Spinal cord injuries can occur in an instant, devastating the victims and their families.
In addition, medical costs over the course of the victim’s lifetime can be enormous. If you or someone you know has had a spinal cord injury, you know how difficult it is to have your life turned upside down. You may be entitled to damages from one or more parties. During this time, it is critical to have an experienced Illinois injury attorney by your side to help you understand your rights and guide you through the process.
This injury occurs when a traumatic event causes severe spine damage that results in the loss of movement, range of motion, or physical sensation. The spinal cord is a column of nerve tissue that is protected by the bones of your spine. It delivers messages between your brain and the rest of your body. Therefore, an injury to the spinal column may damage or destroy your brain’s ability to communicate with your body. The closer the injury occurs to your head, the more likely it will affect a larger area of your body.
Common spinal injuries include contusion, compression, and spinal fractures. Such injuries could produce side effects including severe depression, emotional trauma, and respiratory problems. Some spinal cord injuries can render a victim paralyzed, whether from the waist down (paraplegic) or from the neck down (quadriplegic).
Annually, the United States records approximately 12,500 new spinal injury cases each year. Many originate from slips and falls, car accidents, and personal injury accidents.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, common causes of this type of injury are:
A cord injury is a life-changing event and can be particularly traumatic if it occurs as an accident caused by another party. Recovery could take an extended period of time, and it is often very costly.
In spinal cord injury lawsuits, damages typically include compensation that goes above and beyond reimbursement for medical expenses and “pain and suffering.” These types of injuries can have permanent and life-altering effects. Because of this, a damages award can also include compensation for things like:
While some individuals can recover from spinal cord injuries with therapy and treatment, many may never recover and may need lifelong health care, which could prove extremely costly. According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, average expenses for cord injuries in the first year range from $334,170 to $1,023,924.
A cord injury is a life-changing event and can be particularly traumatic if it occurs as an accident caused by another party. Recovery could take an extended period of time, and it is often very costly.
In spinal cord injury lawsuits, damages typically include compensation that goes above and beyond reimbursement for medical expenses and “pain and suffering.” These types of injuries can have permanent and life-altering effects. Because of this, a damages award can also include compensation for things like:
While some individuals can recover from spinal cord injuries with therapy and treatment, many may never recover and may need lifelong health care, which could prove extremely costly. According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, average expenses for cord injuries in the first year range from $334,170 to $1,023,924.
Severity of Injury | First Year | Each Subsequent Year |
---|---|---|
High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) | $1,023,924 | $171,808 |
Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8) | $739,874 | $109,077 |
Paraplegia | $499,023 | $66,106 |
Incomplete motor function at any level | $334,170 | $40,589 |
Injury victims should not have to bear the financial burden of accidents that occurred by no fault of their own. We are committed to taking aggressive and immediate measures to hold the liable parties accountable for their actions and help you obtain the monetary settlement to which you are entitled.
Most spinal cord injury lawsuits are based on negligence. For example, an injury caused by negligence can occur when a car hits you while bicycling, or if you fall down a broken staircase. In these types of cases, you will need to prove that the party you are suing is legally responsible. Sometimes, there will be more than one responsible party. You may need to look to drivers, property owners, employers, and multiple insurance companies.
Our injury attorneys from Malman Law have vast experience identifying responsible parties and dealing with insurance companies. If we cannot reach a fair settlement for you, we have a top-notch team of litigation lawyers that will take your case to court. We have the skill and resources to secure the compensation you deserve.
A father of five tragically died when his tire treads failed, causing his vehicle to roll over. In addition to the driver, two other passengers died in the accident. A fourth passenger was rendered quadriplegic by the crash. $11,800,000.00 was the total settlement.
In this case, we were able to prove that the driver of a van was responsible for the death of a bicyclist even though our client and the driver of the van were deceased. Our client left a husband and two adult children.
Our client took medication for years after the accident to control the bleeding in his finger and avoid further complications. We demonstrated that our client had experienced severe and ongoing discomfort and obtained a settlement of $1 million in this auto accident case.
Settlement awarded to a 61-year-old woman who was struck by a taxi resulting in a broken knee that required surgery.