Charleston's rich history is full of stories of resilience and rebirth. Now, you're writing your own story of overcoming adversity after a spinal cord injury. At Even things fundamental to your life, such as relationships with family and friends, can suffer since you may be unable to participate in your usual activities.
How Can I Protect My Rights After a Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Accident?
Taking the right steps after a spinal cord injury can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Here are some important tips to protect your rights:
- Seek immediate medical attention. Prompt medical care may prevent your injuries from worsening, ease your physical pain, and create a record of your injuries.
- Document everything. Keep detailed records of your medical treatments, expenses, and how the injury has affected your daily life. This documentation can be invaluable in supporting your claim.
- Do not discuss fault. Don’t admit fault or discuss the details of your accident with anyone other than your lawyer or doctor. Even well-meaning statements can be used against you later.
- Be cautious with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters may try to settle quickly and for less than you deserve. Avoid giving recorded statements or accepting early settlement offers without legal counsel.
- Consult with a spinal cord injury lawyer. Seeking legal representation early can help protect your rights and ensure you take the right steps toward compensation.
Once you contact an injury lawyer, your attorney will provide additional advice to help you protect your rights.
What Can I Recover in a Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Case?
A comprehensive legal recovery for a spinal cord injury should address both your current and future needs. If your claim is successful, you may recover the following types of damages:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses include all injury-related health care costs, including emergency treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and rehabilitation services. It should also account for future medical needs related to your injury.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
You may be entitled to compensation for income lost due to your injury and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous occupation. This may include wages, benefits, raises, promotions, and self-employment income.
Home and Vehicle Modifications
Spinal cord injuries often require changes to your living environment. For example, you may need home modifications like ramps, widened doorways, specialized bathroom fixtures, and vehicle adaptations.
Life Care Costs
You may need ongoing care. Your recovery should include compensation for personal care assistance and potential long-term care facility costs.
Pain and Suffering
The physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury are significant components of your recovery. An experienced lawyer can help assign an appropriate value to these non-economic damages.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Compensation may be available for losing the ability to engage in activities and hobbies you enjoyed before the injury.
The value of these damages will be based on your unique injuries.
How Do I Choose a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney to Represent Me?
Selecting the right lawyer can be important for the success of your case. Consider these factors when making your decision:
- Experience with spinal cord injury cases. Past results are no guarantee of an outcome in your case. However, spinal cord injury cases often include complicated evidence, and your lawyer’s experience may be relevant to your claim.
- Communication style. Choose a lawyer who explains legal concepts clearly and keeps you informed throughout the process. You should feel comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns.
- Client testimonials. Reading about other clients' experiences can provide insight into how a lawyer works and treats their clients. We encourage you to review our client testimonials to understand the level of service and dedication we provide.
Trust your instincts. You should feel a sense of trust and confidence in your chosen attorney, as you'll be working closely with them during a challenging time in your life.
How Can a Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help Me?
At Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we're committed to guiding our clients through every step of your spinal cord injury claim. While every case is different, here are some ways we assist our spinal cord injury clients:
- Comprehensive case evaluation. We'll thoroughly review the details of each accident, gathering evidence and consulting with experts if necessary to build a strong foundation for a claim.
- Determining liability. Our team will work to identify all potentially liable parties and pursue compensation from all available sources.
- Calculating damages. We work with medical professionals and economic experts if necessary to accurately assess current and future needs so we can seek appropriate compensation.
- Negotiating with insurance companies. We handle all communications with insurance adjusters, working to protect our clients from potentially costly mistakes and fighting for a fair settlement.
- Litigation preparation. If a fair settlement can't be reached, we'll prepare a case for trial, including gathering required expert testimony and preparing clients for court proceedings.
Throughout the process, we work to be advocates for our clients, providing support and guidance through challenging times.
