Baton Rouge Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Baton Rouge, LA Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

If you are living with a spinal cord injury, you are not alone. An estimated 450,000 people live with spinal cord injuries in the United States, and approximately 17,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Sadly, the majority of these injuries are preventable and caused by motor vehicle crashes, falls, and violence. This is where a Baton Rouge spinal cord injury lawyer comes in.

When spinal cord injuries are caused by negligence, Day Law Group can help. Our Baton Rouge spinal cord injury lawyers help victims throughout Louisiana move forward and adapt after devastating accidents and injuries of all shapes and sizes.

Contact us online or call us at 225-200-0000 to find out what we can do for you.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): “A spinal cord injury usually begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae.” This kind of injury interrupts axons, which are the nerve cells that carry signals up and down your spinal cord, allowing your brain to communicate with the rest of your body.

Because spinal cord injuries fracture and compress vertebrae and crush and destroy axons, they frequently lead to paralysis. Paralysis occurs when the brain and body can no longer communicate and typically occurs below the site of the spinal cord injury.

Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the head and neck region above the shoulders, thoracic spinal cord injuries affect the upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscles; lumbar spinal cord injuries affect the hips and legs, and sacral spinal cord injuries affect the hips, back of the thighs, buttocks, and pelvic organs.

No matter where the injury occurs, paralysis can be complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury allows some function below the primary level of injury, while a complete spinal cord injury produces a total loss of all motor and sensory function below the level of injury. Complete spinal cord injuries tend to lead to paraplegia (paralysis from the waist down) and tetraplegia or quadriplegia paralysis from the neck down).

Why Do I Need a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?

If you are filing a personal injury claim against another individual or company, chances are they will have an experienced legal team to help them get out of giving you compensation. Having an attorney on your side for your spinal cord injury can help you avoid common issues and receive the most amount of damages possible for your case. They can help deal with other lawyers, insurance companies, and employers to make sure you are not taken advantage of.

FAQs

Q: How Much Can You Get From a Spinal Injury Claim?

A: The amount one might receive from a spinal injury claim depends on the circumstances of the case. A settlement amount might include things like medical costs at the time of injury as well as anticipated future costs associated with the injury. In many cases, a spinal cord injury can limit one’s ability to remain employed, which might lead them to receive damages for lost economic potential as well as a lower quality of life.

Q: Does Spinal Cord Injury Qualify for Disability?

A: A spinal cord injury might qualify for disability under the following conditions:

• Nerve root compression resulting in pain or limited mobility
• Spinal arachnoiditis proven by medical records that results in burning or odd sensations of touch (dysesthesia)
• Lumbar spinal stenosis with medical proof that results in chronic pain or weakness
• Spinal cord or nerve root lesions from any cause

A medical professional must usually prove these ailments in order to qualify for disability payments. If there is evidence, you might be eligible for benefits through SSI or SSDI, depending on your work history.

Q: What Do I Do After a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: One of the first things to do after suffering a spinal cord injury is to receive medical care if you have not already. Evidence from medical records can be useful in proving a personal injury claim. After receiving medical attention, schedule a consultation with an attorney if you believe your injuries were caused by another’s negligence. They can review your situation and determine whether you have an eligible case to file for damages related to your injuries.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

A: In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for a spinal cord injury is the amount of time a plaintiff has to file a claim. Most spinal cord injury claims are categorized under personal injury law, so the time limit will likely be the same as other personal injury cases. The limit is quite a short time span for a personal injury claim, especially after dealing with insurance companies, so it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to file on time. Without doing so, you may be unable to be compensated for your medical bills and other damages.

Understand Your Options

If someone else’s negligent or reckless actions caused your spinal cord injury, it is important to hold them accountable for the injuries you have suffered. A thorough personal injury claim requires evidence and legal know-how, which is why a personal injury attorney is so important. Schedule a consultation with Day Law Group today to find out whether you might be entitled to damages due to your spinal cord injury.