Spinal cord injuries are often life-altering, affecting not only the victim, but also their loved ones who provide care. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, it’s essential to have skilled legal representation to guide you through the complex legal landscape post-accident.
The personal injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier are here to help. We understand the profound impact of spinal cord injuries, and our team of dedicated Louisiana spinal cord injury lawyers will fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Spinal Cord Injuries Explained
These injuries are caused by damage to the spinal cord, a bundle of nerves that facilitates communication between the brain and the body. They are one of the most serious types of injuries one can suffer, which is why they are often referred to as a catastrophic injury.
Spinal cord injuries can cause loss of sensation, movement, and bodily functions below the injury site. They vary in severity and can be caused by several factors such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, violence, or medical conditions like tumors or infections.
Consequences of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause severe physical and emotional distress. Understanding the symptoms, effects, and costs associated with these injuries is vital for those seeking legal help in Louisiana.
Research shows that these injuries can lead to:
- Partial or total loss of motor function
- Chronic pain
- Pressure ulcers
- Paralysis
- Respiratory complications
- Cardiovascular issues
- Urinary and bowel complications
These physical limitations can greatly affect a person’s ability to work and live a fulfilling life.
In addition to physical and emotional challenges, spinal cord injuries also bring substantial financial costs. Medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, can pile up quickly. Moreover, individuals with spinal cord injuries may need assistive devices, home modifications, and specialized therapies, all of which can add to the financial strain.
For spinal cord injury victims who suffer from paralysis, the lifetime costs are even more extreme. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that the lifetime costs of living with spinal cord injuries can range from $1,113,990 to $4,724,181, depending on the extent of the paralysis and the age of the injured person. Those figures do not include the indirect costs, such as lost income, work-related benefits, and overall productivity.
Why File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, filing a spinal cord injury claim can help secure the compensation you deserve. Otherwise, you might bear most of the costs your injury has caused.
Here’s why you should consider filing a claim:
1. Financial Compensation: A claim can help you recover financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and other related damages.
2. Holding Responsible Parties Accountable: By filing a claim, you hold the negligent parties responsible for their actions, potentially preventing similar accidents in the future.
3. Access to Resources: Filing a spinal cord injury claim gives you access to a network of resources that can support your recovery. Your lawyer can connect you with medical professionals, therapists, and other experts who specialize in spinal cord injuries.
What to Do After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury
Taking the appropriate steps after an injury puts you in a stronger position once it’s time to demand compensation. This is true whether you were injured in a vehicle crash, a slip-and-fall accident, or any other hazardous environment.
After suffering a spinal cord injury accident:
Seek Medical Attention: Though spinal cord injuries are often immediately apparent after an accident, sometimes the adrenaline and shock that victims experience masks the true extent of an injury. It’s important to always seek medical attention after any type of accident. This not only ensures your well-being but also creates documentation for your injury if you need to file a claim.
Document the Accident: To help establish the cause of your injury, it’s helpful to provide documentation. For example, if you’re able to take pictures of the broken flooring that led to your fall, the photos could later be used as evidence to establish a business owner’s liability. It’s not always possible for injured people to do this. You can ask someone with you to document the scene or speak to your lawyer to gather evidence.
Consult With an Attorney: Even if you’re not certain you want to file an injury claim, you can still put yourself in a position to get maximum compensation by speaking with an attorney. They can evaluate your case to determine whether you have a valid claim and advise you on what to do and what not to do to strengthen your chances of a favorable outcome.
Securing Damages for Spinal Cord Injuries
When dealing with spinal cord injuries, getting compensation for the damages you’ve suffered is crucial to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs.
Damages may include:
- Medical Expenses: Covers all healthcare costs associated with the spinal cord injury, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and any future medical needs
- Lost Wages: Compensates for income lost due to the inability to work following a spinal cord injury, including potential future earnings
- Pain and Suffering: Acknowledges the physical pain and emotional distress caused by a spinal cord injury, compensating for the non-economic impact on the victim’s life
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensates for the diminished ability to enjoy hobbies, activities, and day-to-day pleasures due to limitations imposed by the spinal cord injury
- Loss of Consortium: Offers compensation for the adverse effects on the victim’s relationships with their spouse or partner due to the spinal cord injury, including loss of companionship and support
To recover damages, it must be proven that another party’s negligence or wrongful actions directly caused the injury. This can be challenging and requires gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and presenting a strong case.
In Louisiana, there is a statute of limitations of just one year for filing a spinal cord injury claim. So, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced Louisiana spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the designated timeframe.
Selecting the Right Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
When finding the right legal representation for your spinal cord injury case in Louisiana, choose a lawyer with the necessary qualities and experience. Look for a lawyer who specializes in personal injury law, has a track record of success in spinal cord injury cases, and maintains open communication.
Most personal injury attorneys, like those at Dudley DeBosier, offer free consultations. Take advantage of the opportunity to speak with experienced lawyers. You can determine how comfortable you feel with the lawyer and, most importantly, how much you’d trust them to handle your case.
Contact Our Louisiana Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today
If you’re looking for a spinal cord injury lawyer in Louisiana, schedule a free consultation with Dudley DeBosier. We’ll review the details of your case and help you determine your next steps. We have offices located across the state, including locations in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, Houma, and Denham Springs.
Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation case review.
