Few injuries can more radically transform your life than an injury to your spinal cord. Even the most minor spinal cord injuries can have a massive impact on your ability to work and take care of yourself.
Some of the more common spinal cord injuries include:
- Quadriplegia
- Paraplegia
- Broken back
- Bulging disk
- Herniated disk
- Fractured vertebrae
The loss of independence and the level of medical care that can be necessary when a spinal cord injury occurs can be extensive and may be required for the rest of the victim’s life. This level of care is very comprehensive and can be extremely costly.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF A SPINAL CORD INJURY?
The spinal cord is one of the most important, yet sensitive, parts of the human body. It relays nerve information that controls almost every function we perform. Even the slightest damage to the spine can result in permanent, debilitating injuries that change every aspect of the victim’s life.
Long lasting effects from an injury to the spinal cord can include:
- Loss of sensation and damage to the senses, including the ability to feel temperature and touch
- Respiratory problems, such as difficulty breathing
- Pain and weakness in hands, legs, arms and other body parts
- Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
- Loss of the ability to move all four limbs (quadriplegia)
- Loss of the ability to move the lower limbs (paraplegia)
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
Approximately 282,000 people are currently living with a spinal cord injury in the U.S., while 12,500 new cases occur each year, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
Those who suffer from a severe spinal cord injury often face low odds of survival. The mortality rate is high during the first year and only 60 percent of victims are expected to survive within the first 24 hours after receiving the injury.
Survivors of spinal cord injury victims are also likely to lose the ability to function independently and may require help from care providers and loved ones for the remainder of their life.
Along with the extreme physical damage victims suffer, the medical expenses associated with paraplegia or other effects from a spinal injury can average $500,000 during the first year and $70,000 for each year that follows. The loss of earnings that victims experience will make it difficult to pay for the numerous treatments and rehabilitation needed to recover.
Filing a claim with your insurance company or against the person who caused your injury may help you receive the compensation needed to meet future bill payments and to provide you with some level of comfort.
As experienced New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers, we understand the impact this type of injury will have on your future. We know that you may never fully recover from a spinal cord injury and that this injury has most likely changed every aspect of your life.
We are prepared to take any legal approach necessary to increase your chances of gaining the compensation you deserve and need to make a recovery.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES?
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by traumatic and non-traumatic events. Non-traumatic injuries can be caused by inflammation, arthritis, swelling, fluid accumulation, or diseases like cancer, polio or spina bifida.
Other injuries occur when a sudden blow causes blunt trauma to the back or neck and results in a bruised, fractured, or in the worst cases, a completely severed spine.
The most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents (36.6 percent)
- Falls (28.5 percent)
- Violence (14.3 percent)
- Sports and recreation (9.2 percent)
- Other (11.4 percent)
If your spinal cord injury was the direct result of another’s negligent, reckless or careless actions, our New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers can help you file a claim that may bring you compensation and justice.
TYPES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES OUR ATTORNEYS HANDLE
Spinal cord injuries are mostly associated with complete loss of limbs or paralysis below the neck, but we can help victims with varying forms of spinal damage, including:
- Paralysis: Loss of the ability to move in part or most of the body.
- Hemiplegia: Weakness or loss of the ability to move the left or right side of the body.
- Paraplegia: Loss of the ability to move the lower half of the body.
- Monoplegia: Loss of the ability to move one limb or region of the body.
- Quadriplegia: Loss of the ability to move all four limbs.
- Cervical spinal cord injuries: Damage to the top-section of the spine that consists of the neck and region below it.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries: Damage to the mid-section of the spine that can affect one or both sides of the body.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries: Damage to the area of the spine located between the Thoracic and Sacral regions. Injuries sustained in this region are typically non-life threatening and often cause weakness that can be treated over time.
- Sacral spinal cord injuries: Damage to the end of the spine that affects the lower half of the body and is the most severe of all spinal cord injuries.
- Ruptured and herniated discs: Displacement of the disc that separates the spine from other backbones that can result in permanent nerve damage if left untreated.
- Degenerative disc disease: A condition of the discs between vertebrae that causes loss of cushioning, fragmentation and herniation. This condition can develop from extreme spinal trauma and creates a high susceptibility to severe spinal cord injuries.
No matter how severe your injury is, having an experienced New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyer can help increase your chances of receiving the help you need. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we are accomplished in handling accident claims involving serious injuries, like a spinal cord injury.
Contact Us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
WHO IS LIABLE FOR MY SPINAL CORD INJURY?
To file a claim for compensation for the expenses associated with your injury, we will need to identify who is responsible for causing your condition.
Injuries Caused by Negligence
Most spinal cord injuries are caused by another’s negligent or reckless actions. If this was the case for your injury, our New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers will need to establish liability to hold the at-fault party accountable.
We will need to prove the other party:
- Owed a duty of care that would have ensured your safety and that of others.
- Breached this duty by behaving in a reckless, negligent or careless manner that a reasonable person under similar circumstances would not have. This can include breaking traffic laws by running a red light.
- Directly caused your injuries with his or her negligent, reckless or careless actions.
- Caused you to suffer damages because of the accident.
Injuries from Falls
Falls are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries and are often caused by dangerous conditions on private properties or in a victim’s line of work.
In a premises liability claim involving a slip and fall injury, the property owner has a duty to maintain his or her property and remedy any dangerous conditions that he or she knows about, or should know about.
If a property owner fails to fulfill this obligation, he or she could be liable for any resulting injuries.
Injuries from Medical Malpractice
We trust medical practitioners to fix our injuries, which makes it all the more devastating when acts of medical negligence cause us harm. Medical malpractice that can lead to spinal cord injuries include:
- Anesthesia error
- Emergency room error
- Malpractice during surgery
- Misdiagnosis of a broken spine that leads to permanent damage
Injuries from a Defective Product
Defective or malfunctioning products can cause serious injuries. If your spine was injured because of a dangerous defective product, like a faulty seat belt or airbag, you may be able to bring a claim against the product designer, manufacturer or the retailer that sold you the product.
Our New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers will pursue all leads to determine the liable party that caused your injury.
COMPENSATION FOR A SPINAL CORD INJURY CLAIM
Victims who have suffered from a spinal cord injury because of the negligence of another may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party.
As experienced New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers, we can provide you with an accurate estimate of what your claim is truly worth.
It is important that you consult with an attorney before accepting any offers made by the defendant or an insurance company. Most personal injury victims are unaware of the true value of their claim, and an insurance company will take advantage of this by initially offering an unreasonably small amount of compensation.
We can prevent this by helping you file a claim for the maximum damages you suffered, including both economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses you incurred because of your injury, which includes:
- Medical expenses
- Past and future hospital visits
- Rehabilitation treatment expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
Noneconomic damages place a monetary value on the pain and suffering that was directly caused by your injury, such as:
- Disabilities caused by your injury
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
It is important to note, however, that the maximum compensation a victim can receive may be affected by his or her level of involvement in causing the accident that resulted in his or her injuries, according to New Jersey’s comparative negligence rule.
For instance, if you are seeking $10,000 in damages for a claim involving a car accident in New Jersey where the other driver ran a red light and hit your vehicle, but you were also speeding at the time of the incident, it may be determined that you were 20 percent at fault for the accident.
By following the rule of comparative negligence, the original amount of damages you sought will be reduced by 20 percent and you will only be able to seek a maximum of $8,000.
If you intend to file a claim, you must act quickly. NJ Rev Stat § 2A:14-2 places a two-year statute of limitation on filing a personal injury claim that begins on the date when the injury initially occurred. If you attempt to file a claim after this deadline, you cannot seek compensation.
Contact our New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers to explore your options for compensation.
HOW OUR ATTORNEYS CAN HELP YOUR CLAIM
As accomplished New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers, we have decades of combined experience that has provided us with the investigative skills and medical knowledge needed for successful results.
We will assist you in filing a claim and may increase your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve by:
- Investigating the circumstances that caused your injury
- Identifying the party responsible for causing your injury
- Documenting your injury to prove that it was a direct result of the defendant’s actions
- Consulting with healthcare practitioners, such as physicians and neurological and orthopedic surgeons who can confirm your injuries were caused by the defendant
- Interviewing witness who were present when the incident occurred and can be used to support you claim during a court trial, if necessary
- Handling all communication with the insurance company or at-fault party
At Pagliara Law Group, we have one goal for every case that we accept: to make the claims process and any legal procedure as simple as possible for our clients and their loved ones.
We are able to achieve this by having a highly qualified staff of personal injury lawyers who are not afraid to take on the cases other firms turn down.
Our New Jersey spinal cord injury lawyers will place your best interests at the front of all negotiations, settlements and legal decisions made on your behalf. We will always advise you of the option that best benefits you and your loved ones.
CONTACT OUR NEW JERSEY SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWYERS
Spinal cord injuries are serious injuries that will affect a victim and his or her family for the remainder of their lives. These injuries require full cooperation from insurance companies to provide the necessary treatments to recover. When an insurance company or at-fault party refuses to compensate a victim, a skilled and experienced attorney can help..
We understand the challenges you and your family are facing, and we will cover all fees associated with bringing your claim. This includes all legal and investigative work that we conduct in order to prove your claim. We will only charge you if we succeed in helping you recover the compensation you deserve. Do not hesitate to contact us for a free legal consultation that comes with no obligation to hire our firm.
201-470-4181
