“John” seemed to be OK just after the accident occurred. He thought he was not injured and would be just fine. The following day, however, John woke up in a lot of pain. He couldn’t move his neck. Things just got gradually worse for John from that day forward. He started experiencing tingling sensations and he felt pain shooting down his arms.
Sometimes, parts of his body would go numb and he could not feel his fingers.
John went to a doctor and learned that he had broken discs in his back. There was a chance that a chiropractor could help. Shots to ease the pain and reduce inflammation were also a possibility. There was a strong chance that John would require surgery, however. There was also the possibility that the accident caused permanent damage to his body.
Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Road traffic accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. They make up nearly half of all spinal injury cases. The next common is falls. Falls account for approximately 15% of spinal cord injuries.
Common Injuries To The Spinal Cord
Whiplash is one of the most common types of spinal cord injuries. It happens when the neck is jerked forward or backward too quickly. Whiplash can cause damage to the muscles and tendons in the neck. It can cause pain, severe headaches, and loss of mobility. Whiplash symptoms can take weeks or even months to develop. There are approximately 3 million new cases of whiplash in the United States every year.
Bulging discs occur when a disc is damaged or has a disease, which causes the outer layer of the disc to bulge out evenly all the way around. Think of a hamburger sticking out because it is too big for the bun.
Herniated discs stick out farther than bulging discs. They are more likely to cause pain and more likely to irritate nerve roots.
Herniations and bulges can be seen with MRIs, but not with x-ray.
The success of any legal matter depends on the unique circumstances of each case, therefore, we cannot guarantee particular results for future clients.
Another common spinal cord injury is stretched ligaments. Doctors call this ligament laxity. The ligaments around the spinal cord act as a protective sheath. Ligaments can be damaged. Fractures involving the spine often mean nerve damage, paralysis, and even quadriplegia.
Difficulty Settling Claims
The insurance company will do what they can to avoid paying the victim. They will try to blame a spinal cord injury on something other than the car accident or the slip and fall. They might even try to blame it on age when the victim is an older person.
Many insurance companies will also hire doctors to testify against the victim; these doctors unethically agree to do so in order to earn money. Insurance companies know every trick in the book and will try them all. You will probably need an experienced spinal cord injury attorney to deal with them.
What You Deserve
A spinal cord injury could potentially have a devastating impact on your life. It could leave you experiencing pain for the rest of your life. Spinal cord injuries can also leave you less mobile than you were. You might even be forced to use a wheelchair for the rest of your life.
Our team will look for a settlement that considers all you have lost. You will be compensated for any lost quality of life the accident caused. You will also be compensated for any lost earnings.
You also deserve all the treatment that will help you recover as much as possible. This could include surgeries and long-term rehabilitation. We will push for a settlement that covers all of your financial costs. You will not need to worry about paying for anything. The insurance company will directly pay your medical providers.
How Our Tampa Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Will Help You
Spinal cord injury cases need to be pursued aggressively. Expert radiologists should diagnose spinal cord injuries. Their expert advice is then needed to convince the insurance company of what they must pay. However, insurance companies generally will not agree to a reasonable settlement out of court.
If no agreement is reached, we need to take them to court. Medical experts will then be needed to convince the jury of the right financial compensation for your case.
It is necessary to build a picture of how much the victim has suffered as a result of the accident. How much pain is he or she in? What can they no longer do that they could before? Can he or she still play sports?
Can they play with their kids? We can record the victim explaining how sad they are over no longer being able to do what they loved. We can also record their families explaining how the victim’s life has changed. This is very powerful in explaining to the jury just what the victim and his or her family are going through. This will help the jury decide on a suitable settlement.
Our team will build your case for the best possible outcome for you. We will not accept lowball offers from insurance companies. We will persist in getting the settlement you deserve. We will leave no stone unturned. Our team will do all the hard work for you. You are left to focus on your recovery and enjoying your life as much as you can.
Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injury In Tampa FL
I. Household Accidents
It the homeowner’s job to ensure the safety of the people they invite into their homes. This means that if an accident happens in a home, the homeowner may be responsible. In “legalese,” this is known as premises liability. This covers a wide range of accidents, including slips, falls, burns, and poisonings.
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to warn his or her visitors about any potential hazards, such as slippery surfaces, loose tiles, or even dangerous pets. However, we do not usually want to make a claim against our friends or family members. There is some good news, though. In household accident cases, a case is not usually made against the homeowner directly. Instead, a claim will usually be made against the homeowner’s insurance carrier.
It is up to the insurance carrier to make the settlement, not the homeowner.
II. Accidents In Public Places
Accidents often occur in public places such as retail stores, entertainment venues, and restaurants. Slippery floors and other hazards often lead to falls. The high impact of a slip and fall can cause spinal cord injuries that require expert medical care. As with household accidents, it is usually the owner or manager of the business who is liable.
The same legal doctrine of premises liability applies. Business owners and managers have a higher duty of care than homeowners, however. Store owners and their management are legally bound to regularly inspect the premises to ensure it is safe for their patrons. If it can be shown that the premises were not thoroughly inspected, you have a strong case.
III. Medical Malpractice
Injuries can be caused, or made worse, through medical procedures. This most often happens during surgeries. It is up to doctors to ensure that their patients are safe during procedures.
Doctors rarely, if ever, wish to harm their patients. Many injuries during medical procedures are caused by genuine errors. Others, however, are caused by a doctor’s negligence. Greed, impatience, ego, or other factors might encourage a doctor to perform a procedure for which he or she is not sufficiently trained to perform.
If a doctor is shown to not have acted with reasonable prudence (which includes lacking the appropriate training and experience to perform a procedure), he or she can be found negligent. If a doctor has been found to be negligent, the victim can claim money from the doctor’s medical malpractice carrier. However, as you can imagine, medical malpractice cases are difficult if not impossible to win without an experienced attorney’s assistance.
IV. Car Accidents
Most spinal cord injuries are caused by a car accident. Our Tampa auto accident team is skilled in spinal cord injury litigation. Insurance companies will immediately try to determine who caused the accident. The insurance company of the party “at fault” is legally responsible for paying the victim(s).
If more than one driver is to blame, the liability for compensation is shared. Such cases usually take a long time to settle.
Tampa, Florida Has Some Of The Best Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centers In The Country. Tampa Also Has An Array Of Highly Skilled Neurosurgeons.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our Tampa spinal cord injury attorneys offers a free consultation. You will not pay us any fees until your case is settled. Our lawyers are available 24/7. Don’t delay.
