Because of its central role in allowing the brain to communicate with the rest of the body through the nervous system, damage to the spinal cord is one of the most devastating and life-altering consequences any type of catastrophic injury can have. Even minor spinal cord injuries can require months of intensive and expensive medical treatment to recover from. More severe damage to this part of the body often results in lifelong paralysis.
The scope and longevity of losses that a spinal cord injury can cause makes it especially challenging to get paid fairly from a civil claim. Fortunately, by working with a knowledgeable Cocoa spinal cord injury lawyer, you can give yourself a much better chance of securing a favorable case result.
Any type of accident which could result in someone sustaining a traumatic blow to their back or neck has the potential to cause a spinal cord injury. Auto accidents are the most common source of these injuries, but other incidents include accidental falls, impacts from falling objects, and work-related mishaps involving heavy machines.
Regardless of exactly how a spinal cord injury occurs, though, the important thing is proving someone else directly caused the injury through “negligence.” In other words, by doing something specifically reckless or careless in violation of a “duty of care” they owed, someone got hurt in the process.
As a Cocoa spinal cord injury attorney can further explain, a “breach of duty” in this regard could be a traffic offense, a momentary careless act like forgetting to clean up a spill on a walkway, or some form of professional malpractice which a reasonable and equally qualified professional would never have done under similar circumstances.
Someone who experienced a spinal cord injury in Cocoa could consult a lawyer to determine which damages they could ask for. Among the most common damages in a claim are:
However, it is important to prove that someone else is to blame for the injury and that the plaintiff is not. Florida Statutes § 768.81 could allow a court to reduce the total compensation available to that plaintiff based on their share of total fault for their own accident. Additionally, FL Stat. § 95.11 generally now allows just two years for the injured person to file suit, making it all the more vital to contact a skilled lawyer quickly after sustaining a spinal cord injury.
Having a healthy spinal cord is essential to having full control and sensation throughout your body. Any accident resulting in spinal cord damage is likely to have disastrous consequences, such as preventing you from performing certain activities or engaging in certain types of work. Money alone cannot always undo all the harm of this trauma. However, seeking a financial payout after being hurt through someone else’s misconduct will be important to stabilizing your personal finances and maximizing your quality of life in spite of your injury.
Custom-tailored guidance and legal support is available from a Cocoa spinal cord injury lawyer with a track record of getting people the compensation they need. Call today to schedule a consultation with a team member from The Umansky Law Firm.
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