Rancho Mirage Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injuries are life-changing. An injured person and their family must make major adjustments in many cases.
When a spinal cord injury results from another party’s carelessness, an individual could claim compensation from the negligent parties. If you sustained spine damage in an accident, a catastrophic injury attorney could explain how seeking reimbursement might help you and your family move forward.
Talk to a Rancho Mirage spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. They could provide the information and resources you need to take legal action.
Health Impacts of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord harm typically limits functioning below the site of the damage. The spinal cord contains nerves that provide communication between the brain and the rest of the body. People with spine injuries lose sensation, muscle control, and movement below the point where the damage disrupts this communication.
Although the loss of sensation and movement is the most obvious result of a spinal cord injury, secondary conditions could significantly impact a person’s health and quality of life. Spine damage could cause:
- Pressure sores
- Loss of sexual function
- Depression and anxiety
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Neurogenic bowel
- Spasticity
- Chronic pain
- Respiratory difficulties
Spinal cord injuries could also strain the heart, leading to cardiovascular issues. A lawyer in Rancho Mirage will carefully review medical records to understand how a spinal cord injury’s secondary impacts affect an injured person’s health. A negligent party is potentially responsible for compensating all an injury’s consequences.
Identifying Negligent Parties Responsible for Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries almost always result from accidents, and negligence is the root of most accidents. An attorney in Rancho Mirage could review the circumstances of an accident and identify potentially responsible parties who might be liable for spinal cord damage.
If an injury resulted from a vehicle accident, the negligent parties could include other drivers, the drivers’ employers, vehicle manufacturers, local governments if road conditions were a factor, and a bar or restaurant if a driver was drunk. If a fall led to a spine injury, the owner of the premises might be liable. An injured person could hold the treating physician, hospital, and other healthcare providers responsible when a medical error leads to spinal cord damage.
Sometimes multiple parties are responsible for an accident that leads to a spinal cord injury, including an injured person. If an individual’s conduct was a factor in the accident, California Civil Code § 1714 does not allow them to collect 100 percent of their damages. However, they can receive the portion attributable to others’ behavior.
Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
The cost of treating and learning to live with a spinal cord injury is beyond the means of most people, even if they have excellent health coverage. Compensation could ease the transition of living with a spinal cord injury.
Reimbursement could cover medical treatment and all rehabilitative and mental health services a person might require. It could also pay for drugs, supplements, and alternative treatments that might bring relief. Damages could cover an adaptive vehicle and home renovations to accommodate a wheelchair. If an injured person requires at-home nursing or help with daily activities, they could include those costs in their demand for compensation.
A negligent individual could also need to pay for an injured person’s diminished quality of life. An individual could seek damages for their pain, inability to engage in activities they enjoy, mental anguish, embarrassment, and disability. Family members could seek reimbursement for loss of companionship, support, and consortium. A lawyer in Rancho Mirage will get to know an injured person and their family to understand how a spinal cord injury has changed the way they function and seek damages accordingly.
Pursue Damages After a Spinal Cord Injury with a Rancho Mirage Attorney
A spinal cord injury is a tragedy. Through hard work and access to care and services, people can and do have meaningful and fulfilling lives after spinal cord damage. Reach out to a Rancho Mirage spinal cord injury lawyer as quickly as possible after an accident. They could provide information on helpful resources and legal advice. Call today to discuss your claim.
