West Palm Beach Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
A spinal cord injury is one of the most life-altering events you can experience, affects every part of life, and often places an enormous strain on family members.
In spinal cord cases, the focus isn’t just on what has already happened, but on what the future will require: surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive technology, and round-the-clock support.
If you’ve sustained an injury to your spine through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Call 561-655-2028 to speak with one of our West Palm Beach spinal cord injury lawyers today. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Nature of Spinal Cord Injuries
Data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center suggest there are well over 250,000 people living with traumatic spinal cord injuries nationwide.Â
Spinal cord injuries are categorized by their level and completeness. When it comes to personal injury settlements, their functional impact will also be relevant.Â
Levels of Injury
Spinal injury levels are set out in line with different sections of the spine; the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. The higher up the spine an injury occurs, the more serious it will be, all else being equal.Â
- Cervical injuries: These are often the most severe back injuries. They may cause quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs).
- Thoracic injuries: These are less serious than cervical spinal injuries, but they can still result in paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body).
- Lumbar injuries: These may cause partial paralysis, mobility issues, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Sacral injuries: These are considered the least severe, since they usually leave most leg function intact. However, they often affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function, and in some cases may cause mild weakness or mobility challenges in the hips or legs.
Completeness
An injury that leaves no function below the injury site is known as a complete injury, while an incomplete injury may leave some movement or sensation below this point.Â
Functional ConsequencesÂ
Depending on the level and severity, individuals may face paralysis, mobility loss, chronic pain, respiratory challenges, and secondary complications such as infections or pressure sores. The extent of these challenges (and their impact on your quality of life) will have a significant bearing on your compensation entitlements.
Long-Term Medical and Daily Needs
Spinal cord injury recovery is never a short process, even in relatively mild cases. You may need:
- Emergency surgeries and extended hospital stays.
- Months or years of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
- Assistive technology like power wheelchairs, adaptive devices, and speech technology.
- Home and vehicle modifications.
- In-home attendants or caregivers to assist with daily activities.
This all adds up to cost victims significant amounts of money. Our West Palm Beach spinal injury lawyers often work with life-care planners, who build projections of lifetime costs so no critical need is left out of a settlement.
Causes and Case Types
Spinal cord injuries in West Palm Beach often stem from:
- Motor vehicle accidents. According to the Mayo Clinic, road accidents are the most common cause of spinal injuries, accounting for more than 50% of new diagnoses each year.Â
- Slip and fall incidents, especially from heights or down flights of stairs. These often arise from premises liability issues in public buildings, such as wet floors or broken railings.
- Acts of violence.
- Workplace accidents.
- Recreational and sports-related injuries.
- Medical negligence.
Because of the wide variety of causes, no two spinal injury cases are the same. Determining who is legally responsible for your injuries may be challenging, depending on the surrounding circumstances and the parties involved.Â
Once you involve a West Palm Beach spinal injury lawyer in your case, they’ll conduct a full investigation to identify all potentially liable parties. If there are multiple defendants in your case, it may be easier for you to make a strong financial recovery, especially if the primary defendant has insufficient insurance to cover all your damages.
Damages and Financial Recovery
The financial fallout of a spinal cord injury often extends for decades. Economic damages may cover:
- Medical bills, both current and projected.
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity.
- The cost of caregivers, aides, and home support.
You may also be entitled to noneconomic damages, such as for physical pain, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life. However, these can cause complications; in car accident cases, for example, basic Personal Injury Protection (PIP) will only pay for economic losses. To secure noneconomic damages as well, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Florida-Specific Rules and Deadlines
A key item to be aware of after an accident is Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations (your post-accident deadline for filing a lawsuit). Previously, this deadline was four years in Florida; however, following a rule change in 2023, it’s now just two years. This makes it essential to start the legal process as soon as possible after an incident, especially in a complicated, high-value spinal injury claim.Â
Another important rule change was the switch from pure comparative negligence to modified comparative negligence. Previously, you could recover damages in a personal injury case here even if you were primarily at fault for your accident, as long as another party shared some of the blame. Now, your share of the responsibility cannot exceed 50% if you are to receive compensation.Â
(You should note that the latter change did not affect medical negligence cases. These still use a pure comparative negligence system.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I recover damages if I’m already receiving disability benefits? Yes, but lawsuit recoveries can sometimes cause issues with disability entitlements. Certain programs (like SSI and Medicaid) are needs-based. So, if you receive a personal injury settlement, you may no longer be entitled to them. If this is a concern for you, you should discuss the matter with your back injury attorney.Â
What if insurance doesn’t cover my lifetime needs? Because spinal injuries result in massive costs, basic insurance policies (especially car insurance policies) often won’t cover all damages. In such cases, attorneys search for umbrella policies, third-party claims, and other sources to close the gap.
How long do spinal cord injury cases take in Florida? Because of medical stabilization and expert evaluations, many cases take 18 months or longer. If your matter goes to trial (instead of ending with a settlement), a conclusion can take years to reach. For this reason, our West Palm Beach spinal injury attorneys generally prefer to settle cases whenever possible.Â
What if I was partly responsible for my accident? Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, you can still recover damages even if you were partially to blame for your injuries. However, your damages will be reduced in line with your percentage of fault.
How are future care costs and lost wages calculated? Your West Palm Beach spinal cord injury attorney will hire life-care planners and economists to project your long-term needs and lost earning capacity. These consultants will ensure that the settlement you seek will meet your requirements.
Protect Your Future After a Spinal Cord Injury in West Palm Beach
Don’t let someone else’s negligence ruin your financial future. Call our skilled spinal cord injury lawyers in West Palm Beach at 561-655-2028 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation. We’ll pursue compensation that will cover your lifetime needs, and put pressure on insurers if they attempt to minimize your catastrophic injuries.
