Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Suffering a spinal cord injury can be a terrifying and uncertain experience. You likely are facing extreme amounts of pain and even loss of certain functions, all while the medical bills are piling up. You may be unable to return to work and earn a living wage. During these difficult times, having the assistance, legal support, and guidance of a Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyer can make all the difference in the success of a personal injury claim.

For over three decades, the legal team at Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates has been fighting to defend the rights of the injured across the state of California. Our team has the knowledge and resources necessary to come alongside you during this difficult time and offer compassionate care and counsel along with fierce advocacy to help you recover the compensation you deserve and the justice for the harm you have sustained at the hands of another individual or entity.

When you suffer a spinal cord injury in Los Angeles, California, you can trust our legal team to have your back.

Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is an integral part of the human body, in charge of various functions that keep us alive. When one suffers an injury, a wide range of issues can arise, leading to hefty medical bills, lost work, and a decline in quality of life. The human spinal cord is made up of five distinct areas known as vertebrae. Damage to the spinal cord and its effects on your life will differ, depending on the area that suffered injury. These five areas include:

• Thoracic Vertebrae: This area of the spinal cord supports the middle and upper back and houses nerves that control the muscles of the chest, areas of the abdomen, and some of your upper back muscles. When an injury to this area occurs, it can restrict your control and ability to move on your own accord, limit breathing function, and restrict the ability of your digestive system.
• Lumbar Vertebrae: This area of the spinal cord supports the function and structure of the lower back. The nerves in this area have control over your lower stomach, the lower part of the back, and the muscles in your buttocks, genitals, and parts of your legs. Injuries to these vertebrae can lead to the loss of bladder and bowel function and control, sexual dysfunction, and even paraplegia.
• Sacral Vertebrae: This part of the spinal cord is the area that forms the base of your spine. When an injury occurs here, it can cause you to completely lose control over your lower legs, feet, and thighs.
• Coccygeal Vertebrae: This area is also known as your tailbone and controls the sensation of the skin on your lower back. Injuries to the tailbone can be extremely painful but typically do not cause serious complications.
• Cervical Vertebrae: This is the area that supports the function and structure of the neck. Injuries to these vertebrae can harm the nerves that control the back of your head, arms, shoulders, hands, and diaphragm muscles. This diaphragm is an integral part of your breathing function, and when the function of this muscle becomes damaged, it can cause life-threatening scenarios that limit your ability to breathe.

Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates: Defending Your Rights in a Personal Injury Case

If you suffer a spinal cord injury in the Los Angeles area, the team at Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates is here for you. For almost 40 years, we have helped clients with personal injury cases recover needed compensation to assist with medical bills or the coverage of lost wages due to the negligence of another party. We are firm believers that you deserve compensation and justice when your injuries were sustained at the hands of another individual or entity.

When you work with the team at Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates, you can count on us to provide you with the following services:

• Reviewing the details of your case to determine who the negligent party is and how much compensation you fairly deserve
• Securing the testimony of witnesses to the accident that lead to your injuries
• Navigating the negotiations with the at-fault party, their legal team, and their insurance companies
• Filing a claim should negotiations not end in a fair settlement and your case proceed to court
• Representing you in any courtroom litigation that may prove necessary

With the Los Angeles personal injury lawyers from Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates on your side, you can rest assured knowing we will do everything in our power to fight for you.

Compensation Available in a Spinal Cord Injury Case

When you suffer a spinal cord injury at the hands of another individual or entity, there are several forms of damages or compensation you may be able to pursue, depending on the nature of your injury, how it was caused, the severity of the injury, and how it affects your daily life. The most common forms of compensation available in a spinal cord injury case can include the following:

• Medical Costs: One of the largest expenses involved in a spinal cord injury case is that of the medical costs involved. This can include any bills that happened directly following the accident, such as emergency treatment, surgery, hospital stays, and rehabilitation, along with any ongoing medical costs, such as continued treatment, physical therapy, medications, medical devices, and assistive devices like wheelchairs or ramps.
• Lost Wages: When an individual suffers an injury to their spinal cord, they can miss work, leading to a cut in wages. They may no longer return to any sort of work in the future. You could recover your lost wages and the lost ability to earn wages in the future. This calculation will depend on your age, your work trajectory, your skills as an employee, and the injury itself.
• Pain and Suffering: When you suffer a spinal cord injury, you can experience immense amounts of physical pain and emotional anguish. These damages are considered non-economic damages. Unlike medical bills or lost wages, these damages do not have actual dollar amounts assigned to them but are more subjective. In calculating these damages, your lawyer will look at the severity of your injury and its impact on your life.
• Future Care Costs: You may also receive compensation for medical care costs that could arise in the future. Given the nature of spinal cord injuries, this is a common occurrence, as future care costs might include rehabilitation, personal care assistance, more medical treatment, and the installation of necessary assistive technology.
• Punitive Damages: In rare cases, the courts may deem that the actions of the liable party that lead to your injury are especially egregious, and therefore, this party is subject to punishment to deter them from similar behavior in the future. While this compensation is not related to your actual losses, it can significantly increase the overall value of your claim.

FAQs

How Do You Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

When proving negligence in the state of California in regard to personal injury cases, there are four elements that must be demonstrated. These include:

• Duty, or the fact that the defendant owed you a duty of care to avoid harm
• That duty was breached or fell below the acceptable standard
• Causation, or that the breach of duty resulted in the cause of the accident
• You suffered damages as a result of this breach of duty

What Do Most Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in California?

It can be difficult to offer an exact number as to how much a personal injury lawyer might charge for their services in the state of California, as each case is different, and so is the way each attorney structures their fees. However, there are a few common factors that can impact these costs, including the duration and complexity of your case and the experience of the lawyer.

What Are Some Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in California?

Spinal cord injuries can happen for a variety of reasons in California. These reasons can include work-related accidents, slip and fall accidents, car accidents, sporting accidents, medical malpractice cases, acts of physical violence, such as assault or domestic violence, and cancer or disease that was caused by unsafe working conditions.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on California Personal Injury Cases?

In the state of California, there is a time limit on when you can file a personal injury case against a liable party. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations and is two years from the accident that caused the injury. However, if you did not discover your injury until a later date, you have one year from that date to file a claim.

Speak With a Trusted Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, the legal team at Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates is here for you. We understand how difficult these times are and how frightened and uncertain over the future you are most likely feeling. Allow us to come alongside you to offer some reassurance as we help you pursue compensation in a personal injury claim. Contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation.