The after-effects from an accident resulting in spinal cord damage may last a lifetime. Your mobility may be compromised, often leading to paralysis, depending on the location of your spinal damage. Not only is your physical health impacted, but your emotional health dealing with this devastating outcome, and your financial health if you cannot work to support your family.
The situation may feel even more frustrating if another person acted recklessly. Our legal team believes people who breach the standard of care should pay for the damage they do. A catastrophic injury attorney could help if you are in an accident you did not cause that left you with a severe back or neck injury. A Walterboro spinal cord injury lawyer could explain how you might qualify for compensation from the person who harmed you.
Common Spinal Cord Injuries
People in motor vehicle accidents suffer about half the head and neck trauma in the country each year. Drunk drivers are often involved in accidents resulting in spine damage. Other causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Slip and falls
- Falls at construction sites
- Violent attacks, including shootings
- Fast-paced recreational activities like skydiving or horseback riding
- Contact sports like football
These injuries require immediate medical attention to avoid further damage to the spinal cord. Once a patient’s condition is stabile, they should consult a Walterboro attorney to discuss how to legally proceed for compensation from the party that caused the spine injuries.
Types of Spine Injuries
The first determination medical professionals will make is where the damage falls, called an assessment of completeness. Patients with some feeling in their limbs and extremities and motor function have incomplete injuries. Complete injuries occur when no sensation or motor function is detected. Patients with paralyzed lower bodies have paraplegia, while those with entire paralysis are quadriplegic.
These devastating injuries require a lifetime of specialized care. The patient will need retrofitted homes and vehicles and may need daily nursing care, all of which is expensive.
Financial problems should not weigh a person down when dealing with this life-changing event. Legal counsel will explore all avenues to get an individual the reimbursement needed to live a comfortable life. A legal representative often starts with insurance negotiations, but if an adjuster does not offer a fair settlement, a lawyer in Walterboro could file a spinal cord injury lawsuit for compensatory damages.
Pursuing Financial Compensation After Spine Damage
Securing the money needed to pay medical bills, replace lost wages, and acknowledge the psychological trauma suffered in an accident, begins with a person’s representation proving the at-fault party was negligent. This means the party acted unreasonably, causing the accident that injured the victim.
A spinal cord damage lawyer in Walterboro will study the medical and police reports, interview witnesses, take an individual’s statement about what happened, and review any photos or video surveillance tapes. A legal professional may call expert witnesses to testify.
Statute of Limitations in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
People who intend to file injury lawsuits must do so within a certain time determined by law. Allowing too much time after an accident enables evidence to be lost and witnesses to disappear. Memories fade over time. Pursuant to South Carolina Code Section 15-3-530 (5), the law imposes a three-year timeframe from the date of an accident or the discovery of an injury to file a claim. Individuals must file cases against government bodies within two years. Consult an informed legal representative for help filing a suit.
A Walterboro Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Could Help
We understand how your life will change after a catastrophic injury. Whetstone Perkins & Fulda has handled many cases similar to yours. We have made it our mission to alleviate the worries you may have navigating the insurance companies’ procedures or the court system. Our team can handle the legal work while you concentrate on your health and family because a spine injury requires your complete attention.
If you were injured in an accident because of someone’s negligent or reckless behavior, call our office. A Walterboro spinal cord injury lawyer could fight aggressively to secure the compensation you need.
