Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are damages to the spinal cord or its nerves. These are often caused by a sudden blow or trauma to the spine. SCI’s are often very serious and can cause permanent and debilitating pain for the victim. Suffering spinal cord injuries comes with a lot of uncertainty on what the future holds. Victims not only have to pay large medical bills while seeking treatment but also have to contend with tremendous amounts of pain and suffering. Furthermore, the emotional trauma and mental anguish that follows these injuries are often difficult, as the victim must adjust to a new way of life.
Sadly, severe neck and back injuries are a very common phenomenon in the United States. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), over 17,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries each year. These effects are devastating, especially when victims spend millions of dollars seeking treatment over their lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone has the financial ability to foot the bills related to these injuries. For this reason, it’s incredibly important that you work with a League City spinal cord injury lawyer to seek compensation from the person responsible for the accident. Reach out to an experienced catastrophic injury attorney to learn more about how to proceed with a claim.
Spinal cord injuries happen under different circumstances. For example, a person may fracture his or her spine in a vehicle collision, while another one may suffer the same in a fall or act of medical malpractice. Regardless of how a neck or back injury occurs, the outcome is often always the same: emotional anguish, financial losses, physical hardships as well as pain and suffering for the victim and their family. It’s for these reasons that our spinal cord injury lawyers in League City will take into account the full breadth of damages caused by the injuries.
Damages available in a claim may be economic or non-economic. Economic damages cover tangible losses that can be quantified into monetary terms. On the other hand, non-economic damages include intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of consortium, and lifestyle changes among others. In this article, we’ll look at the five major types of damages available for you in a spinal cord injury lawsuit.
Medical bills related to spinal cord injuries can quickly rise to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a short time. They often require lifetime treatment, and you must anticipate future medical costs when filing a claim. Our dedicated attorneys work with expert witnesses such as financial experts to assess your future economic damages related to the SCI.
If you can’t return to work due to your severe back injuries, our seasoned lawyers help you claim the wages you have lost and will lose in the future. In extreme cases where you can’t work at all for the rest of your life, we engage with economists who can project the value of lost future earnings. If your case goes to trial, we also bring these experts before the judge or jury to educate them on the impact of the economic ramifications you have suffered.
When filing a claim, most people overlook the emotional anguish aspect of an injury. No matter how much you open up to friends or family about your frustrations and grief, nobody can empathize with you effectively. It’s unimaginable to understand how spinal cord injury victims cope with the fact that they will probably live with this condition forever. To prove these damages, the testimony of your family members, friends, and coworkers, in addition to any mental health professional you consult, will be extremely helpful in showing the mental anguish you’ve endured.
Based on the nature of your injuries, you may have long-term physical pain and related problems. You may be unable to walk without pain, lift moderately heavy objects, or be able to sleep properly. Each of these shortcomings requires its own set of medications and therapy. These examples of pain and suffering are compensable and are often the largest category of damages.
Victims of spinal cord injuries aren’t the only ones who suffer. Spouses may also file a claim for loss of companionship and consortium. Without the input of a partner in taking care of the children and their source of livelihood, spouses face enormous challenges with the added responsibility.
An experienced League City spinal cord injury lawyer will be your ally when filing a claim for your damages. Personal injury cases for spine injuries are often very complex and can be difficult to navigate on your own. Moreover, regaining your health by seeking treatment should be your primary concern, and you cannot concentrate if you have to juggle between attending court sessions, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and following up with treatment. To make things easier for you and your case, our legal team available for you 24/7, ready to review and construct a strong case on your behalf. Call us today for a free consultation.
