West Virginia Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyers

Suffering any type of injury can be traumatic and scary. Whether you slip and fall and are badly bruised, are in a car accident and suffer whiplash, or are bitten by a dog, there is no injury type that doesn’t deserve to be compensated if it was someone else’s fault. But of all of the injuries that a person may suffer, a spinal cord injury is by far one of the most catastrophic.

At The Masters Law Firm, we recognize how serious spinal cord injuries are, and do not take cases involving these types of injuries lightly. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, our experienced lawyers at The Masters Law Firm can help you, like we have helped others with spinal cord injuries, to build your case and bring forth a claim for monetary damages.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is one of the body’s most important systems. Running the length of the spine, the spinal cord refers to a bundle of nerves that communicates messages between the brain and all other parts of the body. Whether you want to go to the restroom, take a step, pick up your child, or bring a spoon to your lips, your ability to do so is governed by the brain’s ability to communicate with the body via the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column in the back, which is comprised of individual vertebra. A spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is bruised, partially torn, or completely torn as a result of trauma to the spine.

The Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

The effects of a spinal cord injury can be devastating. In the most severe of cases, acute spinal cord injuries can cause death. When the injury is not fatal, it can result in permanent partial or complete paralysis. Paralysis or partial paralysis will occur from the site of injury in the spinal cord downwards, as the site of injury represents the part of the spine where messages sent by the brain are no longer able to pass due to damage.

If the spinal cord injury occurs in the cervical spine (neck), then the individual can suffer paralysis from the neck downwards. If the injury occurs in the lumbar spine (lower back), then the person can be paralyzed from the waist down.

Paralysis or partial paralysis may mean requiring the use of a mechanical ventilator, the use of a bladder catheter, the use of a feeding tube, the use of a wheelchair and the necessity of home modifications, and more. Most people who suffer a serious spinal cord injury may very likely not be able to return to work, have children, or live independently.

How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen

There are many different accident types that can lead to a spinal cord injury. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that spinal cord injuries are more common when the affected part of the spine is bent or compressed.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle and large truck accidents;
• Pedestrian accidents;
• Bicycle accidents;
• Sports injuries;
• Falls; and
• Workplace accidents.

In addition to accidents, a birth injury, and an infection of the spinal cord that is not properly treated can also lead to a spinal cord injury and paralysis.

Damages Recoverable in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim

If you suffer a spinal cord injury, it can be difficult to know your rights and your options. If the accident that resulted in this type of injury was caused by another party’s negligence, you deserve to file a claim for damages against the negligent party and seek compensation for the full value of your losses. Our lawyers can help you and your family recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses. A spinal cord injury will undoubtedly result in high medical bills, many of which may be denied by an insurer or you may be unable to pay. This also includes any therapy and rehabilitation costs.

• Lost wages. As stated above, suffering a spinal cord injury typically means being unable to return to work – permanently. Our lawyers will work to see that your settlement offer includes compensation for your past and present lost wages and benefits.

• Property damage and other economic costs. You may have suffered property damage losses as a result of the accident that caused the spinal cord injury, such as a totaled vehicle. Further, your injury may require many home accommodations, such as the installation of lower countertops and cabinets that are accessible via wheelchair. You deserve to be compensated for any costs you incur.

• Pain, suffering, disability, emotional anguish, and diminished quality of life. Suffering a spinal cord injury and becoming paralyzed is absolutely devastating – there are no words that are enough to describe the level of an injured person’s anguish. You deserve to be compensated in full for the value of your noneconomic losses as well as your economic ones.

Liability for Spinal Cord Injuries

When you hire our law firm, one of the first things that we will do is start investigating your case with the purpose of determining what happened and identifying the at-fault party. Depending on how your accident occurred, parties who may be named in a suit for damages include:

• The negligent driver of a motor vehicle;
• The manufacturer of a dangerous product;
• The property owner who failed to keep their property safe;
• The doctor whose malpractice led to your child’s birth injury;
• The employer who disregarded known safety rules; and
• More.

Once we know who’s liable, we will calculate your damages and bring forth a claim. We represent you in all settlement negotiations and aggressively advocate for you. It is important that the lawyer you chose has experience handling your type of claim. Our lawyers have trial experience and are recognized by the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Call Our West Virginia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today

If you have been involved in an accident that resulted in an injury to your spinal cord, or if you are the loved one of someone who has suffered a spinal cord injury, our lawyers want to help you. We believe in putting our clients first and protecting the best interests of those who truly deserve compensation. To schedule a free consultation with our law firm, please call us at your convenience at 304-371-7894 or use the contact form on our website to send us a message telling us more about your case.