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If you get into an accident and are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, you have every right to ask questions and demand justice. At Stone Rose Law, our Chandler spinal cord injury attorneys are dedicated to holding wrongdoers accountable. We can help you file a spinal cord injury claim in Chandler, Arizona and pursue the financial compensation that you deserve. We will work tirelessly to obtain the results that you need. Contact our spinal cord injury lawyers to start with a free consultation.
Going up against an insurance company in a personal injury case isn’t easy. Insurance companies do their best to save money on payouts by devaluing claims and even engaging in bad-faith practices. You have a lot on the line with a serious spinal cord injury, such as a lifetime of medical costs. With so much at stake, it is critical not to represent yourself during insurance settlement negotiations.
A skilled personal injury attorney in Chandler can litigate your case for you for better results. A fair and full compensatory award can help you and your family pay for your necessary medical care and move forward with greater peace of mind. In addition to fighting for maximum compensation, our law office can make sure that your family has everything it needs during this difficult time. From investigating the accident that injured you and collecting evidence against a defendant to taking care of the confusing legal legwork of your case, a lawyer will do everything necessary to help you move forward.
A spinal cord injury describes damage to any element of the spinal column, including the vertebrae, disks, nerves and surrounding fluids. Different types of accidents can cause different spinal cord injuries. A penetrating injury, for example, may sever the spine and cause a complete spinal cord injury. This is an injury to the spine that permanently disrupts the connection between the brain and the body, causing paralysis. Blunt force trauma, on the other hand, may damage the spinal cord less, resulting in an incomplete or reversible spinal cord injury.
Examples of spinal cord injury diagnoses include:
In general, an injury higher up on the spinal cord will cause more damage than one lower down. A physician will diagnose a spinal cord injury through a combination of a clinical evaluation and imaging tests, such as MRIs and x-rays. Then, the physician will recommend a treatment plan based on the type and severity of the injury.
Some victims may be able to make full recoveries from incomplete or mild spinal cord injuries. Treatments for a spine injury may include surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Other patients may not be able to reverse the effects of a spinal cord injury, but could still achieve greater independence and improve quality of life through available treatment plans. Every patient is unique.
The spinal cord is a complex and delicate body part that is responsible for relaying messages between the body and the brain. When the spinal cord suffers any type of injury, it can result in both immediate and delayed symptoms. These symptoms can vary from patient to patient, but generally impact how the victim feels and functions. You may have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident if you notice any of the following symptoms in the minutes or hours after your accident:
It is important to go to a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms after an incident in Chandler. Prompt medical care is critical in a spinal cord injury case, as this type of injury can get worse and cause more permanent damage without professional treatment. Do your best to restrict your movements from the time of your accident until you see a doctor. Moving your back or spine in the wrong manner could exacerbate your injury.
You may be eligible for financial compensation after being diagnosed with a spinal cord injury in Arizona if one or more parties reasonably should have prevented your injury. Most of these personal injury lawsuits are based on negligence, or the failure to use proper care. Negligence can take many shapes and forms, resulting in accidents that lead to severe and permanent injuries. Some of the most common types of accidents involved in spinal cord injury claims are:
Many different types of preventable situations, from a car accident to a tripping hazard in a business, can cause spinal cord injuries and give the victim the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona. If you or your Chandler spinal cord injury attorney can prove that one or more parties should’ve prevented your spine injury, this can result in financial compensation awarded for your past and future losses. If you are not sure what caused your spinal cord injury, a lawyer can help you with an investigation.
Determining liability for your spinal cord injury in Arizona can enable you to hold one or more parties legally and financially responsible, including for all of the medical care and treatments that you will need now and in the future. In Arizona, an injured accident victim may have the right to hold someone liable for an injury if the party named as the defendant acted in a way that went outside of the required or appropriate duties of care. In other words, if someone else in the defendant’s position would have acted differently and prevented the victim’s spinal cord injury, the defendant may be found liable and have to pay the victim damages.
Liable parties in a spinal cord injury case in Arizona could include:
If you are not sure who is to blame for you or a loved one’s spinal cord injury, an attorney can investigate and determine fault for you. Exploring all potential defendants with assistance from an attorney can help you maximize your financial recovery, as multiple insurance policies mean greater coverage available for your injuries and losses. At Stone Rose Law, our personal injury lawyer will search for all possible defendants to hold accountable through a comprehensive investigation of your case. We can go up against any defendant, big or small, in pursuit of optimal results.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, try to remain calm. Make sure that someone has called 911. Receiving prompt, professional medical care is essential to mitigating the damage caused by neck, back, or head trauma. When first responders arrive, they should gently and quickly immobilize the spine using a backboard and collar.
Although it is not possible to reverse damage to the spinal cord, there are medical treatments that can improve the function of surviving nerves or encourage nerve cell regeneration. Long-term care may be necessary, which can quickly cause an increasing amount of medical expenses. Our personal injury lawyers work closely with you to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable for your wounds. We fight for the fair compensation you deserve and offer the trustworthy legal representation you need.
Many spinal cord injuries cause permanent damage. A victim with a severe spinal cord injury may never be able to regain lost feeling or function in the affected parts of the body, even with available medical treatments. A lifetime of medical care for a permanent spinal cord injury can cost an exorbitant amount over the victim’s lifetime. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury for a victim who is 25 years old at the time of injury and has high tetraplegia (paralysis from the neck down) is over $5.1 million. This is only the costs of health care and living expenses – not lost earnings, fringe benefits or productivity.
The extreme effects that a spine injury can have on a survivor and his or her family is why it is important to work with an attorney if you have this type of injury claim. An insurance company may not offer an adequate settlement for your long-term losses and needs without assistance from an attorney. Hiring an attorney can level the playing field and force an insurer to treat your claim fairly. This can result in the financial compensation that your family needs to pay for ongoing medical treatments and other necessities as a spinal cord injury survivor.
The statute of limitations is an important law to know in Arizona as an injured accident victim. It gives a deadline by which you must file your claim, or else give up the ability to seek financial compensation forever. In Arizona, the statute of limitations on most personal injury cases, including spinal cord injuries, is two years from the date of the accident in question. If you had a delayed diagnosis, the clock would not start ticking until the date of injury discovery.
Although no amount of money will make up for a severe injury, it can help your family move forward with less stress related to your finances. A successful spinal cord injury claim in Arizona could pay you financial compensation for several current and future foreseeable losses. You may be eligible for reimbursement for your:
Discuss the value of your spinal cord injury case with our Chandler spinal cord injury lawyers before accepting an insurance settlement offer. When it comes to personal injury cases, Arizona uses what is known as a “comparative negligence” system. What this means is that the injured party may be eligible to recover damages even if they are found to be 99% responsible for the circumstances that led to the incident. Our personal injury attorneys can help you explore your legal options and give you an idea of your case’s worth, so you can decide on the best course of action for you or your loved one.
If you were recently diagnosed with a spinal cord injury after an accident in Chandler, Arizona, please contact Stone Rose Law to request a free consultation. We understand these injuries and their immense impact on survivors and their loved ones. Our legal team represents personal injury victims in Chandler with diligence, integrity, and determination. We will do everything that we can to help you pick up the pieces and move forward. Contact our personal injury law firm today to schedule your case review.