There are approximately 288,000 people with spinal cord injuries living in the United States. These injuries can range in severity from disc herniation to catastrophic conditions, such as paralysis, and most often occur as a result of serious accidents, often involving trucks, cars, and motorcycles.
At Pathway Law Firm, PC, we know that spinal cord injuries are extremely painful and have a profound effect on a person’s ability to have normal relationships or work a typical job. We provide our clients with spinal cord injuries with representation that results in them being able to recover the compensation they are owed.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Bakersfield Clients
There are two major types of spinal cord injuries:
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
An incomplete spinal cord injury is one where the affected individual has functioning body parts in areas below the injury site. Over 60% of all spinal cord injuries are incomplete, and there are three frequently seen types of incomplete spinal cord injuries.
- Anterior Cord Syndrome: When the injury occurs to the anterior spinal artery, which is located at the front of the spine, Anterior Cord Syndrome may result. A person suffering from this syndrome will most likely suffer the loss of motor function and light feeling. They may also lose the ability to feel pain and sense different temperatures in areas below the injury site.
- Central Cord Syndrome: When there is nerve damage at the center of the spinal cord in the area of the neck, the brain’s ability to send messages to areas below the injury site can be reduced but not completely eliminated. This results in Central Cord Syndrome. A person with this syndrome may experience severe weakness in the arms and less significant weakness in the legs. Urination may also be difficult.
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome: An injury to only one side of the spinal cord can result in Brown-Sequard Syndrome. This causes a person to experience sensory loss or paralysis on the side of the body where the injury occurred. They may also lose the ability to sense temperature changes and pain on the opposite side of the body from where the injury occurred.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
There are three types of complete spinal cord injuries and they are much more severe than incomplete spinal cord injuries. Their level of severity depends on where on the spine the injury takes place.
- Tetraplegia is a type of paralysis that results in a loss of sensation and movement in the arms, legs, and torso.
- Paraplegia is a type of paralysis that results in a loss of sensation and movement in the lower part of the body, including the legs.
- Triplegia is when three limbs are affected by paralysis and lose sensation and movement.
Causes of Bakersfield Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can occur in a variety of situations. Some of the most common spinal cord injuries that we have handled in our Bakersfield, CA law firm result from:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle crashes
- Slip and fall accidents in public spaces or at work
- Sports injuries resulting from collisions on the field or from equipment failure
- Violent crimes such as assault or robbery involving a direct blow to the neck or back.
- Swimming pool accidents, including diving accidents or falling on the edge of a concrete pool deck.
Of course, these are but a few examples. No matter how a spinal cord injury occurs, our Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyers have the skills and resources to investigate the incident’s root cause and determine who may be liable for the losses.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Bakersfield
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how to compensate best someone who has suffered a spinal cord injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, the individual may require a variety of different services and care, which can be costly.
Some common expenses associated with caring for someone with a spinal cord injury include:
- Medical expenses
- Assistive technology or equipment
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Home modifications or accessible housing
Compensation for a spinal cord injury depends on a wide range of factors which include:
- Your options for pursuing compensation. A claim for damages may seek the complete spectrum of restitution, including costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In contrast, a workers’ compensation claim is typically limited to the more limited benefits the workers’ company pays, typically disability benefits and medical costs.
- The severity of your spinal code injury, including its effect on your life. For instance, a complete spinal cord injury leaves an individual paralyzed. An individual paralyzed from the neck down will claim more than an incomplete spinal code injury that causes mild weakness in one limb.
- The strength of the available evidence and the skills of the attorney representing the victim.
- The financial status of the parties responsible for your damages. The more money they have in their bank accounts or, the higher their insurance limits, the more likely you will be able to recover the maximum amount of money for your losses and injuries.
What Can You Do to Help Your Spinal Cord Case?
You can do certain things to help your spinal cord injury case in Bakersfield.
- Hold on to all records, correspondence, or other documentation you get regarding your spinal cord injury or the incident that caused it. These can include reports about your accident and injury, medical bills, correspondence from the at-fault party or their insurance company, receipts for any expenses related to your injury that you have paid out of pocket (such as transportation to receive care), estimates, and invoices of repairs to property (including vehicles) damaged as a result of the incident that caused your SCI, and more.
- Protect your rights by contacting an attorney as soon as possible. You may not be in a position to do this right away if you are still receiving medical treatment, so make sure you have an experienced Bakersfield spinal injury attorney’s name and contact information on hand for when the time comes.
- Watch what you say to anyone associated with your case, including witnesses and representatives from the other party’s insurance company or legal team. Ensure that whatever you say cannot be taken out of context or used against you at a later date; stick to the facts only and keep it short, sweet, and professional.
What is the Cost of Hiring a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Bakersfield?
It costs nothing to hire an experienced Spinal cord injury law firm in Bakersfield like Pathway Law Firm unless and until we get you results.
Anyone interested in learning more about their rights and options following a spinal cord injury is welcome to schedule a free consultation with our skilled lawyers. We will learn about the injuries during the consultation and provide a preliminary assessment of the options for obtaining compensation.
We represent spinal cord injury clients on a contingency basis. This means that not only will you not be asked to pay our fees unless and until we obtain a favorable case verdict or settlement for your accident, but the amount of the contingency fee is also capped.
How We Assist Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Bakersfield
Negotiating settlements is one of the many aspects of the services we offer the victims of spinal injury in Bakersfield.
At Pathway Injury Law Firm, we take pride in customizing our services to meet the specific need of each client. Every victim of a spinal cord injury has unique needs and concerns. We closely collaborate with our clients to identify what those are; after which we craft appropriate legal strategies.
Our team of experts has the experience, resources, and skills to:
- Examine incidents and accidents in Bakersfield that result in spinal cord injuries to establish how they occurred and who ought to face legal liability.
- Evaluate the damages clients have experienced and will experience in the coming days.
- Develop a smart, effective plan to ensure our clients receive the highest compensation.
- Provide clear explanations of our client’s legal alternatives and responses to their inquiries.
- Put the plan into action that our clients and we have decided upon.
- Write up and submit comprehensive, persuasive damage claims.
- Hold court hearings and depositions on these claims in the Bakersfield region.
- When at all possible, engage in fair settlement negotiations.
- Present our client’s cases in court to Bakersfield jurors and judges.
- Recover money owed to our clients through settlements, verdicts, or jury awards.
How Long Does It Take to Get Results of a Spinal Cord Injury Case in Bakersfield?
The spinal cord injury case timeline might vary greatly, typically from months to years depending on the circumstances. Most of the time, you have little or no control over the factors that determine the duration the case will take, such as:
- The time you anticipate hearing from your medical team with certainty about what you’ll require in the future.
- The number of people who may be required to pay you compensation for your injuries.
- Whether you have the necessary proof to back up your damage claim.
- The level of contention that develops over crucial issues in your case, such as who is responsible for your damages or how much they owe you.
However, you have some control over one crucial component of how long your claim will last: the decision to hire an attorney to represent you. The earlier you choose an experienced Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyer to represent your interests, the faster the rest of the process can go forward.
Schedule a Free Consultation After a Spinal Cord Injury
If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury, contact Pathway Law Firm today in Bakersfield, CA. Our clients are our priority, and we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And, as always, we don’t collect any money from you until your case successfully concludes in either a settlement or verdict through the courts.