Most injuries that result from daily accidents are minor, and the accident victim recovers fairly quickly. Spinal cord injuries, however, are severe injuries that are almost always serious, permanent and costly to treat, both immediately after the accident and in the long-term. There is no question that spinal cord injuries can change people’s lives forever.
When a person suffers a spinal cord injury as a result of an accident that was caused by someone else, they are left to bear many consequences. These include the costs of recovery, the permanence of their injury, and the emotional distress of having to now live a very different life from the one they knew before the accident.
While the situation can seem dire, there is help available. When the spinal cord injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, they can be held liable for paying damages related to the injury. If this is your situation, a St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer can help you claim compensation. Further, a compassionate personal injury lawyer can guide you through every step of the legal process.
Proving Fault in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Spinal cord injury lawsuits are often based on the legal concept of negligence. Negligence occurs when a person does not use a reasonable amount of care to protect others and keep them from harm. Depending on the circumstances of a case, there can be many responsible parties in a spinal cord injury case.
If the accident was due to a faulty bicycle, for example, the bicycle manufacturer may be held liable for a defective part. A manufacturer is always responsible for ensuring their product is safe. If the accident was due to drunk driving, the drunk driver could be found negligent. The same is true for distracted drivers. This is because all drivers are responsible for driving in a way that keeps those around them safe.
Many accident victims do not think of filing a lawsuit because they believe they were partly to blame for the accident. However, it is important to understand that the laws of pure comparative fault apply in personal injury cases in St. Louis. This is a system that weighs the fault of one party against the other to determine the appropriate amount of compensation for each party.
Proving negligence in spinal cord cases can be difficult, especially when the case involves shared fault. A spinal cord injury lawyer in St. Louis could fight to prove that another person was entirely, or mostly, at fault for an accident to seek fair compensation on behalf of the claimant.
Compensation Available in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Obtaining compensation in a case that involves a spinal cord injury can be crucial to cover the costs of medical and rehabilitative expenses. Spinal cord injuries can cost well over $1 million dollars in the first year alone.
A spinal cord injury lawsuit can assist a claimant with demanding compensation for various types of damages. These may include compensation for:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Future transportation needs
- Equipment such as wheelchairs
- Decreased quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
A skilled lawyer can evaluate your medical records and work with medical providers and life planning experts to strengthen your claim.
Work with a St. Louis Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Spinal cord injury lawsuits can be challenging. An attorney can help with every step of the process and can help determine the full value of your damages. If the case goes to trial, an attorney can also communicate to the judge and jury the impact that the accident has had on your life.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury, you need to speak to a St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer right away. You may be entitled to compensation, so consult an attorney today who can discuss your case and begin building a strong legal strategy to pursue your claim.