Spinal cord injuries may range in severity and could be caused by the negligence of someone else. Because of the variety of spinal cord injury cases and the complexity of the laws regarding these claims, you may need a Lafayette spinal cord injury lawyer to help you understand your legal rights.
Many spinal cord injuries never fully heal, so when you are considering a settlement offer, it is crucial to understand the potential future costs that you may incur when dealing with a lifelong injury. An experienced catastrophic injury attorney could advocate on your behalf to help you receive the compensation you are entitled to recover based on the details of your case.
Types of Injuries
Generally, the higher in the spine the injury is, the more severe it could be. However, lifelong pain, impairment, and other medical issues might persist regardless of which part of the spinal cord is affected. Injuries may occur to the vertebrae themselves or involve the intervertebral discs between them. However, any injury that affects the cord and nerve pathways inside the spine is considered a spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injuries could occur in various situations, such as:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents involving big rig semi-trucks
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Boat accidents
- Construction accidents
- Manufacturing accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Product liability injuries
- Premises liability accidents
- Maritime injuries
Spinal cord injuries may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis and even death in the most severe cases. Other spinal cord injuries that do not result in paralysis can cause severe chronic pain and other lasting symptoms. Regardless of the severity, a spinal cord injury will likely result in medical issues that will persist throughout the individual’s lifetime.
If the accident that caused the injury resulted from another party’s negligent or reckless behavior, a Lafayette spinal cord injury lawyer could guide a plaintiff through the legal process of recovering compensation. The attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers know how difficult living with a spinal cord injury can be and how a catastrophic accident can affect every family member.
We represent individuals and their families in these cases, seeking appropriate compensation for the victim’s injuries, financial losses, and emotional damages.
For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 223-9925
Recoverable Damages
The spine is an integral part of the body, so even a minor spinal cord injury will likely have severe consequences. It is the nerve pathway that allows the brain to send signals to the legs, arms, trunk, vital organs, and other body parts. Any disruption in this pathway could lead to serious disabilities or medical concerns.
Spinal cord injuries that result in total or partial paralysis could involve expensive adjustments to all aspects of the injured party’s life. Potential damages related to a spinal cord injury may include:
- Inability to earn a living
- Lost income from time away from work
- Physical therapy and counseling, potentially on a long-term basis
- In-patient rehabilitation
- Immediate medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, and more
- Future medical expenses, including ongoing care and support costs
- Modifications to the home, including grab bars, ramps, and bathroom modifications
- In-home assistance
- Devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or canes
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
A Lafayette spinal cord injury lawyer understands that a claim for compensation can cover expenses from the injury that have already been incurred and could fight to recover compensation for future expenses as well.
Our team knows how to calculate a fair settlement based on the facts of each case. In addition, we partner with experts to determine the cost of ongoing and future care and use industry standards and our experience to value intangible losses related to the client’s injuries.
Lafayette Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me (337) 223-9925
Iberia Parish Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
The catastrophic injury attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers seek to help clients and their families recover money damages. We know that no amount of money can take away the pain and frustration or restore your health. However, we want to help you secure a financial recovery that pays for your treatment and care, allows you to live the best quality of life possible, and reduces your stress about paying your bills.
We have experience handling personal injury cases involving spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and other related medical concerns. We are here for you and your family. We will provide a free case review today.
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
If a person’s spine becomes damaged, they may lose the ability to use their arms, legs, and even mouth. On top of these harms, victims may suffer these symptoms:
- Chronic pain
- Problems regulating heartbeat and body temperature
- Breathing complications
- Discomfort
- Pneumonia
The specific symptoms can vary depending on the location and extent of an injury. However, spinal cord injuries are often severe and life-altering, even if they are incomplete or relatively minor injuries. We understand the many ways an injury can affect your everyday life and make routine tasks much more difficult.
We do not believe you should have to navigate the aftermath of a devastating injury while worrying about how to pay your medical bills or cover lost wages. Instead, let us handle your legal claim or lawsuit while you focus on rehabilitation, therapy, and recovery.
Pursuing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
If a person causes injury to another, the actor is responsible for the resulting damage under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315. The specific duty of care a person owes another depends on their relationship, but even strangers have a duty not to cause harm. If a person negligently, carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally causes injury to another, that person may owe money to the victim.
Statute of Limitations
The law has a time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit. If the injured person waits too long, the court can dismiss the case. For many cases, the victim must bring the claim within a year of the accident. Exceptions may apply in some cases, so it is important for victims to seek advice from an Iberia Parish spinal cord injury lawyer about the specific deadlines that apply to their cases.
Recoverable Damages in Iberia Parish
A spinal injury could lead to extensive medical expenses, as well as an inability to work. The victim may struggle to pay their bills, which could also affect their family. If the court finds the actor liable for an accident, the defendant may be required to compensate the victim for the full extent of their losses.
Some recoverable damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
Loss of Consortium
The victim’s family may also be able to recover damages based on the cost to their relationship with the victim. For example, a victim’s spouse and children may miss out on important aspects of their relationship.
Click to contact our Lafayette Catastrophic Injury Lawyers today
How a Lafayette Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Could Help
The full value of a spinal cord injury might be difficult for the injured party to calculate on their own. An experienced Lafayette spinal cord injury lawyer could help explain the potential current and future costs that you may incur because of your spinal cord injury. An attorney may then help you negotiate to ensure that these costs are properly accounted for in any settlement offer or legal judgment.
We are a contingency-fee personal injury law firm. We do not charge our clients upfront or hourly fees for our services. We will never ask you to pay before your case ends. Instead, we get paid a percentage of the payout our client receives. However, if you don’t receive an award, you owe no attorney’s fees. This arrangement allows all victims the option for representation regardless of the money their family has available.
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Speak to an Attorney From Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers About Your Case
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we represent clients hurt in personal injury accidents in Lafayette Parish and across Louisiana. We provide free consultations for victims and their families, allowing them to learn more about their rights and options for pursuing justice and financial recovery.
Contact a Lafayette spinal cord injury attorney today so that a legal professional could begin advocating on your behalf while you concentrate on your recovery. Call (337) 777-7777 now for your free case review.
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