Depending on the severity, a spinal cord injury can be one of the most harrowing experiences you or your loved one will face. An SCI can cause anything from temporary paralysis to permanent conditions like quadriplegia and puts you at a higher risk for future complications. Since the spinal cord is the major information highway for the body, damage to it often involves emergency treatment by a specialist that is very expensive. Additionally, ongoing treatment is also usually required with a spinal cord injury – resulting in a significant financial burden; but a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorney can help.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to the negligent actions of another individual or business, you should not have to shoulder such a significant financial burden. A skilled and compassionate attorney will be able to fight for maximum compensation in your SCI case so that you don’t have to worry.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Fort Lauderdale
What kind of SCI you sustain largely depends on the occurrences, forces, and conditions in and around the accident itself. It is important to remember that a puncture wound does not have to happen for a spinal cord injury to occur. Any amount of pressure or force to the cord itself or to the muscles and bone surrounding it can result in a severe SCI.
Injury Victim
There are a variety of spinal cord injuries, each with its own complications, including:
- Spinal Contusions
- Spinal Lesions
- Spinal Stenosis
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Central Cord Syndrome
- Anterior Cord Syndrome
- Conus Medullaris Syndrome
- Brown-Séquard Syndrome
- Partially-Severed Cord
- Nearly Completely-Severed Cord
These injuries can cause anything from temporary or minor motor dysfunction to full-on paralysis in the form of paraplegia, tetraplegia, or quadriplegia. All of them cause tremendous financial and emotional burdens. An experienced Broward County personal injury attorney will be able to treat your case with special care and fight hard for the restitution you deserve.
Types of Broward County Auto Accidents Resulting in SCI
Motor vehicle accidents are responsible for 40% of spinal cord injuries across the United States. Typically, more severe crashes will result in more severe injuries. However, any instance where the spinal cord is stretched, compressed, crushed, or bruised can result in SCI, including cases of severe whiplash. The following types of accidents are the most likely to cause spinal cord injury, especially at high speeds:
- Side-Impact or T-Bone Collision
- Vehicle Rollover
These kind of accidents typically involve the most movement of the neck, spine, and spinal cord by sudden forced motion and/or impact. All of these accidents have the potential to be caused by another motorist’s actions as a negligent or reckless driver, or a driver who is under the influence. If this is the case for your accident and subsequent SCI, contacting a compassionate, skilled Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer could increase your chances for more favorable compensation.
Costs and Recoverable Damages in Weston Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are extremely expensive to treat, rehabilitate, and provide ongoing care for – this is especially true if any type of paralysis is involved. The first year, a case of incomplete motor function, paraplegia, or quadriplegia costs in the 100s of thousands of dollars, with high quadriplegia care coming close to one million.
In subsequent years, incomplete motor function and paraplegia are in the 10s of thousands, low quadriplegia is in the $50,000 range, and high quadriplegia still comes out in the 100s of thousands.
These expenses add up due to factors including:
- EMT/Ambulance bills
- Hospital bills
- Specialist care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Home attendant care
- Medical equipment
- Specialized supplies
- Specialized medicine
- Funding for emerging assistive technology
All of these are recoverable damages in the case of the injured person under Florida law. The person may also be able to pursue punitive damages like pain and suffering depending on his or her case. Additionally, the injured person’s spouse or other close loved one may also be able to pursue damages like loss of intimacy, loss of consortium, and loss of household services. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney will be able to guide you through the process and fight for appropriate damages in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries in Florida
How Much is my Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
Because every case is different, it is impossible to say how much your case is worth without discussing it thoroughly with your attorney. Some factors that may affect the overall value of your case are:
• The length of time of your total or partial disability.
• The amount of your medical bills and whether any of your injuries are permanent.
• Whether or not you are partially responsible for the accident/injury.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Personal Injury Claim?
The Statute of Limitations, or time limit after an accident that you have to make a claim, is different for every state. In Florida, the statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits and medical malpractice suits is 2 years.
How Much Does Lisa S. Levine P.A. Charge For Their Services?
In the end, the size and complexity of your case determine the final cost. But rest assured; we don’t get paid until you do. We work on a contingency basis, which means that you will only pay legal fees if you win your case.
Get Help from the Best Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury due to the fault of another, you have suffered enough. Lisa Levine of Lisa S. Levine P.A. has over 35 years of experience fighting for justice in personal injury cases like yours. Lisa and her legal team at Lisa S. Levine P.A. are driven by the compassionate motivation to help people in need. Furthermore, she is highly experienced in personal injury cases involving serious injury and is heavily involved in sharing her knowledge with the legal community on that matter.
Contact the compassionate spinal cord injury attorneys at Lisa S. Levine P.A. to learn more about your legal options. Your first consultation is free, and we don’t get paid until you do as we operate on a contingency fee basis. We’re proud to serve the areas of Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Aventura, Coral Gables, Hollywood, and Sunrise, so call (954) 256-1820 to schedule your free and honest initial consultation today.
