Injuries to the spinal cord or the brain are among the most debilitating and require intensive medical treatment.
If you suffer from one of these types of injuries, choose a spinal cord injury attorney or a traumatic brain injury attorney. These lawyers have dealt with cases like this before and will ensure you win the best outcome.
Specialization in a spinal cord injury case is important. For example, a general practitioner will not know enough about SCI or TBI to help you properly deal with your situation.
In this article, you’ll discover all the information you need about spinal cord injuries. You will also learn how to legally prepare for debilitating spinal injuries.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Some traumatic events, such as car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and gunshot wounds, may cause spinal cord injuries. In addition, diseases like multiple sclerosis, cancer, infections, and strokes may also cause injury. Unfortunately, in some cases, doctors cannot determine the cause of a spinal cord injury.
An injury to the spinal cord interrupts the normal flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body. This causes paralysis and loss of sensation. As a result, you may lose movement or feeling in parts of your body.
Damage to the spinal cord can vary in severity. But that depends on the specifics of the injury. For example, some spinal cord injuries do not affect breathing, while others can lead to death.
How does a spinal injury affect your life?
Spinal cord injuries can cause problems like difficulty walking, balance issues, bladder and bowel incontinence, sexual dysfunction, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and even death. They can happen during sports activities, car accidents, falls, work-related incidents, violence, or medical procedures.
Life expectancy drops dramatically after a spinal injury. People who survive a spinal cord injury often face challenges such as chronic pain, muscle weakness, poor mobility, and limited independence. This makes it challenging to maintain employment, financial stability, and quality of life.
Ventilators can increase the lifespan of spinal cord injury victims from 1.5 years to 52.6 years for victims around 20 years old. However, these numbers depend greatly on the severity of the injury, age, and where the spinal cord damage occurred.
How does a spinal cord injury impact your body?
The spinal cord relays messages from the brain to the rest of the body. When injured, the result is paralysis or paralysis with limited mobility. A spinal cord injury can be fatal or cause permanent disability.
There are many different ways you can treat a spinal cord injury, including surgery, physical therapy, medication, and rehabilitation. It’s crucial to get prompt medical attention after sustaining a spinal cord injury.
How does a spinal injury affect your finances?
Spinal cord injuries are very severe and can cause life-long disabilities. They can leave you with a long list of medical expenses. You might lose your job and become unable to work. And even though you may receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, it won’t cover everything.
A spinal cord injury can leave your family financially devastated. If you’re injured, you could face huge medical bills and still be responsible for paying rent or mortgage payments.
Why You Need to Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
A spinal cord injury lawsuit involves many different types of injuries, including traumatic, degenerative, and congenital. If you suffer from one of these conditions, it is important to hire a spinal cord injury attorney immediately. This type of case requires special expertise and experience.
Be careful about choosing a lawyer who doesn’t specialize in SCI or TBI cases. These types of injuries are complex and often involve multiple parties. A general practitioner won’t understand the issues involved in such cases. He or she might try to settle your claim quickly and cheaply, even though you deserve better treatment.
Some aggressive insurance companies will try to take advantage of people who don‘t know what they are dealing with. They often do not provide adequate compensation for victims of spinal cord injuries.
Hiring an experienced law company for spinal cord injuries might help you avoid costly blunders. Having a lawyer at your side can help you navigate the system. It also safeguards your right to be treated fairly.
What Should I Do If I Sustain a Spinal Cord Injury?
If you sustain a spinal cord injury, quickly collect as much data as possible regarding the incident. Compose a detailed account of the experience, including your thoughts and feelings. You should include the time and place, how long ago it was, and the reasons behind the incident.
You should seek compensation if you are injured and believe that someone else is responsible. Then, retain legal counsel after the accident. A personal injury attorney can help protect your rights during negotiations with insurance companies.
Typically, insurance companies would want to make settlement payments as promptly and cheaply as possible. Therefore, your attorney will work hard to get you the compensation you are legally entitled to receive.
Who Do I Need to Notify About an Accident That Resulted In a Spinal Cord Injury?
Your employer should know about your injury immediately. You are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits under Arizona law. If you did not receive proper treatment for your injury, you could file a lawsuit against the negligent party responsible for causing your injury.
An experienced Arizona spinal cord injury attorney can help you navigate the complicated world of personal injury law and make sure you are properly compensated for your injuries.
How Should I Handle Paying My Medical Bills After a Spinal Cord Injury?
Medical bills associated with spinal cord injuries that cause incomplete motor functions can run into the millions. This is very important to remember if you don’t have medical insurance.
If you’re dealing with a serious injury, it’s important to know your options for paying your medical bills while you wait for your lawsuit to play itself out. Here are some things to consider:
1. Worker’s Compensation
Workers’ compensation covers most of your medical costs if you suffer an injury while working. You’ll receive benefits based on how much money you earn per week, and your employer must provide proof of coverage.
Your doctor will submit a bill to the insurer, and the insurer will reimburse you directly. You won’t owe anything to anyone else.
2. Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, you might be able to use your policy to cover your medical bills. Make sure you understand your plan’s deductible and co-pay requirements.
3. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
Those with limited means can still get medical care thanks to the AHCCCS. The AHCCCS may also offer additional assistance to those who are disabled.
Most people qualify for the program if they meet certain income guidelines. If you think you could be eligible for the AHCCCS program, contact the social services office in your state.
Who Is Liable for My Spinal Cord Injury?
If someone else’s carelessness directly caused your spinal cord injury, you may be eligible for damages. You can get money for things like medical bills, lost pay, and mental anguish. An Arizona spinal cord injury attorney will explain how to file a lawsuit against the negligent party.
Can I Still Get Compensation If My Spinal Cord Injury Happened at Work?
Injured workers can receive financial support through workers’ compensation programs. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive medical care, disability payments, and sometimes even funeral expenses.
In Arizona, the injured party is not allowed to sue their employer over workplace accidents if they receive workers’ compensation. However, you can still seek compensation from third-party insurers.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive for My Spinal Cord Injuries, and How Long Will It Take?
The compensation you receive after suffering a spinal cord injury may vary depending on a number of circumstances. These include the severity of your injuries, whether you suffered permanent damage, what type of medical treatment you received, and the length of time it takes to resolve your claim.
If your injury is particularly unique, the terms of the settlement process may shift accordingly. For example, some settlements come about quickly. Others may require months or even years of legal wrangling.
Get the Help That You Deserve from an Experienced Spinal Injury Attorney
A spinal cord injury lawyer knows what it takes to win a spinal cord injury lawsuit. They have dealt with similar instances before, so they understand the complexities involved. An experienced lawyer should be able to explain each aspect of a spinal cord injury claim and help you understand what to do next.
The best way to find out whether you have a valid spinal cord injury claim is to consult with an attorney. If you don’t have one, we recommend contacting Wade & Nysather today.
We offer free initial consultations. Our lawyers will answer all of your questions about spinal cord injuries. They will also inform you about how to proceed with legal action.
Even though you might feel like you don’t want to go to court, there are times when you must take legal action. Even if you have health coverage, you may still owe thousands of dollars in deductibles and co-pays.
Consult a spinal cord injury attorney to prevent this from happening. They can help you file claims against the responsible party, including filing lawsuits and negotiating settlements.
