People get into accidents all the time. Most of them suffered minor injuries. They may sustain whiplash or a broken bone. These injuries heal in a relatively short period of time. Even if you need surgery, you should be back to work within a few months.
For some people, however, the injuries they sustain are far more serious. One of the worst types of injuries to sustain is a spinal cord injury. An Arizona spinal cord injury lawyer can handle cases involving this type of injury more than you may think. If the injury is severe enough, you could end up permanently disabled. You may even spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.
If you get into an accident and it’s someone else’s fault, they should be held accountable. Your spinal cord injury lawyer in Arizona will make sure this happens. These types of injuries cause lifelong problems. Your medical bills and lost wages will be quite high. The defendant should have to compensate you for these things.
Ideally, you would file a claim against the defendant’s insurance company and they’d pay it right away. If this is the case, you should receive your check within a couple of weeks. However, because these cases usually involve high damages, insurance companies are less likely to pay them. They believe it’ll be cheaper for them to try to settle the case for a lesser amount.
If you or your loved one suffers a spinal cord injury in any sort of accident, you should call an Arizona spinal cord injury lawyer.
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Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
We see stories on the news about people who suffer spinal cord injuries. Usually, it seems that they’re caused by terrible workplace accidents or construction accidents. And, while many people are hurt this way, many are caused in other ways.
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries. Falls are also a big cause of these injuries. However, depending on the circumstances, anyone could suffer this type of injury in any sort of accident.
Some of the common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Regardless of the kind of accident you’re involved in, you could suffer a spinal cord injury. Many victims are involved in motorcycle accidents and tractor-trailer crashes. The impact in these accidents is so great that the odds of a spinal cord injury are greater.
- Falls: People who work in construction have to work on scaffolding. This means they work high up in the air. If they fall, they are likely to suffer a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury.
- Sports: A lot of younger athletes are liable to suffer a spinal cord injury. We see plaintiffs all the time who got hurt while playing hockey or football. Their bodies aren’t fully developed so when they do get injured, it tends to be more severe.
- Recreational activities: You could be out enjoying yourself and get injured. You could be on an ATV or jumping on a trampoline. In these cases, it’s harder to prove that someone else is at fault. However, if the accident was caused by a defective product, the manufacturer may be held liable.
If you suffer a spinal cord injury in any of these types of accidents, you may be entitled to compensation. That’s why you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Arizona.
Know the Signs and Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
As with any other type of accident, if you suspect you’ve hurt your spine, you need to go to the hospital. Usually, people who suffer spinal cord injuries aren’t able to move after their accident. That’s one of the tell-tale signs that you’ve been injured.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:
- Extreme pain or pressure in your head, back or neck
- Trouble breathing
- Fatigue
- Lack of coordination
- Paralysis in any part of your body
- Numbness in your extremities
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, it’s time to call an ambulance. Don’t try to drive to the hospital yourself. You could make your injury even worse.
If you suffer a spinal cord injury, you’re probably going to need surgery. You may need more than one surgery. You’re also going to need physical therapy. Most people who suffer this type of injury are out of work for quite some time. You may end up permanently disabled. This means you’ll be entitled to a considerable amount of compensation.
Your Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Will Demand Damages
Your Arizona spinal cord injury attorney will work hard to get you as much compensation as possible. He’ll work hard to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries. In doing so, he’s going to demand that the defendant be held accountable.
Your spinal cord attorney in Arizona will demand the following:
- Medical Bills: You should be compensated for any current and future medical bills. These types of injuries often require long-term medical care. The defendant will have to pay for this.
- Lost Wages: People with a spinal cord injury miss a lot of time from work. Your attorney will demand that you be reimbursed for these lost wages.
- Permanent Disability: If you become permanently disabled as a result of your injury, you will have an additional claim. You’re entitled to the difference between what you’ll receive on disability compared to what you would’ve earned at your full-time job.
- Pain and Suffering: These damages are meant to compensate you for any mental or physical anguish caused by the accident. As you can imagine, these damages can be quite high in spinal cord injury cases.
- Property Damage: If you were in a car accident, you’ll be entitled to recover any monies spent to repair or replace your vehicle.
Contact an Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a family member have been in any sort of accident, you need to take care of a few things. First, make sure you seek medical care immediately after your accident. Second, make sure you document the incident. If it was a motor vehicle accident, call the police. If it was any other sort of accident, fill out an incident/accident form.
Finally, you need to contact an Arizona spinal cord injury lawyer right away.
The consultation is absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case. The defendant will have a lawyer working for him and you should too.
