A spinal cord injury is generally caused by an abrupt and severe blow to the spine, such as a motor vehicle accident. This type of injury can be a horrible and life altering event. One impact can cause you to lose your good health and the ability to enjoy daily life.

A spinal cord injury, simply put, is damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is made up of nerves that run from your brain down to your lower back. The bones in your spine help protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord delivers information from the brain to the rest of your body; this information enables you to move and to feel. An injury to the spinal cord can stop the flow of information below the site of the injury. The closer the injury is to the brain, the more areas of the body can be affected.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are most common after an accident or other traumatic event but that is not the only way they occur. The failure to properly diagnose or treat an illness can also lead to a spinal cord injury. Often, this involves a spinal cord abscess that is not identified by a medical professional and is allowed to progress, resulting in irreversible damage. A few other common causes of spinal cord injuries are:

• Auto accidents
• Truck accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Bike accidents

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating and some of the most serious injuries that an individual can survive. When an accident leaves a victim with a spinal cord injury, the damage is done not just to that victim but also to the victim's family, friends, and work life. A victim might find themselves in need of medical treatment but without the means to pay for it. The bills may start accumulating without any income to pay them. Even a victim's home might no longer fit their needs after a spinal cord injury.

When should I file a spinal cord injury claim?

After a spinal cord injury in Woodland Hills, get in touch with a seasoned spinal cord injury lawyer right away. A Woodland Hills spinal cord injury attorney can provide critical advice that will help you better understand when to file your claim. That attorney can also gather vital evidence regarding your claim.

• Allow the lawyer to investigate your claim. In some cases, including auto accidents and construction accidents, multiple parties might share liability for your injuries. A total investigation, including viewing witness statements and even consulting with an expert witness, can help give a better picture of how much compensation you deserve and who caused your injuries.
• Heal prior to settling. It can take up to six months for your doctors to have a solid idea of how much mobility and function you will recover, especially in the case of incomplete spinal cord injury. Your attorney might advise waiting until you move further with that recovery before settling your Woodland Hills spinal cord injury claim, since the extent of your healing as well as the extent of your medical expenses can contribute to the compensation you are entitled to.

Who carries liability for the spinal cord injury I sustained in Woodland Hills?

Spinal cord injuries can happen in many different kinds of accidents: construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, car accidents, and product liability accidents, for example.

The party that caused your accident has to:

• Have a duty of care to you at the time of the accident. When it comes to a motor vehicle accident, that can mean the car manufacturer or the driver that caused the accident.
• Violate that duty of care. Drinking and driving, driving distracted, or violating the rules of the road, for example, all violate the duty of care held by all drivers.
• Cause your injuries with that violation. Your attorney will work to show how the other party's negligence contributed to your injuries.

In a lot of accidents, multiple parties share liability for the victim's injuries. Consult our expert Woodland Hills spinal cord injury lawyers to give you a better idea of all parties who contributed to your accident.

How much compensation do I deserve for a spinal cord injury?

Spinal cord injuries bring with them significant medical bills, and many victims get significant awards. You can not, however, predict the extent of your award based on what other parties have received for spinal cord injuries in the past.

A Woodland Hills spinal cord injury lawyer can provide you with an idea of how much compensation you should anticipate based on:

• Liability
• The extent of the insurance that covers the responsible party
• The extent of your medical costs
• How much time you had to miss at work
• The severity of your injuries

Contact A Woodland Hills Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

At Drake Law Firm, we know how one accident can change an entire life. When you have been hurt by the negligence of another, you may be able to bring a civil claim for your damages. The first step to knowing your legal rights should be getting in touch with a personal injury attorney who takes on spinal cord injury cases. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, request a Free Case Consultation or call (844) 513-7253 to talk to an attorney now.