Scottsdale Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one is suffering from the aftermath of a Scottsdale, Arizona, spinal injury, then you may be unsure how to get compensation for associated financial expenses, as well as pain and suffering. Whether the spine damage occurred as a result of medical malpractice in a clinic or hospital or was due to a car accident or any other personal injury accident, such as a slip and fall, a spinal cord injury lawyer in Scottsdale can help you seek justice.

A spinal cord injury lawyer at Luis P. Guerra, L.L.C. can assist you with filing an injury claim if your head and/or spine have been injured due to the neglect or recklessness of another party. Our legal team has extensive experience working with lawsuits that are related to injury law, including wrongful death cases or cases where individuals are severely disabled after an accident.

At Luis P. Guerra, L.L.C., our injury law legal team will take the details of your case into account and leverage our knowledge of Arizona law and experience with similar cases to submit injury claims, negotiate with liability insurance companies and other responsible parties, and even go to court if necessary. A car accident attorney or spinal cord injury attorney from our practice will fight aggressively on your behalf to work towards optimizing your injury settlement.

The spinal cord is extremely complex and made of different vertebrae and spinal nerves, which interact with the brain and body and carry significant bodily functions. A spinal cord injury itself is characterized by the location in the spinal cord where the damage took place, as well as the severity of the injury.

• Sacral spinal cord injuries. This type of injury occurs at the bottom of the spine, which is known as the sacral spine. Sacral spine injuries are typically the least serious, and individuals with this injury can likely still walk. However, it might impact the functioning of the lower body, such as bladder and bowel functioning.
• Lumbar spinal cord injuries. The part of the spine that is still located in the lower part of the spine but is above the sacral spine is the lumbar spine. Nerve damage in the lumbar spine can lead to paraplegia and difficulties with the functioning of organs in the lower part of the body.
• Thoracic spinal cord injuries. The thoracic spine region is directly above the lumbar spine and is considered to be the upper middle of the back. Nerve damage in the thoracic spine can lead to paralysis of the lower body, or the lower body and one arm, or one arm and one leg.
• Cervical spinal cord injuries. The cervical spine is located at the top of the spinal cord, and injuries that take place in this region are typically considered to be the most serious of spinal cord injuries and can even lead to death. It can cause paralysis of the entire body below the neck and impact certain critical bodily functions, such as breathing.

Understanding the type and severity of the spinal cord injury that you or a loved one have sustained is critical to discerning how much financial compensation you may be entitled to. An experienced Scottsdale personal injury lawyer can help you understand the compensation you may be entitled to based on the specifics of your diagnosis and prognosis.

In Scottsdale, a spinal cord injury can occur as a result of a non-traumatic or traumatic event. A non-traumatic event typically happens over a longer period of time than a traumatic event and stems from the inside of the body. An example of a non-traumatic event could be a severe disease or infection in the body.

A traumatic event, on the other hand, happens when a large, blunt force encounters the body, such as through a collision or a strike. When the traumatic force hits the spinal cord, certain parts of the brain, or the nerves surrounding it, this can lead to serious and debilitating spinal cord injuries. It’s important to understand exactly how your spinal cord injury was caused so that you can find out who is responsible for your damages.

• Car accidents. The collision of a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motor vehicle with another motor vehicle can lead to spinal cord injuries. This can be due to the blunt force of an airbag deploying, as well as whiplash from the collision. The sheer force of the collision can crush bones or damage nerves.
• Medical malpractice. If a doctor or medical professional does not take proper precautions during a critical surgery and accidentally nicks a nerve, for example, this can lead to serious spinal cord complications. The hospital or outpatient center could also be held accountable if the equipment and facilities were not properly sanitized.
• Trauma due to sports. Accidents can commonly occur while playing sports, especially contact sports that require blocking or tackling. A sports accident that results from being tackled, pushed, or pulled, as well as tripping, falling, or crashing, can cause serious spinal cord injuries.
• Slip and fall accidents. Older individuals are especially prone to the negative repercussions of a slip and fall accident. If a property owner does not keep their premises well lit, and if they have uneven and unkempt ground or large foreign objects lying around, this can cause people to fall and sustain severe spinal cord injuries.
• Diseases and infections. Infections, such as meningitis, due to non-sterile procedures and other factors, can cause nerve damage, which can impact spinal cord functioning. Additionally, diseases such as degenerative disc disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can lead to spinal injury. Other risk factors include inflammatory diseases and cancers.
• Violent actions. If a person gets in a fight or is attacked by an individual, and they exert blunt force upon an individual’s body, with or without the aid of a weapon, then the accident can lead to spinal cord issues. If a person is attacked, it’s important to note that the property owner can be held liable for not keeping the premises secure enough.

When it comes to spinal injuries in Scottsdale, Arizona, it’s critical to keep in mind that such injuries are typically the cause of human neglect or recklessness. Whether it is a surgeon who overlooks safety protocol during a procedure or a driver abusing drugs who slams into another vehicle, these individuals must be held accountable for the financial losses and pain and suffering that their actions caused.

Spinal cord injuries are serious and, therefore, often lead to lifelong disabilities. Rehabilitation costs, costs of medicine and medical devices, costs of medical procedures and surgery, as well as costs associated with caregiving can add up over a lifetime. Additionally, the environment that the patient lives in will need to be modified to fit their needs, which can also add up to a large sum of money.

The cost of a spinal cord injury over a lifetime will depend on the age and health of the individual who sustained the injury, the quality of received healthcare services, the severity of the injury, as well as other factors. Overall, the average cost of a spinal cord injury over a lifetime, including healthcare and other costs of living, is about $5 million. However, even a less severe case could add up to $1 million in damages.

When lost wages and salary are taken into account, the costs can be even higher. This also adds up when the value of other losses, such as pain and suffering, are taken into account. Therefore, an individual who suffers a spinal cord injury could receive significant sums of money based on a jury decision. It’s important to contact a Scottsdale personal injury lawyer to determine both the tangible and intangible value of losses sustained due to your spinal cord injury.

The amount of financial compensation that you may be entitled to for your spinal injury will vary based on the severity of your injury. For example, if you are tetraplegic or paralyzed from the neck down, then you will likely be able to get a bigger settlement than if you can still walk but have back pain and difficulties with bladder function.

Other factors that can impact the amount of potential settlement include the age and health status, as well as the life expectancy and average income of the person who sustained the injury. For example, if they are younger, then the cost of potential earnings and lost wages will be higher than if they are retired.

If there is strong evidence incriminating the at-fault party, then the cost of the settlement may be higher. In addition, if it can be proven that a defendant was particularly negligent or reckless, then the value of the settlement will likely be higher.

In addition, the experience and knowledge of the plaintiff’s lawyer will have a significant impact on the settlement amount. An experienced spinal injury lawyer will be able to properly evaluate the current and future damages associated with a spinal cord injury and eloquently fight for a victim in court.

Q: How Long Does Rehab Take for a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: Rehabilitation of a spinal cord injury can last for years. Individuals who have sustained serious spinal cord injuries and the caregivers or medical personnel responsible for their case should stay alert for any complications that may arise at the beginning of the healing stage. Usually, the most recovery will happen during the first six to nine months after the accident, with the most drastic strides being taken in the first three months. However, some functions can return up to 18 months post-surgery.

Q: What Are The 5 Stages of Grief After a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: Sustaining a spinal cord injury is not only difficult physically but also emotionally. Typically, patients will go through 5 major stages post-accident or surgery, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. A personal injury lawyer can help support people with spinal cord injuries process and accept what happened to them by helping hold the at-fault individuals accountable and seeking compensation for damages.

Q: When Can You Walk Again After a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: Because the spinal cord and nervous system at large are deeply complex entities within the body, every injury is different, and therefore, no one has the same recovery times. However, recovery time generally depends on factors such as the age and existing health of the patient and the seriousness of the accident or illness causing the injury. It is usually expected that most of the healing will happen in the first six to nine months of recovery.

Q: For People Living With Spinal Cord Injuries, What Is The Main Cause Of Death?

A: Before, the leading causes of death for people with spinal cord injuries used to be renal failure and complications associated with the urinary tract. Now, the main causes of death are suicide, pneumonia, and septicemia. It is, therefore, critical for people living with spinal cord injuries to receive adequate medical care and support for both their mental and physical health.

Q: What Are the Costs of a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: The costs associated with a spinal injury are the highest during the first year of recovery. In severe cases of paralysis, a patient may have to pay anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 a year for medical and caregiving expenses. For less severe cases of paralysis, including incomplete motor function, the costs are about $40,000 to $80,000 per year.

Dealing with the aftermath of an accident that causes a spinal cord injury can be financially, physically, and emotionally tolling. A Scottsdale spinal cord personal injury attorney from Luis P. Guerra, L.L.C., can help you identify which individuals or organizations were responsible for the event leading to your injuries and help you get the financial compensation and support you need to heal and recover. Contact our office today to learn more.