A traumatic spinal cord injury is a life-changing event. If you or a loved one are dealing with one, the future may seem bleak and uncertain as you wonder how you will pay your medical bills and support yourself and your family.
While no dollar amount will return you to your pre-injury condition, an appropriate settlement ensures that you receive the continued care and financial support you need. A spinal cord injury lawyer in Doral will take care of settling with the responsible party’s insurance company and represent you in court if necessary. Call the attorneys at Anidjar & Levine today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
What Compensation Can You Receive in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Medical experts consider severe spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis or some degree of loss of feeling and function catastrophic and life-changing. It is no surprise that the damages can be astronomical. Depending on the facts of your case, some of your losses include:
Medical Expenses
This includes all your medical costs during the initial medical crisis, such as doctors, hospital, ambulance, emergency room, surgeries, medications, and other procedures. Once your condition is stable, your medical costs can continue with spinal cord injury rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and ongoing treatment. We will also calculate the estimated amount of your future medical expenses.
Disability
Many people lose some of their independence following a severe spinal cord injury. You may need daily assistance with eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, transferring from a bed to a chair, and transportation. The consequences of your injury may affect your ability to work. Your lawsuit should account for your disability and all its physical effects.
Lost Wages
This category includes the paychecks you missed from the moment you were injured until you got back to work. Lost wages also include diminished earning capacity if you are no longer able to work the same number of hours or do the type of work you did before the injury.
Specialized Equipment and Modifications
Depending on the level of function you have after you complete spinal cord rehabilitation, you may need specialized equipment in your home. This equipment includes a wheelchair or walker, a lift device for your bed, and a tub or shower lift. You may need to have a contractor install home modifications so you can continue living in your current home with your impairments.
Typical home modifications following a spinal cord injury include access ramps, stair lift equipment, widened doorways and hallways, lowered countertops and cabinets, and replacing doorknobs with levers. You might also need an adapted vehicle and motorized scooter.
Your lawsuit should account for all the equipment and home or vehicle modifications you need to accommodate your injury.
Noneconomic Damages
The value of noneconomic damages depends on the severity of the injury and how much it affects your life. Spinal cord injury patients often experience pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. We will calculate the fair amount you should receive for these losses.
How Will We Prove Your Damages?
We will gather the medical bills from all of your healthcare providers and collect their records of your intake, treatment, and prognosis. We may also rely on medical experts who can testify about the long-term effects of your injury, its effects on your life, and future and ongoing care you will require.
We will build your case for lost wages and disability through employer records and expert witnesses. With this evidence, we will paint a compelling picture of what this injury has taken away from you.
Do Not Wait to Get Representation From a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Doral
Because of the significant amount of money at stake, the insurance company wants to settle with you as soon as possible. However, early settlements may not take into account future medical and other costs. You could end up with a stack of medical bills you have no way to pay if you settle too soon. Getting your lawyer on board at the beginning will protect you from this scenario.
We will handle your claim and deal directly with the insurance company, so you do not have to. The spinal cord injury lawyers at Anidjar & Levine will build your case to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today, and we will line up your free consultation.
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