A vast number of spinal injuries happen every year. This injury makes it difficult for people to perform many movements or tasks. Some victims suffer for days, months, or even years. Suppose you faced a back or spinal cord injury in an automobile accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or any other incident. In that case, you may want to explore your legal options.
You can file a personal injury claim and prove that the injury happened due to another’s fault. A spinal injury can range from a light sprain to significant harm, including spinal paralysis. Before demanding any monetary compensation, it is best to determine the accurate value of the claim in order to manage all the expenses resulting from the injury. A Spinal cord injury lawyer can help to determine the value of your claim.
Your attorney can assist you by investigating the root cause of the injury, filing the claim, calculating overall expected loss, finding the required documents to prove your innocence, and dealing with insurance companies on your behalf. An attorney can take all legal steps on your behalf, so you can concentrate on your recovery when you have a legal professional by your side.
The Claim Value Depends on Various Factors.
The value for each spinal cord injury claim will be different because it depends on various aspects. The severity of the injury, insurance coverage, lost income and medical bills are some factors that attorneys will consider when trying to evaluate a spinal cord injury case. You can include economic losses as well as non-economic losses.
- Economic Damages: People also refer to economic damages as “special damages.” As the name suggests, these are the monetary losses that the injured person and his family members face due to the injury. It can include many expenses like medical bills or lost wages. The medical expenses you had to bear immediately after the injury and are expected to bear in the future can be included in the claim value. The claim amount is calculated by keeping these medical expenses in mind, which can include blood tests, MRI reports, physiotherapy bills, surgery expenses, future treatment possibilities, or any other healthcare-related expenses.
If you cannot go to the office due to the injury, and you are expected to miss work in the future due to the injury, you can also include lost wages/ income or estimated related loss. Your loss of earning capacity should also be considered because it can help you gain a substantial amount of money. Loss of earning capacity can be analyzed by examining factors like occupation, age and education.
- Non-economic damages: These are also known as general damages. This can include pain and suffering caused by the injury. Any emotional distress and loss of consortium also fall under this category of damages. When your personal life is impacted negatively, non-economic damages can help to cover your losses.
In some cases, you can also receive punitive damages. To learn about all damages you can include in your claim, connect with an experienced personal injury lawyer. To receive these damages, you will need an attorney’s assistance to prove that the defendant’s action or negligence was the cause of your spinal injury.
What if you have spinal disorders?
If you have a spinal disorder that is worsened by an accident, you can claim damages for this, too. If you suffer from a spinal cord injury and it is proven that the accident aggravated the preexisting injury, you may be able to sue for damages. The defendant can be held liable for the worsened condition of your injury.
Some spinal disorders or diseases that can be worsened by accidents include:
- Degenerative disk disease
- Spondylolisthesis
- Herniated disk
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Osteoarthritis
If you have any of these conditions and they are worsened by an accident, it is important to seek legal help. If your spine disease or spinal injury is not curable or hinders you from performing your job or daily duties, you can approach the court to file an injury lawsuit. For help with seeking a good amount of compensation, you can hire a Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney.
Filing a personal injury claim for a spinal injury is an easier task with legal professionals by your side. So, don’t extend your troubles, pain, and suffering caused by the spinal injury, and discuss your case with an attorney. They will analyze the situation and help you to take effective legal steps.
