Aside from traumatic damage to the brain, injuries to the spinal cord are the most devastating consequences that serious accidents can have. Even a milder injury can lead to months spent out of work and require expensive medical treatment to address, and more severe damage is almost always debilitating and permanent.
Seeking comprehensive civil recovery for an injury of this magnitude may require assistance from a skilled catastrophic injury attorney experienced with this unique type of claim. A Long Island spinal cord injury lawyer could be the ally you need to effectively protect your rights and secure a case result that favors your best interests.
What Makes Spinal Cord Injuries Uniquely Severe?
With timely and effective medical treatment, almost every part of the human body can ultimately heal itself from even grievous injuries. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the spinal cord, a nerve bundle protected by the spine’s vertebrae that connects the brain to the rest of the body’s nervous system. When this connection is damaged by an external physical impact, the nerves often cannot knit themselves back together, resulting in permanent losses of sensory and motor function.
Injuries higher up the spinal cord and closer to the neck are generally more severe than injuries lower down and closer to the tailbone, as the higher injury cuts off more of the nervous system from sending and receiving signals to and from the brain. Likewise, “incomplete” injuries that involve only a partial tearing or bruising of the spinal cord may result in partial loss of function, and may even allow for long-term recovery. “Complete” injuries involving the spinal cord being completely severed will cause a total loss of function.
Regardless of how substantially spinal cord trauma impacts someone’s ability to live their life, an attorney in Smithtown could help them collect compensation for all past and future damages that stemmed from their condition. This can include:
Emergency and rehabilitative medical expenses
Costs of home modifications and assistive equipment like wheelchairs
Lost future earning capacity
Lost future enjoyment of life
Lost consortium
Physical and psychological pain
If a case goes to trial, a jury will determine how much the non-economic damages are worth.
Rules for Personal Injury Litigation in Smithtown
Unfortunately, recovering for long-term damages caused by a spinal cord injury can be complicated for various reasons, not the least of which is the statute of limitations. As per New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 214, most prospective plaintiffs have just three years to start pursuing litigation after discovering their injuries, regardless of how long those injuries will affect them.
Additionally, NYCPLR § 1411 grants civil courts the authority to reduce a plaintiff’s final damage award based on the percentage of blame they bear for their own injuries, even if someone else is still primarily at fault. Assistance from a spinal cord injury lawyer in Smithtown could be crucial to maximizing recovery in spite of these possible legal obstacles. We also have a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Smithtown for those who suffer from severe injuries to the brain.
Talk to a Smithtown Spinal Cord Injury Attorney About Legal Options
No matter what kind of incident ends up causing one, spinal cord injuries are devastating in physical, financial, and personal contexts. If you want to effectively demand the restitution you deserve from the party who caused harm, you may need help from a legal professional who has handled cases like yours successfully in the past.
A Smithtown spinal cord injury lawyer could work tenaciously on your behalf throughout every stage of litigation in pursuit of the outcome you want. Furthermore, we also have a Smithtown premises liability lawyer for those who get injured because of unsafe conditions of certain premises. Call today to learn more.
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