Valencia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Out of every injury you can sustain in an accident, a spinal cord injury stands as one of the most devastating and life changing injuries a person can receive due the spine’s limited ability to absorb force and impact. Should you or a loved one sustain a spinal cord injury, it is important that you hire an experienced lawyer to help you file a claim and navigate through the legal system.

Depending on the severity of the injury, you may face a number of physical, emotional, and financial challenges that may take your focus away from your claim. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to take on your case and fight for you. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience and our dedicated team of attorneys understand the complexities of a spinal cord injury claim and are confident that they can get you the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we will continue to fight for their rights and represent their best interests while they focus on recovery. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury from a car accident or due to a person’s ill intent, our team is available 24/7 to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

What Is A Spinal Cord Injury?

A traumatic spinal cord injury is referred to as the damage to the spine and/or the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that sends and receives signals from the brain. While the severity of the injury will vary on a case-by-case basis, most spinal cord injuries can be categorized either into one of two categories: Complete or Incomplete.

Complete

A complete spinal cord injury is when an accident has completely severed the nerve connections from the spine to the brain and, as a result, there is a complete loss of muscle movement and feeling. This classification is one of the most serious injuries victims can face, because complete injuries are permanent and the chances of recovering from one are extremely rare and very costly.

Incomplete

An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord has lost some nerve connections, but is still able to send partial commands from the brain to the rest of the body. Depending on the location of the injury, those who have sustained incomplete injuries would mean that they lose partial control and feeling on certain body parts and organs. In terms of recovery, spinal cord injury victims have a better chance at recovery compared to those with complete injuries.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

According to a spinal cord injury fact sheet from the World Health Organization, fall accidents and car accident cases are leading causes of spinal cord injuries. After that violent incidents, workplace accidents, and sports-related injuries are the next leading causes of spinal cord injuries. However, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) has reported in a fact and figure report that there is an average of 302,000 people in the United States who are living with a severe spinal cord injury. In addition, the average cost to treat a spinal cord injury is around $54,000 per year.

With such a high cost of recovery, these medical bills can potentially push a person’s finances to their absolute limits and can generate enormous stress for them and their loved ones. So if you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you can file a claim and get the rightful compensation you deserve. However, in the event of catastrophic accidents where the victim has perished, then you and your family members can appropriately file wrongful death claims to get justice and compensation.

What Should You Do If You Sustain a Spinal Cord Injury?

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident, it is important that you stay calm and properly assess the situation to the best of your abilities. If the accident is extremely severe and you additional assistance, then you must call 911 and have first responders take control of the situation. Until they arrive, do your best to treat your severe injuries and if possible, help others if they need immediate medical attention.

It is also important to document the accident as much as possible and exchange contact information with every person involved in the accident. This will be vital, should you wish to file personal injury lawsuits at a later time. Once first responders have arrived and your injuries are getting treated, be sure to ask for copies of important and relevant documents pertaining to the accident in question.

This can take the form of medical bills, police reports, witness statements, and security camera footage. After you have gathered all the evidence that you can gather, you can take it to an accident attorney and they will determine the value of your claim, what legal challenges you may face, and whether or not you can pursue a fair settlement for your injuries.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered spinal cord damage from an accident and want to file a personal injury claim, the process may prove to be more complex than you expect. This is one of the reasons why you should hire an attorney to represent you, because with an experienced lawyer by your side you can ensure your chances of recovering compensation for your damages.

In fact, a qualified accident attorney can help process paperwork, conduct a thorough investigation to gather evidence, negotiate on your behalf, represent you in court, and even give you legal advice when you need it the most. This will be particularly helpful especially in situations where you need to negotiate against opposing counsel or even insurance adjusters who will do their best to minimize the damages in order to save costs.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim

According to section 335.1 of California’s Code of Civil Procedure, the statute of limitations for all personal injury claims must be made within two years of the accident date. If accident victims fail to file a claim within that time frame, then under California law, the statute of limitation takes into effect and they would not be able to recover any damages for the accident.

This rule is extended to all parties and there are no exceptions unless the victim is a minor, in jail, legally insane, living out-of-state, or disabled. With that in mind, if you have suffered spinal cord injuries or even life altering injuries, it is vital that you get started on your claim as soon as possible, because depending on the nature of your incident, the process may take longer than expected.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

Generally, most lawyers operate under a contingency system where they would only charge a flat fee for their services. However, they can only charge this fee if they either win their case or receive a settlement offer from opposing counsel. Should they achieve either scenario then the fee can range anywhere between 25% to 40%, but most attorneys would average around 33%. Considering how an experienced attorney can either make or break your chances to seek compensation, it is important that you consult with different attorneys and see which one can help you with your personal injury case.

Recoverable Damages In a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit

Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, accident victims are eligible to recover either economic, non-economic, or punitive damages. While trying to determine the value of your claim can be a tedious and even complex task, it is highly recommended to get a rough estimate either by consulting with an attorney or by using a personal injury settlement calculator by applying the expenses you incurred. By understanding how much your claim is, you can have a better understanding of what you can recover.

Economic

Economic damages are referred to as calculable losses that can be recovered for a specific value. For example, damages such as medical expenses, quality of life adjustments, lost wages, physical therapy, and property damage are all unexpected costs that typically arise in spinal cord injury cases. As these costs can potentially become extremely high and exorbitant, an accident victim can file a claim to receive fair compensation for their injuries, especially if they have sustained a permanent injury like paralysis.

Non-Economic

Non-economic damages are referred to as incalculable losses that can be recovered for a varying value. These damages are designed to compensate victims for any kind of subjective suffering they have suffered as a result of the accident. For instance, pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life are all subjective and very difficult to objectively place a definitive value on. As a result, attorneys will need to gather evidence that the victim’s mental state has significantly dropped due to the accident in question.

Punitive

Punitive damages are a rare form of damages that is intentionally designed to punish the at-fault party for their actions. Much like non-economic damages, the monetary value of punitive damages will vary based on the severity of the incident. However, for punitive damages to be served, the accident in question must have been conducted with extreme recklessness, negligence, or ill will. Typically, the court will issue punitive damages to set legal precedence and to deter any possible incidents that may be similar.

West Coast Trial Lawyers is Here to Help

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence then you may be entitled to recover compensation. As spinal cord injuries can take a huge physical, emotional, and even financial toll on a person, it is absolutely vital that you seek out a Valencia personal injury lawyer who will look out for your best interests.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of spinal cord injury attorneys are ready to take on your case and serve as your personal representative during this stressful time in your life. With over 20 years of legal experience, our team of attorneys handle every case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves.

As a result of our team’s dedication, we have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation for our clients and they are confident that they can get you the compensation you deserve for your losses. Considering how complex a spinal cord injury lawsuit can be, our legal team will do everything they can to guide our clients throughout the legal process and answer any questions or concerns they have about their case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE initial consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by completing our easy online contact form.