One of the worse possible outcomes from a traffic collision is a spinal injury. If you or a loved one were involved in a crash that resulted in paralysis, sensory loss, or loss of bowel and sexual organ function because of trauma to the spinal cord, you need to seek out an experienced personal injury attorney to assist you in the legal process as you focus on your health. The Sarasota spinal injury attorneys at Hale Law will help you reach the best possible outcome with the insurance claims.
If you sustained any trauma to your spinal column (bone) or your spinal cord (nerves) during a traffic collision, you should seek immediate medical attention. It may require a CT scan and MRI to determine the extent of your injuries, as well as neurological testing. What might initially present itself as bruising or pain could be a spinal cord injury that, if left unstabilized, could leave you with permanent disability. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require surgery, a hospital stay, wheelchair, pain medication, or rehabilitation. Some spinal cord injuries are permanent; these are called complete injuries. According to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the average spinal cord patient is in the hospital for 11 days and in a rehabilitation facility for 31 days. However, the full cost of a spinal cord injury does not stop at medical expenses. Hidden costs include the extra expense of travel, living accommodations, medical equipment, assistive devices, home help care, and more. The first year cost of a high tetraplegia injury is $1 million. Low tetraplegia injuries cost $769,000 in medical expenses alone, while paraplegia costs roughly $518,000, according to Spinalcord.com. Even an injury which only produces incomplete motor function (some function is still left) costs $347,000 for the first year. In the years after, the expenses range from $184,000 to $42,000 annually depending on the severity of the injury and resulting disability. You need an experienced attorney who can recover the maximum possible amount of compensation for you to make the rest of your life as economically pain free as can be.
The party that caused the vehicle collision is considered at-fault and their insurance is responsible for paying damages to any victims of their negligent behaviors. The amount that will be awarded is dependant on the quality of their insurance policy, but you can seek damages for the following:
It is no small feat to recover from a spinal cord injury, and if you suffer permanent disability, it can alter how you live forever. The Sarasota spinal injury attorneys at Hale Law know that you are going through an emotional intense time and want to help you seek the best possible outcome for your future. Contact us at 561-277-3397 to schedule a free consultation about your traffic case.