The spinal cord contains many nerves that allow the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. It is one of the most vital parts of your body but is it also extremely sensitive. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are about 17,810 new spinal cord injury cases each year in the United States. Car accidents cause about 39% of those followed by falls which cause a little more than 32%. Injuries to the spinal cord can have long-term implications for your overall health. These types of injuries can require a significant amount of medical treatment and prevent you from working.
An accident resulting in a severe backbone injury can also impact those around you. For example, your whole family might experience financial instability due to expensive medical bills. If another person was responsible for the accident that led to your spinal cord damage, you can work with a skilled catastrophic injury attorney to fight for the compensation that you rightly deserve. Reach out to a Spring Hill spinal cord injury lawyer today to discuss your right to pursue legal action.
What Is the Spinal Cord and Why is Damage to it so Life-Altering?
Might sound like a rhetorical question, but the answer is important to understand why an accident cause so much damage. The spinal cord is comprised of a long network of nerve bundles. It runs through your back and is protected by the individual vertebrae of your spine. These nerve bundles are incredibly important, as they transmit electrical signals that control your movement, ability to feel, and ability to control many other aspects of your bodily functions. They also control involuntary reflexes like breathing, digestion, and more.
Any damage to the spinal cord or the nerves inside it can interrupt the signals between your brain and the rest of your body, hindering your ability to function. Given the importance of the spinal cord, you should seek immediate medical attention after suffering any injury to your back. Once you have gotten medical attention, your next step should be reaching out to a local attorney who understands and has experience handling spinal cord injury cases.
Causes and Types of Backbone Injuries
Your vertebrae are meant to protect your spine. However, any high-velocity impact or swift twisting motions can damage the vertebrae, leaving your spinal cord vulnerable to severe injury. Our Spring Hill lawyers see many spinal cord injury claims stemming from:
- Vehicle collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bike accidents
- Slip and falls
- Contact sports accidents
- Faulty product accidents
These types of incidents can lead to significant spinal cord injuries such as:
- Bruising
- Stretching and torsion
- Partial or total laceration
- Crushing
- Twisting
- Perforation by spine or other objects
- Spinal cord lesions
If you suffered any type of spinal cord injury after an accident, our skilled legal team can help you investigate the accident to determine if another person can be held liable.
How Do You Prove Fault in a Severe Back Injury Claim?
Almost all personal injury cases require you, the plaintiff, to prove the other party was negligent. An individual is negligent if:
- They owed you a duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- The breach caused an accident
- The accident caused you to suffer compensable losses
If you are not able to prove fault, you will not be able to collect damages from the other party. Even if you can establish negligence, the other party may claim you were partially responsible for the accident. This could lead to a reduced amount of compensation. A dedicated lawyer can help you navigate legal negligence in your back injury claim.
What Are the Advantages of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Spring Hill?
Spinal cord injury cases are much more complex than typical injury claims due to the severity of this type of medical condition. It is important to have a lawyer who understands the legal aspects of the claim and has the resources to help you succeed. For example, a seasoned attorney can help you seek out an expert witness who can testify to the cause of your specific spinal cord injury.
A knowledgeable attorney would also be able to keep you informed of the legal deadlines, such as the statute of limitations. As per Florida Statutes Annotated § 95.11(3), injured parties have four years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim. If you do not file in time, you will not be able to claim compensation.
It is also important to have a lawyer on your side in settlement negotiations. Insurance companies often have powerful teams of lawyers who will do everything in their power to limit the company’s responsibility for your damages. Attorney Mike Hancock can be a useful resource in these cases, as he has experience working in insurance defense.
Speak with a Spring Hill Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Spinal cord injuries can result in significant emotional and financial losses. The legal team at Hancock Injury Attorneys can work with you to fight for the restitution you need. If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury, call a Spring Hill spinal cord injury lawyer today to set up a free consultation.