Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Charles Town
Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers has deep roots in our community, and we are committed to providing exceptional counsel in complicated cases. We can take on at-fault parties and help recover damages for your current and future expenses. To share your situation with a spinal cord injury attorney in Charles Town, WV, contact our law firm today.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Life-Changing Impact
Damage to the spinal cord can affect your personal and professional life in countless ways
- Paralysis and Limited Mobility: Spine injuries can result in partial or total loss of movement, requiring the use of a wheelchair and other mobility or assistive devices.
- Effects on Physical Health: Depending on the location of the spine injury, survivors may experience issues with blood pressure, breathing, blood clots, and other health conditions.
- Changes in Daily Activities and Routines: Many people have to renovate their homes, change living spaces, and make other kinds of accommodations due to their spinal injury.
- Changes in Your Professional Life: While some employers can accommodate workers after a spinal injury, others may need to change careers or rely on disability benefits if they cannot engage in gainful employment.
- Impact on Your Relationships: Spouses and other family members may have to assume caregiver roles. Couples may also experience changes in their ability to share affection and intimacy.
- Effects on Mental Health: Adjusting to life after a spine injury can take its toll on a person’s emotional and psychological well-being.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Damage in Charles Town and Jefferson County
Spinal cord injuries can result from any accident that applies traumatic force to the back and spine. Penetrating wounds can also cause damage to the spine and nerves. Some common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Severe car, truck, and motorcycle collisions can cause spinal cord injuries. The force of impact can disrupt signals along the spine, compress or herniate vertebral disks, or cause varying degrees of paralysis.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slips, trips, and falls may result in direct impact to the spine. Even at relatively modest heights, the impact of a fall can damage vertebrae and nerve function.
- Workplace Accidents: Falling objects, falls, accidents involving heavy machinery, and other industrial mishaps can result in blunt force or penetrating wounds to the spine. This can cause a serious or catastrophic spinal condition.
- Medical Malpractice: Surgical errors and other medical mistakes could result in damage to the spine or nearby nerves. This can create a whole host of challenges that can affect your life.
- Violence: Assaults, gunshots, and other violent actions can damage the spinal cord.
- Recreational Activities: Spinal injuries can also result from contact sports, combat sports, or other recreational activities that cause trauma to the back or neck.
After any kind of trauma to the neck, back, or spine, be sure to seek immediate medical attention. You should also contact our Jefferson County spinal injury attorneys to navigate your next steps. At Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can help you seek justice and recover compensation.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries: Complete vs. Incomplete
Spinal cord injuries are often categorized by the degree of damage done to the spine. Generally, the site of the injury and the areas below it are the ones most affected by a spinal condition.
Spinal cord injuries are often classified as follows:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injury: When someone sustains a complete spinal cord injury, the nerves and signals in that part of the spine are completely damaged and cannot function. This often results in paralysis and loss of function.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Incomplete damage to the spine means that an accident didn’t harm all of the nerves in the region. The spine can continue to carry messages and support the body, but function may be compromised to varying degrees.
Medical professionals can run diagnostic tests to determine the extent of your condition, as well as what your degree of recovery may be. You should also talk to our Jefferson County paralysis injury lawyers. We can help you seek compensation to cover your medical bills and future costs.
Long-Term Costs and Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Claim
Catastrophic spinal injuries are expensive and require long-term care to manage health. For survivors of spinal cord injuries who can no longer live independently, in-home care and medical monitoring may also be needed. These medical costs add yet another expense to all of your other losses.
A catastrophic injury attorney in Charles Town, WV works to draft a life care plan. This plan provides in-depth information about your injury and care requirements throughout your life.
Our team consults outside experts to ensure the plan is comprehensive, accurate, and accounts for economic fluctuations. This map of future medical costs is essential for seeking maximum compensation for your spinal injury claim.
Proving Fault and Liability in West Virginia Personal Injury Cases
To recover compensation for a spinal cord injury, you must demonstrate who was at fault for the accident so they can be held liable for your losses. This means establishing these four elements:
- Duty of Care: Someone had a duty to act reasonably in order to ensure the safety of others.
- Breach of Duty: Someone failed in their duty to act responsibly.
- Causation: By failing in their duty, someone caused a spinal cord injury to another person.
- Damages: The survivor of the spinal cord injury experienced actual losses, both financial and personal.
Our Charles Town spine injury lawyers will investigate the cause of your accident and discuss the scope of your condition with medical professionals. We will also back up these findings with extensive medical documentation and other evidence. This will help determine the full impact of your injury.
How Our Charles Town Legal Team Fights for Your Recovery
At Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers, attorney Stephen Skinner has extensive experience fighting for clients and helping them recover compensation.
When you have suffered a life-changing injury, you deserve the peace of mind that your care is financially covered. We work diligently to gather substantial evidence to build a strong case. Our goal is to help you recover your losses to the fullest extent possible.
Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Claims in West Virginia
West Virginia has laws governing how long a victim has to take legal action after they have been injured. This is known as a statute of limitations.
For spinal cord injuries, victims must file their claim within two years of the accident date (West Virginia Code § 55-2-12). While there is time to take legal action, it’s best to contact a Charles Town spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible. We can help prepare your claim and file it before the deadline expires.
Contact a Charles Town Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near You
After a life-changing spine injury, you need a law firm you can trust and that can take on insurance companies. You do not have to file a claim on your own. Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers is here for you. Our compassionate attorneys are ready to listen and fight for maximum compensation. To share the details of your injury with a spinal cord injury attorney in Charles Town, contact our law firm today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Claims
How much is a spinal cord injury claim worth in West Virginia?
Spinal cord injuries vary so much from case to case. Factors that affect the value of your claim include current and future medical care costs, the extent of your pain and suffering, insurance policy limits, and shared fault.
Our Charles Town spinal cord injury lawyers can help seek maximum compensation for your claim.
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Charles Town?
The law allows you two years to file a lawsuit for your injuries. Do not delay in taking legal action. A spinal cord injury attorney can provide recommendations on how to proceed with your claim and guide you through the litigation process.
What is the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries?
Complete spinal cord injuries fully destroy the connection between the brain and body, which prevents the spine from transmitting signals. This eliminates sensation or mobility in the affected areas.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries involve damage to some parts of these vital pathways, while other parts operate normally or in a reduced capacity. This means that a person may retain partial feeling and movement in the affected areas.
Can I file a claim if the spinal cord injury occurred while I was at work?
If you suffered a spinal injury at work, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. If someone other than a co-worker was involved in the incident, you might also be able to file a third-party claim. Doing so can help you seek additional compensation beyond your workers’ comp benefits.
A Charles Town spine injury attorney can help you determine whether you can file a third-party claim and how to maximize whatever compensation is available.