Severe damage to a person’s spine may result in long-term or even permanent paralysis. When these injuries are caused by an accident, medical mistake, or another act of negligence, the party responsible should be required to provide compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered severe spinal trauma due to these or other circumstances, a St. Johns County spinal cord injury lawyer could review your situation and explain available options. A dedicated personal injury lawyer could provide representation and handle questions from insurance investigators, allowing victims and their families to focus their efforts on healing.
Recoverable Damages
Trauma to the spine may impact someone’s life in numerous ways. First, the injured person is frequently unable to return to the same type of work as before the injury occurred. Family members serving as caregivers may also miss time from work. Because of these losses, a St. Johns County attorney could fight to obtain compensation to cover these damages, including wages lost due to the spinal cord injury, including income in the future. In addition to lost wages, an attorney may help obtain damages to cover medical expenses both in the past and future.
Sometimes, the emotional aspects of severe physical trauma causes additional harm that can be calculated for a claim. To this end, a legal professional could examine prior case law to determine a reasonable amount of compensation for emotional anguish, suffering, loss of enjoyment, and other intangible losses caused by a spinal trauma.
The Timeframe to File a Claim
While physical healing is a chief priority after a spinal cord injury, it is wise to give some thought to future requirements and costs. Securing representation from an experienced spinal cord injury attorney would allow them to handle the paperwork and legal issues associated with a claim—so that the injured individual and their family could focus on recovering.
A proactive attorney could also work to collect and preserve the necessary evidence to prove liability and ensure that necessary papers are filed in order to preserve the right to recovery without violating the statute of limitations. If an injury was caused by medical malpractice, Fla. Code §95.11(4)(b) requires an action to be filed within two years of the incident causing liability or two years of the time that incident was or should have been discovered. In cases where spinal trauma resulted from other negligence or deliberate acts, however, the statute of limitations may extend to four years.
Consult a Knowledgeable St. Johns County Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Evidence used to prove liability may come from witnesses, medical records, photographs, and expert opinions. Although the evidence may be presented in court, having a collection of evidence may be enough to encourage a responsible party or their insurance company to provide a settlement amount comparable to what might be obtained through trial.
It is wise to collect and preserve evidence as soon as possible and avoid making statements or taking actions that may negatively impact your ability to recover damages. A knowledgeable St. Johns County spinal cord injury lawyer could help an injured person receive fair compensation for the future. To learn more, call now for a free consultation.
