Chula Vista
Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Chula Vista Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most detrimental injuries an individual can sustain, as the recovery time can be long and tiresome. When you sustain a spinal cord injury because of another party’s negligence or misconduct in Chula Vista, it is critical that you do not wait to pursue justice and take legal action. A seasoned Chula Vista spinal cord injury lawyer from Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates can help you file a claim today.

Chula Vista’s Trusted Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

At Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates, our dedicated legal team has over 70 years of combined experience navigating complex medical malpractice claims, including spinal cord injury cases. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you and hold negligent healthcare institutions accountable. Our attorneys are dedicated, skilled litigators who work tirelessly to advocate for the rights of our clients and secure the compensation they need to move forward with their lives.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

Spinal cord injuries are injuries that cause damage to the bundle of nerves that carry signals from your brain to the rest of your body. This bundle of nerves, called the spinal cord, is housed inside the bones of the spinal column. Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent nerve damage, loss of function, and even paralysis below the level of the injury. Although not all spinal cord injuries cause permanent disability, many do, and nearly all such injuries lead to a long recovery.

Over 15 million people around the world live with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). It’s estimated that there are approximately 11,000 new cases in the United States every year. Unfortunately, most SCIs result from preventable trauma, like car accidents or falls. If your SCI is caused by another’s misconduct or negligence in Chula Vista, it’s important to understand your legal options so you know how to protect yourself and hold the right party accountable.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Chula Vista

Spinal cord injuries can happen in a wide variety of contexts. Any time a person sustains trauma to the spine or undergoes a medical procedure involving the spinal column, it is possible that an injury may occur. However, there are some common scenarios that lead to spinal cord injuries more often than others. The following are a few of the most common contexts for spinal cord injuries in the Chula Vista area.

• Car accidents. Chula Vista, being a bustling suburb of San Diego, sees its fair share of car accidents. Car accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries, as the impact sustained in a crash can put significant pressure on a person’s head, neck, and back. High-speed accidents happen on Interstates 5 and 805 every day, as well as on surface streets throughout the city.
• Premises liability accidents (slip-and-falls). Premises liability incidents refer to situations in which a person is injured because a property owner or manager failed to take proper steps to make their property safe for visitors. These cases can happen in places of business, in common areas of apartment buildings, or even at construction sites, which is especially relevant to a place like Chula Vista, where development is perpetual.
• Medical malpractice. Unfortunately, sometimes medical procedures do not go as planned. In some cases, these adverse outcomes are outside of anyone’s control, but in other cases, they happen because healthcare professionals make mistakes. Whether you were treated at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, or somewhere else in the area, if a doctor caused your spinal cord injury, you may be able to file a malpractice claim.
• Sports and recreation accidents. People in the Chula Vista area love to be active and athletic. Spinal cord injuries commonly happen in recreational contexts when a person hits their head at a bad angle, such as when diving into a shallow pool or when falling from a height.

These are only a few of the potential contexts for spinal cord injuries in the Chula Vista area. Regardless of how you sustained your spinal cord injury, if someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing caused the accident, you can pursue compensation.

What to Do Immediately After a Spinal Cord Injury in Chula Vista

If you have sustained a serious injury such as a spinal cord injury, you are deeply familiar with the curveball an event like this can be. There are some steps you can take to help yourself when the time comes to pursue compensation. Here are the things you should do immediately following a spinal cord injury: 

• Complete all recommended medical care. The most important thing to do is take care of your health, so you should follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for self-care, medication, and therapy.
• Document everything. You should keep a detailed record of your medical expenses and the injury’s overall effect on your life.
• Hire an attorney. As soon as it becomes apparent that you need to pursue compensation for your injury, you should enlist the help of a seasoned attorney to help you navigate your next steps.

What Compensation Can You Receive for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries can result in astronomical expenses for an injured person and their family. Medical bills pile up quickly, especially when related to complex injuries like spinal cord injuries. Injured people may have to be out of work for extended periods of time. In some cases, the injured person may permanently lose their ability to do their job, resulting in permanent financial pressure on them and their family.

No two cases are the same, but the general categories of compensation for these kinds of injuries are fairly standard across the board. Your settlement should include compensation for the following categories of losses: 

• Medical bills. The greatest financial losses after a serious injury usually come in the form of medical bills. The cost of healthcare is very high, even with insurance, and complex injuries like spinal cord injuries often require multiple surgeries and hospital stays to reach maximum recovery.
• Lost wages. Being out of work can lead to long-term financial setbacks for injured people and their families. This is especially true in cases of serious injury that result in permanent disability, and even career loss.
• Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is a standard part of injury compensation, and it is meant to acknowledge and compensate both physical pain and psychological distress.

Regarding medical bills, a fair personal injury settlement should cover all medical expenses, even if the injured person needs long-term care. In injury cases that involve significant and life-altering injuries, the injured person’s medical team determines when the injured person has reached a point of maximum medical recovery. After that point, it is possible to project the expenses associated with long-term medical needs.

The first step in seeking compensation for an injury is often to approach the liable party’s insurance company. However, you should know that insurance companies very rarely agree to pay settlements that actually cover an injured person’s losses. Instead, they often begin with very low compensation offers. It is important that you do not sign anything or accept an insurance offer before first discussing it with an attorney.

After you receive an initial insurance settlement offer, assuming it is insufficient, your lawyer can attempt to negotiate for a more complete offer. If these negotiations are ultimately unsuccessful, the next step is to file a claim against the person or entity responsible for your injury.

Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Chula Vista

If you sustain an SCI in Chula Vista and it was a result of the misconduct or negligence of another individual or party, you can file a claim to pursue compensation. The type of accident that caused your injury will determine the type of claim that is right for you. An experienced lawyer from our firm can help you identify which legal route suits your scenario. The following are the two main forms of claims you may file for an SCI in Chula Vista:

1. Personal Injury Claim
   If you plan to file a personal injury claim in Chula Vista after sustaining a spinal cord injury, you must do so within two years of the incident. The amount you can recover from your settlement ultimately depends on the strength of your case and the evidence you collect. There’s no limit to the amount of damages you can seek through a personal injury claim. You can recover economic and non-economic damages to cover your losses, including ongoing treatment and related costs.
2. Medical Malpractice Claim
   If you wish to file a medical malpractice claim in Chula Vista, however, you have three years from the date of the incident that caused your injuries. A medical malpractice attorney can help you navigate your case to secure the compensation you deserve and facilitate meeting all of the filing deadlines.

   It is important to note that if your injuries were caused by a Chula Vista healthcare provider’s or institution’s decisions, you can expect to encounter a cap on non-economic damages when filing a medical malpractice claim. The average payout for medical malpractice claims in California is $317,447. Our team can help advocate for a payout that covers all of your losses.

Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Chula Vista You Can Trust

Navigating a spinal cord injury case in Chula Vista can be daunting, especially considering that a healthcare provider or institution has the resources to secure solid legal representation. Luckily, you don’t have to fight for justice on your own.

The team at Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates is committed to helping victims of personal injuries and medical malpractice seek justice and recover the compensation they deserve for their losses. Our team is led by Ken Sigelman, J.D., M.D., who brings decades of experience as a doctor and over four decades as a spinal cord injury attorney to the table. Between him and our other attorneys, we have over 70 years of experience that we’re ready to put to work for you.

FAQs

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Spinal Cord Injury in Chula Vista?

A: The exact amount you can recover from a spinal cord injury claim in Chula Vista depends on how badly you were injured and how strong a case you can present to recover damages. Be sure to document as much of the scene as possible and keep copies of all your medical records and police reports. The more evidence you have, the stronger your claim will be. A spinal cord injury lawyer from our firm can investigate further and help you collect powerful evidence.

Q: Do I Have to Work With a Chula Vista Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer to File a Claim?

A: While you’re not legally required to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Chula Vista to file a spinal cord injury claim after an incident, it’s highly recommended that you do. When you file claims such as these, you’re likely going to court with healthcare institutions that have aggressive legal counsel. Working with an experienced attorney helps to ensure your case is as strong as possible and that you have someone to fight for justice on your behalf.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Treat a Spinal Cord Injury in Chula Vista?

A: No two spinal cord injuries are the same. It’s critical to seek medical attention if you believe you sustained a SCI in Chula Vista to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan. Once you understand the extent of your injuries, you can determine how much it’s going to cost to treat. You can then use this information to pursue a spinal cord injury claim in Chula Vista.

Q: What Happens If I Can’t Negotiate a Settlement Agreement for a Spinal Cord Injury Case in Chula Vista?

A: The majority of spinal cord injury cases in Chula Vista are settled through negotiations with the opposing party. This typically involves the victim’s lawyer working with the at-fault party’s insurance provider to agree on a fair amount of compensation. If you’re unable to reach an agreement, you can try arbitration, where a neutral third party helps make a binding decision, or you can go to trial. Regardless of where your case takes you, you can count on a spinal cord injury attorney from Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates to be there to help you through it.

Talk to a Chula Vista Spinal Cord Injury Attorney About Your Case Today

If your injuries were caused by another party, recovering means more than physical healing. At Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates, we aim to help you hold the responsible party accountable for their actions, so you can be compensated for your injuries and any hardships they have caused. Contact the office to schedule an appointment with our team, and we can start working on your case right away.