Did you know that between 12,000 and 15,000 serious spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States? About 10,000 of these injuries result in permanent paralysis, while many others end in death.
Most of these injuries are suffered by healthy young people between the ages of 15 and 35. These injuries are devastating and life changing. Sadly, spinal cord injuries cannot be repaired. Still, some people can benefit from rehabilitation and treatment.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, motor vehicle accidents are the primary cause of spinal cord injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal injury in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible to receive compensation from the guilty party that would cover damages that include:
- Medical expenses.
- Rehab costs.
- Future lost wages.
- Long-term care costs.
- Overall pain and suffering.
To receive the compensation you deserve, you should plan to hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced in spinal cord cases. It is up to you to prove that:
- Your spinal cord was injured.
- Your injury resulted from another person’s negligent behavior, which showed a disregard for your safety.
- The injury was not due to a pre-existing condition.
In order to prove negligent behavior, you and your attorney must prove that the guilty party did not take reasonable precautions to protect you or others from harm. For example, the driver at fault in the accident has a duty and responsibility to drive safely and obey speed limits and other road safety laws.
Your attorney can help you collect evidence to prove negligence by: examining the accident site; interviewing witnesses; locating traffic camera footage, when available; reviewing the insurance company policy of the guilty party; and hiring key car accident experts.
What constitutes pain and suffering? Most damages awarded in these cases pertain to economic losses suffered by the victim. However, in accidents involving spinal cord injuries, victims often request non-economic “pain and suffering” damages to address the physical, emotional and/or psychological pain they have encountered. Your attorney can advise you on whether this is relevant to your case.
Since these injuries are so serious, many attorneys will seek compensation from more than one place, whether it’s the guilty party’s auto insurance company, Social Security disability benefits, your company’s short- and long-term disability policies, and other sources. Don’t try to fight this battle on your own. Hire an attorney to help you recover the damages you deserve. There are many options to consider, as an attorney, like a spine injury lawyer in Las Vegas, NV, from a firm like The Law Office of Eglet Adams, can explain.