Spinal cord injuries can be among the most serious injuries a person can sustain in the workplace and in a car crash. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the costs of living with spinal cord injury can be very high. For example, individuals with C1-C4 injuries can face medical bills as high as $1,064,716 in the first year alone. In subsequent years, the costs of living with paralysis can be as much as $184,891 each year. Individuals suffering from paraplegia can face medical expenses as high as $518,904 in the first year alone, with medical costs in subsequent years being as high as $68,739. Most families don’t even make this much in a single year, much less have this money to spare to care for a family member with paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries can leave victims with permanent paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of injury. Individuals may require mobility devices, like wheelchairs, to get around, and they may need to make changes to their homes to make them accessible. Paralysis and spinal cord injuries can also leave victims suffering from complications and pain. Because paralysis can impact all aspects of a person’s life and can also impact your family, when victims suffer this injury either on the job or due to a car accident, they are often able to collect significant damages from insurance and from negligent parties. If you or a loved one was hurt on the job or in an automobile accident, contact the auto accident attorneys in Greenville, South Carolina at the Hayes Law Firm Upstate Attorneys, LLC today. We can help you seek justice for your injuries and losses. You are not alone.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Treatment
Spinal cord injuries can be considered incomplete or complete. With an incomplete spinal cord injury, a patient may retain some movement or sensation below the site of injury. With a complete injury, the person may suffer from complete loss of function before the site of injury. Either type of spinal cord injury can be devastating and can result in serious losses and lifestyle changes. The symptoms of spinal cord injury can include loss of motion, loss of sensation, loss of bladder control, and difficulty breathing, among other symptoms.
One of the leading causes of spinal cord injury are motor vehicle accidents. Falls are another leading cause of spinal cord injury. According to the Shepherd Center, car crashes are responsible for 38% of all spinal cord injuries, while falls are responsible for approximately 30% of all injuries.
In the immediate aftermath of a spinal cord injury, patients may require surgery, emergency medical care, breathing assistance, and other emergency treatment. Patients might be administered medications to prevent swelling or further damage. After the initial stages of emergency treatment, patients may need to undergo a rehabilitation program. Quality rehabilitation following a spinal injury from a car or workplace accident is essential. Good rehabilitation will help you learn to live independently, adapt to changes resulting from your injury, and take steps to engage in regular life activities once more. The spinal cord rehabilitation team may include physical therapists, counselors, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, and a range of other specialists. Families may also require support care to help them adapt to changes in lifestyle and to the changing needs their loved one may face. Care for spinal cord injuries can be costly, but it is important to receive the quality treatment you deserve.
If you or your family are struggling to get the care you need or are struggling with finances following your spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to make a claim with worker’s compensation, auto insurance, or seek damages from negligent parties following your car accident. The Hayes Law Firm Upstate Attorneys, LLC are car accident lawyers and worker’s compensation attorneys in Greenville, South Carolina who may be able to assist you with your claim. You may be entitled to receive damages for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation expenses. However, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim under the law. Contact our firm today to learn more and to protect your rights.
Understanding Pain and Suffering Damages Following Spinal Cord Injuries
Because spinal cord injuries can impact all areas of your life, victims may be entitled to receive significant pain and suffering damages. Please note that Worker’s Compensation cases are exempt from pain and suffering as it is a “no fault system.” Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for lifestyle changes and for pain you experience as a result of a serious injury. Because these settlements are not based on subjective bills or on losses from missed time from work (pay stubs), they are sometimes poorly understood by victims and families. The Hayes Law Firm Upstate Attorneys, LLC are car accident lawyers who can walk you through all aspects of your claim.
A spinal cord injury can impact your mobility, your ability to work, and your ability to care for yourself and your children. When calculating damages for any personal or motor vehicle injury, your lawyer can use special formulas to estimate the value of your pain and suffering compensation. Usually these formulas start by using your medical expenses as a base and then multiplying these by another number known as a multiplier to determine pain and suffering damages. The more serious and permanent an injury, the higher the multiplier might be. Due to spinal cord injuries being so serious, pain and suffering damages can sometimes be quite substantial causing victims and their families to face pushback from insurance companies when making a claim. Furthermore, sometimes settlements look so high that families might be willing to accept a settlement without doing their research or understanding what they might be entitled to get. Always consult with a lawyer before accepting any settlement because some settlements may not always reflect all your losses.
The best way to protect your rights when making a claim for a serious personal injury, an auto accident or worker’s compensation is to hire an experienced and aggressive lawyer at the Hayes Law Firm Upstate Attorneys, LLC in Greenville, South Carolina today. Our firm can take the time to compassionately review your case, help you understand your rights, and fight for justice on your behalf. We work closely with victims and their families to help them seek the compensation they may deserve.
