Have you recently suffered a serious spinal cord injury? Whether it resulted from a car wreck, a slip and fall, or another type of accident, you likely face a long and difficult recovery. As you adjust to new limitations and challenges in your life, you might worry about how much your treatments will cost and wonder who will pay.
The spinal cord injury attorneys at Jainchill & Beckert, LLC want to remove this worry from your mind. If someone’s actions caused you harm, you can demand they compensate you through a spinal cord injury claim. The money you could recover can pay for your medical bills, replace income losses, compensate you for your lower quality of life, and more.
Ready to pursue the compensation you deserve from the person who hurt you? Contact a Hartford spinal cord injury lawyer at Jainchill & Beckert, LLC for a free case review to learn more about your legal options.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Your spinal cord runs from your brainstem to your lower back. It is the center of a complex system of nerves responsible for transmitting signals between your brain and the rest of your body. A spinal cord injury occurs when any type of damage affects this bundle of nerves.
You can sustain a spinal cord injury either through direct harm to the spinal cord or indirect damage to the vertebrae and tissues that surround it. Spinal cord injuries can have significant health consequences, including impairments to your ability to feel, move, and control parts of your body. If you suffered injuries to your back or spine, contact our Hartford spinal cord injury lawyer today.
What Are the Top Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries occur in a variety of situations, but they’re most likely to happen in traumatic accidents.
Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Workplace accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Pedestrian collisions
- Sports injuries
- Violent crimes, including gunshot wounds
- Medical and surgical complications
Spinal cord injuries are challenging to treat. While medical advances are improving the lives of many spinal cord injury patients, the cost of treatment can be significant. Many patients require some degree of lifetime care, which can add up to millions of dollars over time.
Are There Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The types of spinal cord injuries differ based on the degree of function remaining below the injury site.
Spinal cord injuries can be divided into two main categories:
- Incomplete – An incomplete spinal cord injury does not fully sever the link between the brain and the spinal cord. The brain can still send and receive messages through the spinal cord. The patient will still be able to feel and function below the injury site.
- Complete – Complete spinal cord injuries totally cut off communication between the brain and the area below the injury site. A person with a complete spinal cord injury will no longer have any feeling or function below the site of their injury.
Are There Any Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries?
Unfortunately, spinal cord damage is irreversible. While research is ongoing and experimental treatments are in development, spinal cord injury treatment presently has two main objectives: preventing further injury and helping people resume their lives.
Treatment for a suspected spinal cord injury usually begins at the accident scene. Medical professionals typically prioritize immobilizing the spine by attaching a neck brace and transporting the injured person to an ambulance on a rigid carrying board.
Short-term treatment focuses on protecting the injured person’s ability to breathe, maintaining immobilization to prevent further injury, and preventing serious medical complications. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove any bone fragments or debris that compress the spinal cord and put it at further risk. Surgical measures are also used to stabilize the spine.
Over the long term, spinal cord injury patients often require significant rehabilitation therapies and other therapeutic treatments or medications. The costs of these treatments can be considerable, putting many patients and families in financial trouble.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Spinal Injury?
To pursue compensation for a spinal cord injury, you must prove that another party was responsible for the injury, whether through their actions or inaction. Your attorney can prove another party’s liability by showing that they had a responsibility to avoid harming you, they failed in that responsibility, and you suffered harm as a result.
For example, a driver who ran a red light and hit your vehicle, causing your spinal cord injury, could be liable. This is because all drivers have a responsibility to others to drive safely and avoid causing collisions.
The above is just one example. A Hartford spinal cord injury attorney can review your case to determine who might be legally responsible for your injuries.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover for My Spinal Cord Injury?
In Connecticut, you can pursue compensation for a range of expenses and losses following a spinal cord injury, including the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Costs of modifying your home or vehicle for accessibility
- Loss of quality of life
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
The amount of compensation you can recover will depend on various factors, including the extent of your injury and how fully your doctor predicts you will recover. Your Hartford spinal cord injury attorney will pursue the maximum amount available to compensate you for your losses.
Does Connecticut Set a Time Limit for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?
According to Connecticut law, you have two years from the date of your injury to sue. Your spinal cord injury case will take time to build, so it’s important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to begin the legal process.
Contact a Hartford Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence, you’re likely facing significant physical, financial, and emotional challenges. A Hartford spinal cord injury attorney can help you seek the compensation you need to address these issues and more. Contact the Hartford personal injury lawyers at Jainchill & Beckert, LLC today to discuss your case in a free consultation and learn more about how we’ll fight for the justice you deserve.
