Spinal cord injuries can range from minor conditions that cause pain or localized numbness all the way up to severe injuries that cause paralysis. Even minor conditions can cause significant disruptions in your daily life. These accidents are often closely linked with accidents that stem from negligence. When you have been injured because of another party, a Cleveland personal injury lawyer can step in and hold them accountable for your extensive losses.Â
Tittle & Perlmuter is here for you in your time of need and aggressively fights to hold negligent parties accountable so you can recover compensation. Our team is highly skilled and has had extensive experience handling spinal cord cases for our clients and securing results.
Experience the peace of mind you deserve when you hire a law firm that will put in the work. For a free consultation with a qualified spinal injury lawyer in Cleveland, contact our Ohio law firm today.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) and Paralysis Types
Individuals who have sustained a spinal cord injury suffer a disruption of the signals that travel from the brain through the spine to various parts of the body. When an accident exerts trauma on the spine, the normal transmission of signals is altered on a minor or major level. The severity of the injury and extent of the damage depend on what part of the spine was hurt during an accident.Â
The Part of the Spine Explained
The spine is made up of four sections: cervical (neck area), thoracic (upper back), lumbar (lower back), and sacral (base of the spine). Each section serves a different purpose. In turn, the damaged area dictates which parts of the body are affected.
A spinal injury can also cause partial or complete damage to an area. Medical professionals run specialized tests to determine the extent of the damage to your spine, and our Cleveland catastrophic injury lawyers carefully review the results when handling your case.Â
What to Know About Paralysis from Spinal Cord Injuries
Paralysis is the most severe outcome of a spinal cord injury and involves complete loss of mobility. There are two primary types of paralysis an individual could sustain.
- Paraplegia affects the lower half of the body
- Tetraplegia/quadriplegia affects the entire body below the neck
A paralysis accident lawyer in Cleveland can help ensure you get the resources you need for your long-term care.Â
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Cleveland, Ohio
According to a report on traumatic spinal cord injury facts and figures by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), more than 18,000 individuals suffer spinal injuries each year. These injuries can be caused by many factors and result in serious harm.
NSCIC reports that the most common causes of spinal cord accidents and injuries are:
- Vehicle accidents (37.1%)
- Falls (32.5%)
- Acts of violence (15.2%)
- Sports-related accidents (7.6%)
- Medical/surgical errors (3.8%)
- Miscellaneous causes (3.9%)
A Lawyer Can Pinpoint the Cause(s) and Contributing Factors in Your SCI
To determine the cause of your spinal injury, you should consult a spinal cord injury lawyer near you. They take the time to investigate the factors involved in your accident in detail. They also gather evidence throughout this process to use to demonstrate another party’s role in the accident and the extent of your injury.
By entrusting your case to our Cleveland spinal cord injury lawyers, you can be confident you will have a solid case as a result.Â
Establishing Liability and Recovering Full Compensation for Spinal Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are preventable accidents that disrupt every aspect of your life, making the wrong that you suffered all the more painful and frustrating. Filing a claim against that person can help you hold them liable and recover compensation. This process can be complicated given the complexity of your losses, but a spinal cord injury attorney in Cleveland is skilled at handling these cases and guiding you through each step.Â
Key Elements of Fault in Injury Cases
To establish the other party’s fault for the accident, you must demonstrate:
- Duty of Care: They had a responsibility to you that involved avoiding harm.
- Breach of Duty: When that party was careless, reckless, or violent, they breached their duty to you.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly resulted in an accident that caused your spinal injury.
- Damages: You can hold the at-fault party liable for the various losses you suffered because of the spine injury.
A local spinal cord injury lawyer can build your case around these elements and evidence collected during the initial phases of your case.
Seeking Full and Fair Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
Once liability is established, your lawyer can shift to negotiating the value of the losses you suffered to secure a fair settlement.
Compensation can include a wide range of medical expenses and your lost wages or earning capacity. Additionally, you can also pursue damages for your pain and suffering, lost quality of life, lost consortium, and emotional and mental anguish.Â
Building Comprehensive Life-Care Plans for SCI Victims
Severe spinal cord injuries, especially those resulting in paralysis, require long-term specialized care, medical equipment, home and vehicle accommodations, and more. These ongoing expenses add to the overall cost of your injury, and life care plans are often the solution used to offset the financial burden of your spinal injury.Â
The Role of a Life-Care Plan After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury
A life care plan is a detailed document that provides comprehensive information about your spinal injury, the ongoing care and resources you will need, the lifetime costs of your injury, economic considerations, and more. A spinal injury lawyer in Cleveland can work with medical professionals and life care planners to draft sound plans for spinal cord injury victims.Â
This document is a helpful tool for not only knowing what to expect of your condition and long-term care, but also for negotiating future costs as part of a settlement in your case.
A spinal injury lawyer can use your life care plan as a form of evidence to demonstrate the severity of your condition and the costs you will incur as a result of the other party’s actions. These costs can be factored into your compensation so you can receive comprehensive compensation.Â
How Our Cleveland Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Fight for You
A spinal cord injury attorney in Cleveland fights to make sure you are treated fairly by various parties throughout your case. We protect your rights and your interests in your case so you are not left with gaps in support or results. Our team works diligently to ensure that your case is strong and effective. We leverage legal knowledge and local resources to secure evidence and reinforce your case so we can effectively fight defense tactics.Â
Our team also supports you by helping you find medical professionals and other resources that can help you navigate your new way of life, such as the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. A spine injury lawyer is committed to you and is an ally in this process. We don’t stop fighting for you, even if obstacles arise or your case has to go to court. We stand by you and advocate for you throughout your entire case.Â
Contact a Cleveland Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Near You
Tittle & Perlmuter provide compassionate support as you grieve the loss of your mobility and find your way forward after a spinal cord injury. We work diligently to connect your injury to the party who caused the accident and ensure they take responsibility for their actions. To set up a free consultation with a spinal injury lawyer in Cleveland, contact our law firm today.
