A spinal cord injury can have life-altering consequences, including a host of serious medical complications. Many people who suffer spinal cord injuries require medical and personal care for the rest of their lives. They may lose the ability to work and earn a living. All too often, the accidents that lead to spinal cord injuries could have been prevented. When that’s the case, you need an experienced Durham spinal cord injury lawyer on your side.
Let the seasoned legal team at Kreger Brodish LLP help you pursue justice and financial compensation after a devastating spinal cord injury. For more than a decade, our spinal cord injury attorneys have been providing comprehensive legal advocacy and personalized attention to accident victims throughout North Carolina. We understand what a life-changing injury this is, and we will fight for the money you need to move forward.
Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced Durham spinal cord injury lawyers. We’ll listen to your story, explain your legal options, and map out a strategy for pursuing the financial compensation you deserve.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim After a Spinal Cord Injury?
Not every spinal cord injury will lead to a personal injury claim. However, you may be entitled to compensation if your spinal cord injury was caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or negligent behavior. For your claim to succeed, you will also need to document and establish past, ongoing, and future losses for which you can be financially compensated. These losses could include medical bills, lost income because you’re unable to work, and pain and suffering.
If you have questions about your legal rights after a spine injury, please contact our Durham personal injury lawyers at Kreger Brodish LLP today. The consultation is free.
How a Durham Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help
It can be incredibly difficult to pursue the compensation you deserve while you’re also recovering from catastrophic injuries. A Durham spinal cord injury lawyer from Kreger Brodish LLP can fight to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions while you rest and recuperate. We are prepared to:
- Review the evidence from the accident that caused your injury to determine what exactly happened
- Identify the party or parties that can be held liable for your injury and losses
- Document your past and future expenses and losses, including consulting with medical, vocational, and financial experts as necessary
- Help you obtain any specialized care you need
- Manage all communication with the at-fault parties and insurers
- Aggressively pursue a spinal cord injury settlement to provide you with the maximum compensation you deserve
- Take your case to trial if this is the best option for you
Seeking Compensation for Losses After a Spinal Cord Injury
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury because of somebody else’s actions, you might be entitled to compensation for your expenses and losses. This could include:
- Expenses for medical treatment and rehabilitation, including hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, medications, physical/occupational therapy, and medical and mobility device purchases
- Costs of long-term care for paralysis and other chronic conditions caused by a spinal cord injury
- Loss of wages or income for time missed from work while treating and rehabbing from a spinal cord injury, along with lost earning ability due to disabilities from paralysis
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of quality of life
No one can accurately predict how much a spinal cord injury case is worth immediately after an accident. You will need time to reach maximum medical improvement and thoroughly assess your losses. An attorney from our firm can help you understand the full value of your case so you can demand the maximum payment you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in NC?
If someone else is responsible for your spinal cord injury, the statute of limitations in North Carolina typically gives you only three years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit seeking compensation. If you wait until after the statute of limitations has expired, the court can permanently dismiss your case.
Three years may seem like a long time at first, and you may choose to focus on your physical recovery rather than your financial one. However, you should speak with a Durham spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible. Such cases can prove exceptionally complicated due to their wide-ranging consequences. It may take considerable time and resources to investigate the accident, identify the party or parties at fault, and determine the total costs of your injuries. The sooner you discuss your case with a lawyer, the better off you are.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
If you suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us. We specialize in different accident areas that may cause such injuries:
- Car accident lawyer
- Truck accidents lawyer
- Motorcycle accident lawyer
- Pedestrian accident lawyer
- Bicycle accident lawyer
- Boating accident lawyer
- Premises liability lawyer
- Slip and fall lawyer
- Elevator and escalator accident lawyer
- Swimming pool accident lawyer
- Golf cart accident lawyer
- Railroad accident lawyer
- School bus accident lawyer
- Aviation accident lawyer
- ATV accidents
- Construction accidents lawyer
- Worker’s compensation lawyer
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
The following symptoms may suggest the presence of a spinal cord injury:
- The feeling of extreme pain or pressure in the head, neck, and/or back
- Weakness or coordination problems
- Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in hands and feet
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty breathing
- Odd positioning or twisting of the neck or back
In many cases, the damage caused by a spinal cord injury cannot be repaired, leaving the victim with permanent symptoms and chronic health conditions, such as:
- Paralysis
- A stinging or burning sensation near the site of the spinal cord injury
- Loss of sensation or altered sensations, including the ability to feel heat, cold, or touch
- Exaggerated reflexes or muscle spasms
- Changes in sexual function and sensitivity
- Bowel and bladder control issues
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury
Treatment of a spinal cord injury focuses on minimizing the effects of the trauma and preventing further injury or damage. Someone who has been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury or who is suspected to have suffered such an injury will likely have their head, neck, and back immobilized to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. Surgery may be necessary to remove bone fragments or foreign objects along the spinal column, repair fractured vertebrae and herniated discs, and insert rods and screws or fuse vertebrae to stabilize the spine and prevent future injury or deformity.
Once a spinal cord injury has been stabilized, treatment shifts toward rehabilitation and managing health conditions caused by the effects of the injury. Treatment may include:
- Physical therapy to help an injury victim relearn mobility and strengthen remaining muscle function
- Occupational therapy to help an injury victim redevelop fine motor skills and learn adaptations for daily tasks
- Recreational therapy to help encourage an injury victim to resume social activities
Rehab will also focus on preventing complications from paralysis, such as pressure ulcers or high or low blood pressure.
Treatment may also include medications to manage the effects of a spinal cord injury, including pain medications, medications to control spasms or treat muscle spasticity, blood pressure medication, and medications to improve bowel/bladder control and sexual function.
Talk to a Durham Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Now
At Kreger Brodish LLP, we believe that you should not have to bear the financial stress of a spinal cord injury if it was caused by someone else’s careless or reckless behavior. That’s why we’ve dedicated our careers to helping people in your position get the financial compensation they need.
Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys in Durham. We look forward to discussing your case in detail, understanding your needs and concerns, and finding out how we can help you achieve them.