There’s no such thing as a “minor” spinal cord injury because of the devastating consequences these injuries can have. These injuries frequently cause muscle weakness, issues with movement and coordination, and even paralysis. Your life could fundamentally change after such an injury, particularly if you can’t return to your old job. You’ll need help from a Southern California spinal cord injury lawyer to recover fair compensation and rebuild your life.
Dordick Law Corporation can provide the aggressive, comprehensive legal support you need. With nearly 40 years of experience in California law and billions recovered for our clients, we have the resources and knowledge to protect your rights and help you recover maximum compensation. Let us fight for you and handle the legal process while you rest and heal. You don’t owe any fees unless you win, so call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Southern California
A spinal cord injury turns your life upside down. If you’re dealing with partial or complete paralysis, everyday tasks become significant challenges. You may need help to get dressed, eat, or move around. Even if you’re not paralyzed, your movement or coordination may be compromised, limiting your activities.
Spinal cord injuries have serious consequences, often resulting in long-term physical, emotional, and financial hardships for injury victims and their families. Injury victims face unique challenges as they navigate recovery and seek the support and compensation they deserve.
As you’re dealing with these issues, your medical bills are quickly piling up. If you can’t work, lost income adds more financial stress. On top of that, you’re dealing with insurance companies that routinely delay or deny claims to protect their profits.
Finally, proving someone else caused your injury and showing its full impact on your life is challenging. Without proper evidence and knowing how to present it, you’re unlikely to recover the money you need.
What a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Southern California Can Do for You
At Dordick Law Corporation, we’re here to take the pressure off your shoulders so you can focus on healing. As a law firm with a proven track record, our spinal cord injury attorneys provide experienced legal representation for injured clients. Here’s how we can help:
- Investigate the Cause of Your Injury – We can dig deep into the accident to identify who caused your injuries. That means reviewing police reports, gathering medical records, inspecting the accident scene, and talking to witnesses. If needed, we can bring in experts to reconstruct what happened and determine who’s to blame for your injuries.
- Calculate the Full Value of Your Losses – Your spinal cord injury claim isn’t just about covering today’s bills. Our law firm collaborates with medical experts, doctors, life care planners, and financial experts to measure your future needs. These needs may include ongoing treatment, mobility aids, lost earning capacity, and home modifications. By including these costs in your spinal cord injury claim, we aim to capture the complete picture of the harm you’ve suffered.
- Stand Between You and the Insurance Companies – You don’t have to worry about answering an insurer’s calls or responding to their letters. We can handle all communication and push back when they try to downplay your injury or pressure you into a fast settlement.
- Fight for Fair Compensation (Inside or Outside of Court) – We can negotiate aggressively to help you win a fair settlement. If the other side won’t take responsibility for your injury, we’ll take your case to trial. We prepare for every claim as if it’s going to court, so we’re always ready for what comes next.
- Guide You Through the Entire Process – The legal system can be overwhelming if you’ve never been involved in a civil case. We walk you through each stage, answer your questions clearly, and keep you informed from start to finish. You’ll never be left guessing about what comes next.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Doctors classify spinal cord injuries in several ways. Spinal cord injuries often result from damage to the spinal column, including its ligaments, discs, or vertebrae. One approach is to look at the severity of the damage to the spine:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries – A complete injury means the spinal cord can no longer send nerve signals below the damaged area because the spine is entirely severed. You lose all feeling and movement below the injury site. These injuries usually affect both sides of the body equally.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries – With an incomplete injury, some nerve signals can still get through. You may retain partial feeling, movement, or function below the nerve site. Incomplete injuries may preserve some motor or sensory function below the injury site. Symptoms vary depending on the injury’s severity and location. In some cases, these injuries affect one side of the body more.
Another way doctors categorize spinal cord injuries is by the location of the injury along the spine:
- Cervical Spine (Neck Area) – These are the most severe spinal cord injuries. A cervical spine injury can cause paralysis in the arms, legs, and trunk. (Doctors call this condition quadriplegia or tetraplegia.) An injury to the spine usually affects your breathing, speaking, and bladder control. Injuries at this level can also impact the abdominal muscles, which are important for breathing and core stability.
- Thoracic Spine (Upper to Middle Back) – Thoracic spine injuries often affect the chest, midsection, and legs, while arm and hand function usually remain intact. (The term for this condition is paraplegia.) Some people may need a wheelchair, but they typically retain their upper body strength.
- Lumbar Spine (Lower Back) – Lumbar spinal injuries impact the hips, legs, and possibly bladder and bowel control. Arm function usually stays normal. Some people with these injuries may walk with braces or need a wheelchair.
- Sacral Spine (Pelvic Area) – These injuries often affect the thighs, hips, and pelvic organs. Most people can still walk, but they may struggle with bladder, bowel, or sexual function.
Common Causes of Southern California Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries typically result from severe physical trauma of some type. Few injuries are as devastating as those caused by external trauma, and accident victims often suffer severe spinal cord injury with serious injuries and long-term consequences. Some accidents that often cause these injuries include:
Car Accidents
Vehicle crashes are the top cause of spinal cord injuries due to how sudden impacts can damage the spine. Even a low-speed car crash can cause lasting damage if a driver’s or passenger’s neck or back twists the wrong way.
In these cases, identifying the at-fault party is essential for establishing legal responsibility and pursuing compensation for spinal cord injury victims.
Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents
Motorcycle and bicycle riders have little protection in a crash, as hitting the pavement or another vehicle often results in severe spinal trauma. Similarly, many riders have suffered spinal cord injuries after being thrown from the bike.
Falls
Falls from ladders, rooftops, stairs, or uneven surfaces are particularly dangerous. Older adults face a greater risk of falling due to bone weakness and balance issues.
Falls are also a leading cause of new spinal cord victims each year.
Violence
Gunshots, knife wounds, and blunt-force trauma can damage or sever the spinal cord. These injuries often occur suddenly and cause lasting paralysis.
Individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury due to violence may face unique legal and medical challenges.
Sports Injuries
Football, diving, gymnastics, and extreme sports carry a high risk of spinal cord injuries. One bad fall or awkward hit can break vertebrae or compress the cord.
Spinal cord injuries from sports can be classified as a catastrophic injury because of their severe, life-changing impact.
Workplace Accidents
Construction, warehouse, and industrial jobs often involve heavy equipment, ladders, or unsafe conditions. A fall, crush injury, or machinery malfunction can cause permanent spinal cord damage.
Workplace accidents can leave spinal cord injury victims with permanent disabilities and significant financial burdens.
What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury
Calling 911 and seeking immediate medical attention are crucial after any spinal cord injury. Once you’ve done that (or if you’ve done so already), follow these steps to guard your legal rights:
- Follow Your Doctor’s Orders – Attend all follow-up visits, take your prescribed medications, and follow your treatment plans closely. Make sure to follow up with all relevant medical providers and ensure you receive appropriate medical care and medical treatment. Gaps in care can hurt your case by giving insurers a reason to question your injuries.
- Participate in Physical Therapy and Consider Home Health Aides – Engage in physical therapy as recommended to support your recovery and rehabilitation. Consider the support of home health aides for ongoing rehabilitation and daily assistance as needed.
- Keep Records of Everything – Save your medical bills, test results, prescriptions, and receipts for later use. Similarly, track your out-of-pocket expenses and travel for appointments so you can prove your financial losses from the accident.
- Document How Your Life Has Changed – Write down what you can’t do anymore, what causes you pain, and how your injury affects your daily routines. This evidence can help you claim compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Avoid Talking to Insurance Adjusters – Don’t give statements or accept a settlement without first seeking legal advice. Remember that insurance adjusters aim to pay you as little as possible.
- Stay Off Social Media – An insurer can use your posts, photos, or comments against you. Even innocent updates may weaken your claim, so you’re better off not posting anything.
- Talk to a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney – An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer in Southern California can explain your options, deal with the insurers for you, and protect your rights.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in California
People with spinal cord injuries often settle for less than their claim’s full worth because they don’t know how to evaluate their losses. A personal injury claim or spinal cord injury case can help victims recover both economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, and non economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. A spinal cord injury attorney in Southern California can calculate and document all the harm you’ve suffered to help you seek compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and reduced future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Damaged personal property (if applicable)
Deadline to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit
You have limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit for a spinal injury, so it’s vital to act quickly. Personal injury cases, especially those involving spinal cord injuries, require prompt action and may benefit from experienced trial attorneys who can take the case to court if necessary. The usual deadline is two years from the injury date, but you should talk to a Southern California spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible. Certain cases involve shorter timelines (such as claims against the government), and it takes time to gather evidence.
Contact Our Southern California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Dordick Law Corporation is ready to help you rebuild your life after a catastrophic injury such as a spinal cord injury. Call (310) 551-0949 now or complete our contact form for a free consultation. Our law firm can ensure your rights are protected every step of the way. Our team of lawyers can get you the compensation you deserve.