New Bern Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If the nerves inside the spinal cord are damaged, it could result in a serious medical condition commonly known as a spinal cord injury. Automobile accidents and slip and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of spinal cord damage that may be compensable under New Bern civil law. If your spinal cord injury resulting from the negligence of another individual or entity, you should seek legal advice from a New Bern spinal cord injury lawyer. It may be critical to discuss the possibility of making a claim for damages with a dedicated catastrophic injury attorney.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
When a person suffers a spinal cord injury, it may have an adverse impact on the spinal cord’s ability to transmit messages between the brain and other parts of the body. As a result, the person might suffer from motor skill losses or sensory dysfunction, if not both.
Additional symptoms experienced by those with spinal cord injuries may include respiratory difficulties; pain in the head, neck, or back; losing control over body parts, and losing sensation in the limbs. Anyone who experiences any of these symptoms after suffering from a serious accident or blow to the back should seek immediate medical attention.
What is the Impact of a Spinal Injury?
It is important to be aware that sustaining a spinal cord injury could result in substantial long-term medical costs for the victim and their family. Data issued by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama in 2002 shows that people with spinal cord injury stay in an acute care unit for 15 days on average and in the hospital for about 44 days.
After surgery, initial hospitalization expenses average $140,000, and total expenses in the first year average out at $198,000 across all age groups. For those with paraplegia, the average expenses in the first year are about $152,000, but with quadriplegia, these costs may rise up to $417,000. If a paralyzed person is 25 years old when their injury occurs, the average lifetime cost is around $428,000 for paraplegics and $1.35 million for quadriplegics.
How to Claim for Damages in a Spinal Cord Accident Case
With the assistance of a New Bern spinal cord injury lawyer, an accident victim may successfully claim damages for both short-term and long-term medical expenses, as well as both physical pain and mental and emotional suffering. Specifically, compensable damages in a spinal cord injury case may cover losses related to:
- Loss of current income
- Permanent disability
- Loss of ability to earn a livelihood
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical costs
- Loss of future wages
Contacting a New Bern Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
The statute of limitations in North Carolina stipulates a specific time limit for filing personal injury cases. Any lawsuit related to a spinal cord injury must be filed within three years of the occurrence of the accident that led to the injury.
Do not deprive yourself of compensation simply because you were involved in an accident. A qualified New Bern spinal cord injury lawyer could help you navigate the legal intricacies of your case and ensure that your legal rights are fully protected. Call today to schedule an initial meeting and find out what a dedicated local attorney could do for you.
