extent of your injuries or suggesting they’re pre-existing conditions
- Inadequate Settlement Offers: Proposing amounts that fail to account for lifelong care needs and lost earning capacity
- Surveillance: Hiring investigators to gather evidence that might contradict your injury claims
- Requesting Excessive Documentation: Demanding unnecessary paperwork to create barriers to your claim
Having an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer on your side levels the playing field. We understand insurance company tactics and have the resources to counter their strategies effectively. We’ll handle all communications with insurance adjusters, ensuring your rights are protected throughout the process.
How To Prove Negligence In a Spinal Injury Case
Successfully proving negligence in a spinal injury case requires establishing four key legal elements. Our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys will work diligently to build a compelling case on your behalf:
The Four Elements of Negligence
Duty of Care: Demonstrating that the defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably and safely
Breach of Duty: Proving that the defendant failed to meet their duty of care through action or inaction
Causation: Establishing a direct link between the defendant’s breach and your spinal cord injury
Damages: Documenting the actual harm and losses you’ve suffered as a result of the injury
Evidence We Gather
Building a strong negligence case requires comprehensive evidence collection, including:
- Accident scene investigation and reconstruction
- Medical records and expert medical testimony
- Witness statements and depositions
- Safety violation documentation
- Surveillance footage and photographic evidence
- Employment and financial records to establish lost income
- Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists”
How The Ruth Law Team Handles Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Whether your injury requires significant rehabilitation or you suffer from a permanent disability, you have a long health battle ahead of you. You need a capable and compassionate spinal cord injury attorney to fight for a fair settlement on your behalf so that you can focus on recovery.
The Ruth Law Team will represent you and your best interests. We’ll leverage our considerable expertise in an effort to secure the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
How We Fight For You
When you choose The Ruth Law Team, your dedicated spinal cord injury attorney will:
- Conduct a thorough case investigation to identify all liable parties and gather crucial evidence
- Obtain reports from medical experts to fully understand the extent of your injuries and future care needs
- Calculate comprehensive damages including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Handle all insurance communications to protect you from tactics designed to minimize your claim
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and opposing counsel on your behalf
- Prepare for trial if necessary to fight for the maximum compensation possible
- Coordinate with healthcare providers to ensure your medical needs are prioritized throughout the legal process
- Provide ongoing support and communication to keep you informed at every step
- Work with life care planners to accurately project your long-term care costs
- Secure expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and vocational experts as needed
What Happens Next?
At The Ruth Law Team, we understand that this may be your first time seeking legal counsel and how intimidating that decision might be. This is why we have simplified the process to help you make the right decision for your circumstances. This 3-step process includes:
Complete Our Case Evaluation Form
This quick survey will help us better understand what happened and which attorney is the best fit for your situation.
Speak with One of Our Attorneys
The best way for you to have a clear idea your options is to speak with an attorney who specializes in your area of need.
Submit Your
Claim
Once you decide that The Ruth Law Team is the right option to represent you, we will begin the process of submitting your claim.
Contact an Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Whether you’re facing a long road to recovery, you’ve suffered permanent disability, or you’ve lost a loved one as a result of a spinal cord injury, the last thing you need is the stress of fighting for the compensation that you’re owed. The Ruth Law Team can take this burden off your plate, negotiating with insurance companies to secure a fast and fair settlement or taking your case to trial to seek maximum compensation.
About The Ruth Law Team
For over 40 years, The Ruth Law Team has been helping those who were injured due to an accident, defective product, nursing home abuse, and more. If you or someone you love was wrongfully hurt, The Ruth Law Team will guide and support you through the legal process.
Our team of passionate and experienced personal injury attorneys will fight for what you deserve. If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys and have your case evaluated, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (888) 783-8378. Our lines are open 24/7.
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