Falls, car accidents, construction site accidents, and other accidental injuries can result in a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries include a variety of injuries, from mild to traumatic. Some individuals might suffer from a herniated disc or pinched nerve, while other accident victims might sustain a fractured vertebrae or paralysis.
The devastating consequences of a spinal cord injury can cause long-term disabilities, substantial financial expenses, and a decrease in your quality of life. If you or a family member suffers a spinal cord injury, call Denver’s spinal cord injury attorneys at the Bendinelli Law Firm for a free consultation. Our legal team works diligently to hold the party or parties responsible for your spinal cord injury liable for their negligence and wrongdoing. Let our Denver personal injury attorneys help you recover the compensation you deserve after a spinal cord injury.
The Denver spinal cord injury lawyers of the Bendinelli Law Firm have the experience, skills and resources to investigate the incident or accident that resulted in your spinal cord injury.
Our goal is to recover maximum compensation for your claim. We know that money will not undo the injuries, pain, and suffering you have experienced. However, a monetary award for damages can help provide the personal care and medical care you need as you continue to learn how to cope with the devastation caused by a spinal cord injury.
There are various types of spinal cord injuries that can affect individuals. At the most basic level, these injuries are classified as “complete” or “incomplete.”
Complete. This defines a spinal cord injury that completely severs the spinal cord. Typically, a person with a complete spinal cord injury will be completely paralyzed from the site of the injury downward. Further defining complete spinal cord injuries, we can see:
Incomplete. This defines a spinal cord injury that does not completely sever the spinal cord. A person who experiences an incomplete spinal cord injury could suffer from various levels of disability, ranging from complete paralysis to very little disability at all. Further defining incomplete spinal cord injuries, we can see:
The damages you might recover after sustaining a spinal cord injury depend on the type of spinal cord injury and the severity of the injury. However, common damages recoverable in a spinal cord injury claim include, but are not limited to:
Our Denver spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to help you as you fight for justice after a tragic accident and injury.
If you are injured in an accident, seek immediate medical care for a spinal cord injury. Common symptoms or signs of a spinal cord injury include, but are not limited to:
The signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury depend on the severity of the injury and the type of injury. No two people experience a spinal cord injury in the same way. Therefore, if you have any unexplained symptoms after an accident or injury, see a doctor immediately.
The long-term effects of a spinal cord injury will inevitably depend on the type and severity of the initial injury and the effectiveness of treatment. Those who sustain complete spinal cord injuries (complete paralysis) will need life-long care. This will usually include in-home medical care. Additionally, those who sustain complete spinal cord injuries are much more likely to suffer from other types of injuries, such as genitourinary system problems, disease of the skin, as well as respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and musculoskeletal diseases.
Those who sustain incomplete spinal cord injuries may not suffer from the same extreme levels of disability, but that will be dependent on the type of injury and treatment.
Individuals who need to file a lawsuit against another party as a result of the spinal cord injury need to do so as quickly as possible. The overall statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Colorado is two years from the date an injury occurs. If a spinal cord injury victim in Denver fails to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party within this time frame, they will not be able to recover compensation for their losses.
However, there are often insurance carriers involved in these claims. In these cases, spinal cord injury victims need to be aware of any insurance carrier reporting deadlines because failing to file promptly could result in a claim delay or denial.
After the claim is filed, there are a few ways a settlement could come about. First, the vast majority of personal injury claims are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. If there are no hiccups in the claim, meaning fault is relatively clear, then the case could be resolved in his little as a few months. However, that is not often how these claims work. Because of the severe nature of spinal cord injuries, there is often an extensive investigation, and no victim should ever settle their claim until they know the full extent of the medical care they will need.
If the case does have to go to the civil court system, it could take a year or more to resolve. A spinal cord injury attorney will stay on top of all deadlines and court appearances for their client and remain in constant communication with their client about the progress of the case. Even though a civil lawsuit may take longer to resolve, this is often the best way to recover total compensation for a spinal cord injury victim in Denver.
Data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center tells a startling story of the total costs of these injuries. The first year of medical care alone can reach as much as $1.1 million for a complete spinal cord injury, but even a minor spinal cord injury can cost as much as $375,000 for the first year of care.
Each following year of medical care, for the remainder of the victim’s life, can cost anywhere from $45,000 to $200,000. And these are just the medical costs. We must also take other factors into consideration.
For example, spinal cord injury victims will inevitably need to make adjustments to their homes and vehicles to help with mobility, and this can see costs rising into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, there will likely need to be specific types of medical equipment to assist the individual, including medical beds, specialty wheelchairs, and more.
We must also examine the lost wages a person will endure as a result of their injury. Those who sustain severe injuries may no longer be able to work at all. Those who sustain less severe injuries may be able to return to work, but possibly not in the same capacity. Any spinal cord injury settlement or a jury verdict must include lost wages or lost earning capacity.
Finally, no discussion of the total costs of a spinal cord injury would be complete without examining the physical and emotional pain and suffering they ensure. These injuries completely change the path of a person’s life. They will no longer be able to participate in the same activities. They may not be able to interact with their family. Non-economic pain and suffering damages should always be included when working to obtain a fair settlement or jury verdict.
At the Bendinelli Law Firm, we want you to concentrate on recovering from your injuries and returning to your day-to-day life. Our spine injury attorneys and a team of legal professionals take care of the complicated legal issues related to a spinal cord injury claim. We deal with the insurance company and all other parties on your behalf.
Put our considerable experience, skills, and resources to work for you. Contact us today for your confidential and free initial consultation.
