Damage to the spinal cord can lead to permanent, traumatic health consequences that could alter your life forever. Paralysis is the most serious of these consequences, although other issues can also occur. The unfortunate reality is that many of these incidents occur due to acts of negligence.
If you have suffered a spinal injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. With the help of our skilled catastrophic injury attorneys, you may have the opportunity to recoup your financial losses while receiving compensation for your physical and emotional pain. Attempting to resolve your case alone could be challenging, so consider discussing your options with our Butler County spinal cord injury lawyer.
A variety of circumstances can cause spinal cord injuries, but they generally involve some kind of traumatic impact to the head, neck, or back. Although the spinal column exists to protect this important bundle of nerves, some accidents are serious enough to sever the cord entirely.
Car accidents are a common cause of spinal cord injuries, sometimes leading to paralysis due to the tremendous impact that such crashes cause. Other potential causes of spinal cord injuries include:
With the help of our experienced spinal cord injury attorney, it may be possible to seek justice following any of these incidents in Butler County.
For a spinal cord injury to result in a viable compensation claim, our Butler County attorneys must prove that negligence was involved. There are four elements of negligence, and a successful lawsuit must establish each of them.
First, there needs to be a duty of care between you and the at-fault party. This element is usually not an issue in motor vehicle cases, but other types of claims could depend on whether or not a duty exists.
The next step is to show that the duty was breached, which also depends on the circumstances. In a vehicle collision case, it could mean causing an accident by speeding or running a red light. Alternatively, property owners could be at fault for failing to address defective stairs just before a fall.
Third, the plaintiff must establish causation, which is the link between a breached duty of care and an injury. The purpose of this element is to ensure you are only liable for the damage you caused.
Finally, there must be compensable damages. Spinal cord injuries can result in significant losses. Even if the other elements are met, there are no grounds for a monetary award without establishing damages such as lost wages or pain and suffering.
Regardless of how the injury occurred, spinal cord injury claims require testimony from expert witnesses. Medical professionals, particularly doctors, can play a key role in explaining the extent of the damage and the long-term prognosis for the injured party. These expert opinions are critical for demonstrating both causation and the full scope of your damages.
The result of successful injury claims is a monetary award paid by the at-fault party. There are different categories of damages for each case, and having the support of skilled legal counsel could help secure the best possible outcome. Some examples of damages include:
Our Butler County lawyers could review your case and advise on all your possible recovery options following a spinal cord injury.
You have the opportunity to pursue legal action following a spinal injury, but doing so on your own can be challenging, and even a minor error in pursuing your claim could leave you with nothing.
Contact our Butler County spinal cord injury lawyer today to protect your legal rights and options.