TITUSVILLE, FL SPINAL CORD INJURIES

A severe spinal cord injury can significantly impact how you live your life. In many cases, these impacts are devastating and permanent. Loss of mobility below the spinal cord damage, loss of feeling, and nerve pain are just some consequences of a severe spinal cord injury. Individuals may also experience other significant health complications, including respiratory disease, urinary tract issues, and heart conditions. 

According to the University of Washington, spinal injury victims are at a higher risk of developing:

• Cholesterol disorders
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Pneumonia
• Pressure sores
• Bladder cancer

Severe spinal cord injuries are often permanent and never fully heal. Patients typically require ongoing medical attention and, potentially, round-the-clock care for the rest of their lives. 

The Crushing Cost of Spinal Cord Injuries 

Healthcare expenses for spinal cord injuries depend on the severity and scope of the injury. However, according to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, people with paralysis from the neck down can expect to pay around a million dollars in healthcare costs in the first year alone. While medical expenses tend to decrease after the first year, even patients with partial paralysis may incur tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs annually. 

Medical expenses for spinal injury patients can include: 

• Surgery
• Ventilation (artificial breathing)
• Medical equipment
• Medications
• Physical rehabilitation therapies
• Occupational therapies
• Psychological counseling
• Long-term care

Victims Have a Reduced Life Expectancy

Thanks to medical advances in recent decades, individuals with severe spinal cord injuries live longer now than they used to. However, they still have a lower life expectancy than the general population. According to the University of Washington, persons with complete tetraplegia (quadriplegia) can expect to live only up to 70 percent as long as the general population. Individuals with complete paraplegia have a life expectancy of 86 percent compared to the general population. 

Our Attorneys Know What You Deserve 

The costs of a spinal cord injury can overwhelm victims and their families. Moreover, estimating the future financial impact of such a permanent injury can be challenging. However, an experienced attorney at Morgan & Morgan can help you understand the full value of your claim. We consider all your costs and losses, including your current medical expenses, future expected healthcare costs, wage losses, and your degree of pain and suffering. 

Since a spinal cord injury can turn your whole life upside down and reduce your life expectancy, you deserve a settlement reflecting these impacts. We understand that you need funds to rebuild your life, safeguard your future, and avert potential financial struggles. Our tenacious and experienced lawyers leave no stone unturned in fighting for what our injured clients deserve. We could help you, too, receive the full value of your claim. 

Spinal cord injuries in Titusville, FL, can occur due to motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, work accidents, and other preventable incidents. If a person, company, or government entity contributed to or caused your injury due to carelessness or a deliberate act, you could potentially hold them accountable and recover compensation.

Your Legal Rights After a Spinal Cord Injury

You could have a legal case for damages and file a personal injury claim against the party that caused you harm, provided you can prove negligence or willful wrongdoing. The elements of a personal injury claim include:

• The defendant had a legal duty to keep you safe
• They breached the legal duty
• The breach led to your spinal cord injury 
• You have damages such as medical bills and income loss

Victims of spinal cord injuries usually cannot pay for the horrendous medical and other costs of their injury. Even private health insurance may not cover all your expenses or allow you access to the latest and most innovative treatments. 

However, if someone else carelessly or deliberately causes your injury, you should not have to carry the financial burden alone. Our attorneys can build a strong case against the responsible party and prove how badly you were injured, potentially allowing you to recover the settlement you need to go on with your life.

Compensation You Could Recover

Victims suffering spinal cord injuries in a car accident or other incident may be entitled to compensation. What you could recover will depend on the facts of your accident and the severity of your injuries, as no two spinal cord injury claims are alike. However, victims could qualify for:

Medical Expenses

You could recover all medical expenses in connection with your spinal cord injury, including but not limited to:

• Medications
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Specialist appointments
• A home health aide
• Ongoing care

Loss of Wages and Future Earning Capacity 

Severe spinal cord injuries are generally permanent. Victims may need to go through a long recovery process and be forced to change careers or, in the worst cases, may never work again. You could qualify for loss of income and loss of future earning capacity if you prevail in a personal injury lawsuit. 

Pain and Suffering

Significantly injured and paralyzed individuals are generally entitled to compensation for their pain, suffering, and other non-monetary damages due to their injury. Non-economic damages can include:

• Mental distress
• Physical pain
• Reduced life quality
• Permanent disability

Moreover, the spouse of a severely injured individual in Titusville could also pursue damages for loss of consortium, which can include loss of services, comfort, love, and sexual intimacy. 

Morgan & Morgan Is Here for You

If you or a loved one suffered a significant spinal cord injury, do not hesitate to ask for help. We can determine whether you have legal recourse, move forward with a lawsuit on your behalf, and help you receive the money you need to move on with your life. 

Most victims of personal injuries could benefit from professional legal advice. Moreover, failing to seek legal advice can be a terrible mistake when you suffer a life-altering injury that could potentially derail your entire life. A lot can be at stake when you suffer spinal cord damage. Your future financial security and that of your family may depend on experienced legal representation. Our attorneys can:

• Help you receive adequate medical assistance
• Explain your legal rights and identify the next best next steps
• File a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf
• Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company
• Gather evidence to prove your injuries and damages
• Represent you aggressively in court
• Work for you on a “no-win-no-fee” basis

Handling a lawsuit on your own can be overwhelming. Our lawyers can protect your rights, handle your claim efficiently, and ensure you have the best chance to get what you deserve. 

In Florida, victims generally have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The time starts ticking down on the day of your injury. While four years may seem long, we advise victims not to leave their lawsuit until the last minute. Evidence can disappear over time, and witnesses may move away if you wait too long. 

In addition, the timeline available for filing a claim could be much shorter in certain circumstances, for example, when you have a case against a government entity or want to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing the deadline for filing your claim could mean losing your right to seek damages. For those reasons and more, contacting an attorney as soon as possible to secure evidence and build a case can be beneficial. 

Helping spinal injury victims and their families is a cause close to our hearts at Morgan & Morgan. Our founder John Morgan’s brother Tim experienced a paralyzing spinal cord injury at only 18 years old while working as a lifeguard. Unfortunately, Tim never received the help, legal representation, and compensation he deserved. An enraged John Morgan decided then that he would dedicate his life to helping the injured. 

We now have an army of lawyers, including multiple generations of Morgans, ready to fight for our injured clients. Like family, we can have your back when you need us most. Don’t struggle alone when you could have America’s largest personal injury firm in your corner. Our Titusville, FL, spinal cord injury attorneys work hard to achieve the best possible outcome for injured clients. Get started today and contact us for a no-obligation review of your case.