Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Our Highly Skilled Attorneys Can Help After a Spine Injury

Spinal cord injuries can happen to anyone. When a spinal cord injury happens because of the negligence or wrongful acts of others, though, California law may allow the survivor to demand compensation from the negligent party.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP is a highly recognized and respected team of Los Angeles attorneys who are committed to handling the toughest injury cases, including catastrophic injuries like spinal cord injuries. We have successfully recovered more settlements and verdicts in the millions than any other firm in California. Past results can’t promise future wins, but they do show our dedication to recovering the full amount our clients deserve and need to recuperate from their injuries, so they can try to live their lives as independently as possible.

Call our Los Angeles spinal cord injury attorneys at (866) 634-4525 for a free consultation to discuss your potential case as soon as possible.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, sensation, or mobility. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. When it gets injured, it can lead to a variety of physical and neurological impairments.

Common types of spinal cord injuries include:

• Incomplete SCI
• Complete SCI
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal contusion
• Spinal cord compression

Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

The long-term effects of a spinal cord injury (SCI) can vary significantly depending on the severity, level, and extent of the injury, as well as individual factors such as age, overall health, and access to medical care. We can work with medical experts to understand more about your injury and how it will likely impact the rest of your life.

It’s not uncommon for someone with a spinal cord injury to experience these long-term complications:

• Paralysis
• Loss of sensation
• Bowel and bladder dysfunction
• Muscle spasticity and spasm
• Breathing difficulties
• Chronic pain or numbness
• Cardiovascular issues
• Depression and anxiety

Also, a spinal cord injury can significantly impact your social life, relationships, and employment opportunities. Barriers to accessibility, transportation, and participation in activities may require adaptations and support to maintain social connections and pursue meaningful work or education.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

What sort of accident caused you to suffer a spinal cord injury? No matter how you answer, you can be confident that our Los Angeles spinal cord attorneys can help you with your case. Thanks to our extensive practice histories, we are experienced with working on injury claims involving all sorts of accident types and life-changing injuries.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slip and falls
• Sports injuries
• Acts of violence
• Work-related accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products
• Construction accidents

What Causes Paralysis?

Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is damaged to the point that nerve signals are interrupted, preventing “messages” from reaching different parts of the body. Patients with paralysis may experience numbness, immobility, or a complete loss of function and sensation in a loss of muscle function in the affected body parts. The extent of paralysis depends on where the injury occurs along the spine.

The five main types of paralysis caused by spinal cord damage are:

1. Quadriplegia, sometimes called tetraplegia, paralyzes the body below the neck. Both arms and legs and the torso lose mobility, and some internal organs may be paralyzed, too.
2. Paraplegia usually paralyzes the hips and legs. Typically, the injury that causes paraplegia happens in the mid- to lower back.
3. Hemiplegia paralyzes an arm and a leg on the same side of the body.
4. Diplegia paralyzes the same area on both sides of the body, such as both arms or both legs.
5. Monoplegia paralyzes a single limb.

Diagnosing a Spine Injury

Medical professionals diagnose a spinal cord injury through a combination of clinical evaluations and diagnostic tests. Initially, they usually perform a physical examination to assess motor function, sensory response, and reflexes to determine the extent and location of the injury. They also gather detailed patient history and account of the accident that caused the spine damage. To confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the extent of damage, doctors rely on various imaging techniques and diagnostic tools.

Medical tools or procedures used by doctors to diagnose spinal cord injuries include:

• X-rays
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scans
• Myelography

Is Recovery from Paralysis Possible?

In rare cases, spinal cord injury patients can recover completely from paralysis, usually thanks to early and advanced medical treatment. Unfortunately, however, a complete recovery is not the norm. Most patients may be able to regain some function through physical therapy but will not make a total recovery.

To treat a spinal cord injury and improve the chances of an eventual recovery, medical experts usually use these treatment methods:

• Surgery: Oftentimes, surgery is needed to stabilize the spine using metal plates, screws, and rods, or to attempt to repair damaged tissues.
• Medication: Corticosteroids like methylprednisolone may be administered shortly after injury to reduce inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord, potentially minimizing further damage. Pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-spasticity medications can help manage symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life, too.
• Rehabilitation therapy: Physical therapy focuses on strengthening muscles, improving mobility, and enhancing coordination. Occupational therapy helps patients regain the ability to perform daily activities and adapt to their new physical limitations. Psychological support is also crucial, as coping with a spinal cord injury often requires mental health counseling and emotional support.

What are the Lifetime Costs of Paralysis?

Healthcare costs and living expenses for a patient with full paralysis can easily soar into the millions of dollars. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), a patient with high quadriplegia – meaning very little movement below the neck – could incur an average of $1,102,403 in costs during the first year after the injury. If that person is paralyzed at age 25, the expected lifetime costs for care could run into many millions of dollars.

Such estimates don’t take into account the loss of income a victim of paralysis suffers from losing a job and related benefits, nor any costs that family members must bear to provide adequate at-home care. Nor do they cover housing and vehicle modifications or the cost of moving to an accessible home. When you look at the expenses related to paralysis, seven-figure legal settlements may be needed to cover the patient’s needs for a lifetime of specialized care.

How to Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Case

To prove negligence in a spinal cord injury case, you’ll need to establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through their actions or inactions, and directly caused the injury as a result. Additionally, you must demonstrate that you suffered actual damages due to the injury. Of course, you don’t have to worry about this complicated process on your own or directly if you hire our attorneys to handle it for you.

Types of evidence that can be used by our legal team to prepare a spinal cord injury case might include:

• Medical records and expert testimony
• Accident reports and witness statements
• Surveillance footage or photographs from the scene
• Documentation of lost wages and economic impact

In addition to knowing how to prove negligence in a spinal cord injury case, our attorneys also know how to prove who or what party was negligent, and therefore, who or what party should be liable for your harm and losses. Different parties can be liable for a spinal cord injury depending on the circumstances of the accident and their involvement. For instance, in a car accident, the motorist who caused the crash through reckless or negligent driving could be held accountable for the resulting injuries to other people. Or in a workplace accident, an employer might be liable if unsafe working conditions or lack of proper safety protocols led to the injury.

Spinal Cord Injury Claim Damages

Spinal cord injury claims usually involve the following damages, among others:

• Medical expenses
• Future therapy costs
• Lost earnings and income
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental suffering
• Lessened enjoyment of life

Our Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyers have handled many catastrophic injury claims, so we are familiar with medical and rehabilitation specialists in the area. In spinal cord injury cases like yours, we can consult with lifecare planners and economists to project the total needs and costs of accident-related care and services when considering future expenses.

Part of our process is to get to know each client personally, including their specific needs after such a devastating injury. Each person’s different limitations and impairments will affect them in different ways. For example, a professional athlete who suffers from quadriplegia will have different losses than an accountant who suffers from paraplegia.

California Statute of Limitations on Spinal Cord Injury Claims

In California, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim, including those for spinal cord injuries, is generally two years from the date of the injury. You likely have a two-year period to seek compensation. If the injury was not immediately discoverable, though, the statute of limitations may be extended based on when the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. However, certain exceptions and specific circumstances, such as cases involving liable governmental entities, may shorten the statute of limitations, so it is important to always act quickly.

When Do I Need a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?

You should probably hire a spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible if your injury was caused by another party's negligence or wrongful actions. An attorney from our firm can help navigate complex legal processes, attempt to negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve on your behalf, even if that means going to court for trial.

You may want to ask yourself these questions if you aren’t sure if you should hire a lawyer:

• Was the injury caused by someone else's negligence or intentional wrongdoing?
• Are you experiencing significant medical expenses and loss of income due to the injury?
• Do you feel overwhelmed by the legal process or dealing with insurance companies on your own?

Answering ‘yes’ to any of the above questions probably means you should already be working with a spinal cord injury attorney. Also, your first consultation with our firm is free, so you can always learn more about the legal help we can provide without reaching for your wallet first!

Discover the Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP Difference

After a spinal cord injury changes your life forever, you’ll need to be sure that the law firm you choose for help is up to the challenge. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we are confident in our ability to represent clients with devastating and costly injuries, and we’d be honored to get the chance to prove to you why. Combining decades of experience with vast resources and a reputation for success, our Los Angeles spinal cord injury team is ready to handle your case from start to finish.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury, call our law firm at (866) 634-4525 or contact us online as soon as possible to discuss your potential claim.