When you suffer a catastrophic injury to your spinal cord, a Stamford spinal cord injury lawyer could provide the legitimate, tough, and credible legal representation you need to pursue justice from those responsible. Reach out to a personal injury attorney who could help you seek compensation for your financial, physical, and emotional damages.
The spinal cord is comprised of nerves that start at the brain and extend all the way down the back, enabling someone to move and function by transmitting signals from the brain. The nerves that constitute the spinal cord also control organ function, such as the heart, lungs, and bladder. The following are some of the most frequent causes of spinal cord injuries:
As the spinal cord is essential for all bodily functions and involves a multitude of nerves, there are a range of possible spinal cord injuries depending on the impacted area. Two kinds of paralysis can occur as a result of a spinal cord injury: paraplegia and quadriplegia. Paraplegia impacts any part of the pelvic region or legs, while quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, impacts the entire body from the neck down, which could leave the individual completely paralyzed.
A complete spinal cord injury refers to a total loss of the individual’s muscle function in the nerves below the area of damage. Complete spinal cord injuries generally impact both side of the body. Incomplete spinal cord injuries still allow the muscles below the damaged nerve area to function, but also typically impact both sides of the body.
Cervical spinal cord injuries involve injuries to the first seven spinal cord nerves, and are the most serious of spinal cord injuries. Such injuries could result in limited, if any, feeling from the neck down, and could be fatal as they are nearer to the brain and impact most of the individual’s bodily functions. While spinal stenosis (when someone’s spinal discs compress their spinal nerves) can be a degenerative condition, is also commonly caused by traumatic accidents.
Connecticut law has strict time limits by which spinal cord injury victims must bring a lawsuit or else be barred from submitting a claim for damages. In Connecticut, the statutory deadline for personal injury matters, including spinal cord injury cases, is two years from the date of the accident. This means that if the individual does not file their case by the time the two-year filing window closes, they could lose their right to have their case heard and recover compensation.
Connecticut General Statutes §52-572h establishes the state’s modified comparative fault doctrine. According to this rule, if the injured party is found to share some level of fault for their injuries, their damage award could be reduced or eliminated as a result.
If the court determines that the plaintiff’s percentage of fault in the accident is 51 percent or more, they would be barred from recovering damages. Whereas if the injured party is less at fault, or 50 percent or less to blame for the accident that caused their losses, they could still collect from the defendant. A knowledgeable Stamford lawyer could help the spinal cord injury victim understand their legal rights and determine whether they qualify to seek compensation.
A Stamford spinal cord injury attorney would seek the maximum financial recovery to cover the current and long-term costs associated with the plaintiff’s injuries. These could include monetary damages for:
An experienced Stamford spinal cord injury lawyer could help you navigate the aftermath of a debilitating accident and identify the type of compensation you could recover from the at-fault party. Contact the office today by calling to schedule a case consultation.