Did you sustain a spinal cord injury in West Palm Beach, FL? Spinal cord damage can change your life forever–and you may have the right to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A skilled West Palm Beach spinal cord injury lawyer at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can help.
Our lawyers have been dedicated to recovering meaningful compensation for clients like you for over 28 years. We’ve successfully recovered tens of millions for accident victims across South Florida.
Contact our law offices in West Palm Beach, Florida, by calling us at (561)-556-7873 to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help After You Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury in West Palm Beach
If someone else caused your spinal cord injury, you deserve to hold them accountable. But it isn’t always easy to get the insurance company to hand over fair compensation. Instead, they’ll use every trick in the book to minimize your settlement award.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys can level the playing field.
We’ll help you get the fair compensation you deserve by:
- Investigating to locate all responsible parties
- Protecting your rights if the insurance company tries to blame you for the injury
- Hiring reputable experts and specialists
- Dealing with the insurance companies and defense lawyers
- Handling the administrative burden and paperwork involved in a personal injury claim
Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys have nearly three decades of experience. With our legal team in your corner, you’ll greatly increase your chances of recovering the money you need. If you’re ready to take the first step, give us a call today to schedule a free case review.
How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, about 17,810 Americans sustain a serious spinal cord injury each year. About 294,000 Americans are currently living with a spinal cord injury in the U.S.
Overview of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a column of bone (vertebrae) and nerves that runs from the base of the neck to the tailbone. The nerves in the spinal cord are responsible for communicating signals from the brain throughout the body.
Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete, as follows:
- A complete spinal cord injury results in permanent spinal cord damage and can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- An incomplete spinal cord injury leads to a partial loss of function, depending upon the severity of the injury and where it occurred.
Damage to the spinal cord can dramatically reduce your quality of life. If you were hurt, please contact Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers for legal advice, regardless of the type of injury you have suffered.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury
The spinal cord is divided into four primary sections. The severity of a spinal cord injury depends largely upon where the spinal cord was damaged. Damage that occurs higher up in the cervical or thoracic spine tends to be more serious than damage to the lower lumbar or sacral spinal cord.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we can help with all types of spinal cord injuries, including:
Cervical Spinal Cord
The top seven vertebrae in the spine make up the cervical spine. Damage to the cervical spine tends to be the most severe. A spinal cord injury can impact every bodily function below the damaged area.
Cervical spinal cord injuries can result in:
- Quadriplegia, or paralysis from the neck down
- Difficulty breathing on your own
- Loss of speech
- Difficulty regulating blood pressure and body temperature
- Wrongful death
Severe damage to the cervical spine can be catastrophic. Victims often never recover fully and can lose their ability to live without around-the-clock care.
Thoracic Spinal Cord
The thoracic spine sits below the cervical spine, in the upper and middle region of the back. It is made up of 12 vertebrae that have a part in controlling movement in the torso and legs, as well as breathing.
The thoracic spine plays a key role in controlling bodily movement.
Long-term consequences of thoracic spinal cord injuries often include:
- Loss of feeling in the torso
- Paralysis from the waist down, or paraplegia
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
Damage to the thoracic spine can result in a lifetime of medical complications.
Lumbar Spinal Cord
The lumbar spinal cord is situated in the lower back. It consists of five vertebrae that tend to be larger and sturdier than those in the cervical or thoracic spine. Most of the body’s weight rests on the lumbar spine.
Because the lumbar region is more sturdy, injuries to the lumbar spine tend to be less severe. That doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to cause long-term damage. Victims often suffer from reduced strength in the leg muscles–and might even need to use a wheelchair to get around. Loss of bladder and bowel function is also possible.
Sacral Spinal Cord
The sacral spinal cord is located at the base of the spine–or the tailbone. The five vertebrae in the sacral spine are fused together into a triangular shape. While sacral spinal cord injuries are rare, the damage can be severe. Each vertebrae corresponds to a separate nerve. The severity of the injury will depend upon which nerve was damaged.
Damage to the sacral spine can cause:
- Loss of movement in the hips and legs
- Diminished control over the bladder and bowels
- Loss of sexual function
If you suffered a spinal cord injury, the consequences can be severe. An attorney can help you understand your legal right to compensation–and fight to recover the full amount available.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can manifest in a number of different ways.
Signs and symptoms to watch for include:
- Loss of movement
- Diminished sensation
- Extreme pain in the back
- Spasms or changes in reflexes
- Diminished sexual function in males
- Weakness or lack of coordination in any part of the body
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty walking
- Impaired breathing
Even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt, it’s important to seek medical attention after an accident–especially if you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?
Many spinal cord injuries are caused by traumatic accidents.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our West Palm Beach spinal cord injury attorneys handle all types of injury cases, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Sports accidents
- Assault and violence
If your spine was damaged in an accident, give us a call today. We’ll listen to your story and help you understand your legal rights and options.
What is My West Palm Beach Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case will depend upon a number of different factors.
While it’s impossible to offer an exact dollar figure, relevant factors will include:
- The severity of your injury and your overall prognosis
- Your age and life expectancy
- The cost of your medical treatment, both currently and in the future
- The cost of rehabilitation and physical therapy
- The value of your lost wages, income, and earning potential
The victim always has the burden of proof in a personal injury case. That includes proving what your case is worth. Our lawyers will consult respected experts and specialists to make sure you get the full amount you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Spinal Cord Injury in West Palm Beach, Florida?
Treating a spinal cord injury can be extremely expensive. The emotional impact can be equally taxing. Recovering compensation can be critical to your overall recovery.
Florida accident victims are entitled to compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
In other words, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Medical devices
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
If you lost a loved one, we can also fight to recover damages for wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Most spinal cord injury victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. Medical malpractice victims also only have two years to sue for damages relating to their spinal cord injury. Simply put: once the deadline passes, you can lose your right to compensation entirely.
Contact a West Palm Beach Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were hurt, call an experienced West Palm Beach spinal cord injury lawyer today. At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, your initial consultation is 100% free of charge.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office In West Palm Beach, FL
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers
319 Clematis St #203, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 556-7873
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
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