A spinal cord injury occurring due to a car accident or other types of traffic accidents can be life-altering for the victim. Such an injury often requires immediate as well as long term medical care, lifestyle adjustments and in many cases, legal action to get just compensation. Understanding your unique situation after an accident and knowing your legal rights can help you act promptly after your spinal cord injury. The decisions you make during this crucial time can have a significant impact on your physical recovery, financial stability and your overall quality of life.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
The first and most critical step after a car accident involving a spinal cord injury is to seek medical care at once. Any delay in treatment can lead to further complications, including permanent paralysis. Here are some of the common symptoms that suggest you may have suffered a spinal injury:
- Severe pain or pressure in the neck, back or head
- Weakness or loss of coordination in any part of the body
- Numbness or tingling in hands, fingers, feet, or toes
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
If you suspect a spinal cord injury after your accident, avoid any movement and wait for emergency responders to arrive.
Medical Care and Documentation
Your course of treatment for a spinal cord injury may include surgery,
medications, immobilization using a neck brace or traction, and rehabilitation therapy such as physical and/or occupational therapy that can help you regain your mobility, strength and independence. It is important that you follow your treatment and rehabilitation plan. Document all treatments that you receive and the costs involved for all procedures, medications, medical equipment, etc.
Here are some of the documents you should get (your personal injury lawyer can get these for you):
- Medical records, including diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
- Medical bills and related expenses
- Accident reports from law enforcement
- Witness statements and photographs from the accident scene
- Any communication with insurance companies
The Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury
The cost of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming, often reaching millions of dollars over a lifetime. Medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries and rehabilitation, can add up very quickly. Initial hospitalization alone can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and ongoing care — physical therapy, medication and assistive devices — significantly increases expenses. Beyond medical costs, individuals with spinal cord injuries often face lost income due to reduced work capacity or inability to work altogether. Home modifications, specialized transportation and personal care assistance add to the financial strain.
According to estimates, the first-year costs for severe spinal cord injuries can exceed $1 million, with annual expenses continuing in the hundreds of thousands. Over a lifetime, the total cost may range from $1.5 million to over $5 million, depending on the severity of the injury. These financial burdens highlight the importance of insurance, legal claims, and financial planning for affected individuals and their families.
Contact an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). <strong>WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you.</strong> We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com