Stockton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

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Physical trauma to the spinal cord or nerve structures of the spine can significantly impact the lives of those affected. Lifelong medical care and renovations to the home may be necessary depending on the type of spinal cord injury (SCI) involved. When an SCI is sustained in an accident, the consequences may be devastating, regardless of how minor or severe the trauma is.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in Stockton and would like to discuss your case with an attorney, contact our law firm at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a consultation. Our lawyers can provide free, friendly advice and determine your best action.

Our law firm understands a spine injury's devastating effects on an SCI patient and their family and friends. When paralysis is involved, whether paraplegia or quadriplegia, all parties involved must face the lasting aftermath of spinal cord damage. We want to help you and your family by addressing your immediate concerns, preparing for all your future needs, and obtaining financial compensation for your emotional, physical, and monetary damages.

National Statistics on Spinal Cord Injuries

According to 2020 data by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC):

  • Approximately 294,000 people live with spinal cord injuries in the United States.
  • There are roughly 17,810 new spinal cord trauma cases annually.
  • Indirect costs of an SCI, including lost earnings, productivity, and fringe benefits, had an average of $77,701 yearly.

The estimated lifetime cost of a 25-year-old patient presenting with low tetraplegia is over $3 million, the NSCISC reported. Since the average living expenses and health care costs can be high, it is essential to contact an experienced Stockton spinal cord injury lawyer for a free consultation.

What are the Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

A spine injury is divided into two types: complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury is when the patient has lost all sensation and motor function below the trauma site. A patient presenting with an incomplete spinal cord injury may have sensory or motor function below the injured area. Watch the video below for an overview of spinal cord trauma and research.

What are the Top Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Damage?

An injury to the spinal column may result in one or more of the SCI signs and symptoms listed below:

  • Changes in sexual activity, function, and fertility
  • Difficulty coughing, breathing, or clearing secretions from the lungs
  • Exaggerated spasms or reflex activities
  • Loss of sensation or movement
  • Loss of control of the bladder or bowel

Trauma to the spinal column can deprive SCI patients of their ability to control parts of their body and most of their feeling and even result in wrongful death in some extreme cases. This makes compensatory damages from a spinal cord injury lawsuit critical to maintaining quality of life. If you have suffered trauma to the spinal column and complications after an accident in Stockton, reach out to an experienced attorney for a free consultation on your potential legal options for SCI recovery moving forward.

What are the Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord damage is generally the result of a blow or traumatic injury to the spine. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the top causes of spinal cord damage in the United States include:

  • Motor Vehicle Collisions
  • Recreational Sports
  • Slip and Fall Accidents

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic injury to the spinal column because of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensatory damages for losses. That is where a top-rated spinal cord injury lawyer in Stockton can come into play. With the right legal experience, skills, and resources, your attorney can help you obtain the justice and financial compensation you and your family are rightfully owed. Contact our spinal cord injury law firm today for a free consultation regarding your SCI case.

What Types of Spinal Cord Injury Accident Cases Does an Attorney Handle?

In most spinal cord injury lawsuits, the case is not being brought against those at fault in the accident. The claim will be handled by the insurance company representing the negligent party. The unfortunate reality is that insurers have teams of investigators, claims adjusters, and defense attorneys at their disposal to dispute every fact of an SCI case to downplay its value or deny it altogether. Our Stockton spinal cord injury lawyers handle claims arising from:

  • Auto Accidents
  • Bicycle Collisions
  • Big Rig Crashes
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Premises Liability
  • Products Liability
  • Slip and Fall

Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Stockton handle SCI cases in San Joaquin County and throughout California.

Types of Compensation in a Spinal Cord Trauma Lawsuit

At our law firm, we have extensive experience in personal injury litigation. We have successfully handled SCI cases involving herniated lumbar discs, bulging discs, and other back and spinal cord injuries. Our legal team is committed to seeking economic and non-economic damages on behalf of those we represent to help pay for losses incurred, including:

  • Medical Expenses: Claimants may recover personal injury compensation for any costs of medical treatment related to a spine injury, including emergency transportation, hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medications, and rehabilitation. Future medical expenses may be claimed if proven reasonable and necessary through expert medical testimony.
  • Lost Wages: Compensatory damages for time lost at work and the loss of future earning potential may be awarded. An economist may be necessary for a spinal cord injury lawsuit to prove future lost earnings.
  • Loss of Consortium: When damage to a marital relationship results from an accident-related spinal cord injury, the injured party's spouse may make a claim for loss of consortium. These claims may also consider the loss of fertility or the inability to conceive children.
  • Pain and Suffering: When a person sustains an SCI in an accident, they may experience long-term emotional and physical pain. Claimants may receive compensation for pain and suffering associated with their traumatic spinal cord injury.

Our team of dedicated Stockton spinal cord injury attorneys can help fight for your legal rights and protect your best interests after diagnosing an SCI from an accident. Together, our law firm will work diligently to obtain the justice and compensatory damages you and your family need and deserve.

What is the Statute of Limitations for a Spinal Cord Trauma Case in California?

A claimant has two years from an SCI accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit for spinal cord damage in California. If a civil action is not filed by that deadline, the court will likely not hear the spinal cord trauma case, and the right to compensate for damages may be lost. For this reason alone, contacting a top spinal cord injury lawyer in Stockton as soon as possible after an accident is essential. Any delay in retaining a lawyer can make obtaining the financial compensation you deserve for your traumatic spinal cord injury more difficult.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

The most challenging element of negligence to prove in a spine injury claim is causation, or the at-fault party's action directly resulting from the SCI. A Stockton spinal cord injury lawyer can collect and preserve evidence to prove causation when moving forward with an SCI case. This is generally done by evaluating medical documents, conducting interviews with witnesses, investigating the cause of the accident resulting in SCI, and consulting with medical expert witnesses to obtain professional opinions on the legal matter.

The Stockton spinal cord injury attorneys at our law firm have decades of experience we will put to work for you and your case. We will use our team of medical professionals to build a solid spinal cord damage case for fair compensation to ensure you and your family remain emotionally and financially stable throughout this challenging time.

Contact a Stockton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

Contact our law firm today if you are in Stockton and would like to schedule a free consultation with our spinal cord injury lawyers. Our legal team proudly serves Stockton, San Joaquin County, and California residents. We handle spine injury cases under a contingency fee arrangement, meaning you will not owe our injury lawyers any legal fees unless we recover total and fair compensation for you.

Editor's Note: updated [cha 8.1.23] Image Source: By "Jesper Aggergaard" via Unsplash ds [cs 1404] cha

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