San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

A spinal cord injury can be caused by trauma to the vertebrae, ligaments, or spinal column disks. Those who suffer from spinal cord damage often have permanent and debilitating problems including loss of movement, loss of sensation and control, respiratory issues, changes in sexual function, and more.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact the San Diego personal injury attorneys at CaseyGerry today for a free case evaluation.

San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Claims

If someone else caused your spinal cord injuries, you might have a claim for compensation. We know that spinal cord injuries can be devastating and life-changing. We also know that spinal cord injury sufferers have a better chance of recovering from and living with their spinal injuries than ever before with medical and technological advances.

Unfortunately, sophisticated treatments that are often required for spinal cord injuries are expensive, and so is the cost of necessary ongoing medical care. To secure maximum compensation and ensure that your future medical expenses are covered, you need a personal injury attorney who has experienced handling spinal cord injury cases.

Thousands of Americans Are Suffering from Spinal Cord Injury

There are about 288,000 individuals living with a spinal cord injury in the United States, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Database. Other organizations, such as the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, estimate that number to be higher – finding that as many as 450,000 people live with this type of injury.

About 17,700 new people sustain a spinal cord injury in the United States each year. When those injuries occur as a result of another person’s carelessness or negligence, we can hold them accountable.

Common Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries in San Diego Lawsuits

Spinal cord injuries are complete or incomplete. When someone suffers a loss of all function and feeling below the injury location, it is known as a complete spinal cord injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury means that some level of movement and feeling are maintained below the injury’s location.

Spinal cord injuries are located in one of four areas of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. These injuries can be temporary or permanent, and the injury’s impact on each person can range from mild to moderate or severe.

Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries

The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is automobile accidents, followed by falls, violence, and sports injuries. A high number of people experience spinal cord injuries in workplace accidents, especially those involved in dangerous industries, such as construction and maritime work. Other causes of spinal cord injuries include aviation accidents and defective consumer products.

Spinal Cord Injury Settlement

Spinal cord injuries can dramatically alter lives, which can prompt a large compensation. However, there’s no guarantee your case will get the payment it deserves. Insurance companies and other corporations hire teams of professionals to reduce liability and downplay negligence. You need an experienced attorney to gather strong evidence, negotiate on your behalf, and take the case to trial if necessary. Our team at CaseyGerry helps injured persons and their families get the justice they deserve.

How Much Is My Case Worth?

Every spinal cord injury case is unique, with its own set of circumstances, impacts, and complications. Consequently, the potential settlement value varies from case to case. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney starts by conducting a comprehensive review of your case details.

This review provides evidence to determine the feasibility of your claim and the potential compensation amount you may receive. A successful claim could result in a spinal cord injury settlement ranging from five figures to millions.

Determining the Value of Your Spinal Cord Injury

Attorneys undertake a detailed analysis to review all facets of a client’s situation and arrive at a likely number. Here are the typical steps involved:

• Review of Medical Records: Attorneys thoroughly examine the client’s medical records to understand the extent of the injury, its long-term implications, and the associated medical costs.
• Assessment of Non-Economic Damages: This involves quantifying intangible losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship. It also covers loss of enjoyment of life.
• Evaluation of Economic Damages: This includes the client’s financial losses related to the injury, including lost income, loss of earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
• Consultation with Experts: Attorneys often consult medical experts to better understand the client’s needs and calculate a fair estimate. These include life care planners, estate planners, and financial experts.
• Analysis of Comparable Cases: Attorneys also analyze verdicts and settlements from similar spinal cord injury cases to gauge the potential value of the client’s case.

Spinal Cord Injury Compensation Amounts: Affecting Factors

Many factors influence the compensation that one can expect from a spinal cord injury case. Among all these, medical evidence and proof of negligence are the most important.

Medical Evidence

The amount of medical evidence available and its quality are among the most significant factors in determining the settlement value. You need detailed, accurate, and up-to-date documentation of the following:

• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Treatment plans
• Medical reports from specialists
• Bills or invoices for treatments
• Bills for medication

Proving Negligence or Fault

If another party was responsible for the injury, proving their liability is crucial in obtaining fair compensation. Evidence of negligence or fault may include eyewitness accounts, CCTV footage, police reports, expert testimony, and other forms of proof. If the injured person contributed to the incident and bears partial negligence, they can still make a claim, but may receive a lower amount

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases Eligible for Settlement

Spinal cord injuries occur in a range of circumstances and settings. These are some of the most common spinal cord injury causes that tend to result in compensation:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Defective products, medical devices, or medications
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace accidents and injuries caused by workplace negligence
• Physical assault
• Assault with a deadly weapon

Note that some of these cases may also result in criminal charges. The criminal case proceeds separately from a civil suit and typically does not lead to the award of compensation for damages.

The Role of Legal Representation in Negotiating a Fair Settlement

Spinal cord injury cases typically require skilled negotiation to reach an appropriate settlement. The defendant’s attorney may try to minimize or deny your claim in an effort to pay less. Hire an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer to protect your rights.

Our knowledgeable attorneys assess the merits of your case, review the available evidence, and calculate damages. We negotiate for compensation and represent you in court if the defendant refuses to reach a fair settlement.

The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

The severity and complexity of spinal cord injury cases warrant experienced legal counsel to pursue compensation. These injuries often lead to long-term or permanent disabilities, such as paralysis or limited mobility. The risk for significantly reduced quality of life is high. Adequate compensation is necessary to ensure you or your loved one gets the treatment needed to reclaim and rebuild your lives.

Our team at CaseyGerry has a long history of success in spinal cord injury cases. We understand the psychological and financial hardships these injuries can cause, and we work hard to get you a fair settlement.

Spinal Cord Injuries And Medical Expenses in San Diego, California

Due to the complexities involved with spinal cord injuries, these cases are different from other types of personal injury cases. Many patients require extensive medical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation for years after an accident, and in some cases, lifelong medical care is necessary. Medical bills can quickly add up to millions of dollars.

Because of the tremendous costs for injury accommodations and treatment, it is critical to recover compensation that supports your past, ongoing, and future medical care. Medical and financial experts can offer testimony about your anticipated medical needs and the associated costs.

Accurately valuing the lifetime costs of treating your injury is an essential component of your case. When anticipated medical costs are undervalued in personal injury cases, injured parties often need medical treatment that they cannot afford and end up with bills that they cannot pay.

Physical Impacts Of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries impact people in different ways, depending on the type and extent of injuries sustained. Common injury symptoms include the following:

• Loss of feeling and sensation
• Loss of movement and control
• Spastic movements
• Breathing difficulties
• Problems with body temperature regulation
• Blood clots
• Blood pressure and heart rate issues
• Stomach ulcers
• Trouble swallowing
• Bedsores
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Pain
• Loss of sexual function
• Fertility problems

Injury symptoms and complications can disrupt regular day-to-day life. Those with spinal cord injuries may be unable to care for children or participate in physical activities. Some people experience a loss of independence due to being unable to drive or care for themselves. The ability to travel and participate in social activities can also be impacted after a spinal cord injury.

Lost Earnings And Earning Potential & How it Affects Your San Diego Claim

Many people miss work after a spinal cord injury due to necessary medical treatment, pain, and physical restrictions. Under a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for past and current wages that you have been unable to earn due to your injuries.

Lost earning potential may also be recovered if your injuries are permanent, and you cannot return to work. Even if you can return to work in some capacity, your injuries may limit your earning potential. A sudden and unexpected loss of income can be financially devastating for injury victims and their families.

Any settlement agreement that you accept should contemplate your lost income so that you and your family have some financial security. Financial experts can help calculate and demonstrate the value of your lost earning potential.

Noneconomic Damages Related To Your Injuries

Noneconomic damages are sometimes referred to as emotional damages. These losses are more challenging to calculate than economic damages because there is no established monetary value. Those who have suffered spinal cord injuries often experience significant noneconomic damages, including loss of enjoyment of life, physical pain, mental suffering, and emotional distress.

How We Can Help with San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Our law firm has decades of experience helping injured clients recover compensation for their losses. We have contacts with experts who will play a critical role in proving your injuries and damages. Our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys understand that the best way to help you and your family is to advocate for maximum financial recovery.

We know that most of our clients would prefer to settle their cases and avoid going to trial. We work with defendants and their insurance companies to negotiate settlements that fully compensate our clients. Sometimes the settlement negotiation process is lengthy, and we will continue to prepare your case for trial so that you do not feel pressured to accept an unfair settlement offer.

Fatal Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be fatal immediately, and in other cases, people survive the initial injury but later succumb to complications related to the initial injury. Common fatal complications include pneumonia, septicemia, renal failure, and pulmonary embolism.

If your loved one suffered a fatal spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s fault, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses. In California, surviving family members may file wrongful death claims against parties responsible for their loved ones’ death. Financial recovery may include loss of financial support, the value of the deceased’s household services, funeral expenses, and other damages.

If your loved one survived the initial spinal cord injury but later died due to injury complications, the estate’s personal representative may file a survival action. Survival actions allow personal representatives to pursue compensation related to the deceased’s losses before he or she died. Lost wages, medical bills, and punitive damages may be awarded in a survival action.

Protecting Injured San Diego Residents Against Those Who Harmed Them

For more than 70 years, CaseyGerry has fought to protect the rights of those who suffer serious injuries after another person acted carelessly. Whether caused by automobile collisions, falls on hazardous property, acts of violence, or other means, CaseyGerry has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to successfully represent those who have been injured. The firm has attained numerous seven- and eight-figure settlements for victims who suffer from spinal cord injuries.

Contact CaseyGerry at (619) 238-1811 if you or a family member has a spinal cord injury that was caused by someone’s careless behavior. We can explain your rights and what to expect in seeking compensation for medical bills, lost past and future wages, pain and suffering, and more.