Clare Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries can potentially be life-changing. No matter how often a spinal cord injury may occur statistically, it is anything but common if it happens to you, especially if it was caused by another’s negligence. At Jay Trucks and Associates, we believe in holding at-fault parties accountable for their negligent actions.

… Very quick replies to all questions. Always explained every step with detail. Thank you for everything…

– B. Lozon

Our personal injury attorneys have a strong history of success. We have obtained over $500 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients, including a $399,000 settlement for a delivery driver and $257,000 for a custodian, both of whom sustained back injuries.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from a spinal cord injury, we encourage you to contact a Clare spinal cord injury attorney to schedule a free legal consultation. This meeting does not obligate you to hire us, even if we determine that your case has merit. However, if you do retain our services, there are no out-of-pocket costs for you to pay. We get paid nothing unless we achieve a recovery for you first.

How Can I Know If My Case Is Eligible For Compensation?

You may have an eligible spinal cord injury case if another individual’s actions or inaction caused your injury. However, the burden of proof is on you to prove there was negligence. This is why hiring an attorney to help you early on is important.

Our Clare personal injury lawyers handle spinal cord injury claims daily, and we understand how to build a strong argument for negligence on your behalf, which means:

Establishing a Duty of Care

Proving the at-fault party owed you a duty of care and that he or she was obligated to take reasonable steps to prevent causing you harm.

Proving Breach of Duty of Care

Showing evidence of how there was a breach, or violation, of this duty. For example, a driver violates a duty of care by speeding through a red light and colliding with another vehicle.

Showing a Causal Link

Linking the accident to your injury is also a necessary step in establishing the other party’s negligence. So, if the driver violated a traffic law by running a stop sign, and that violation led to an accident and caused your injuries, there is evidence of negligence.

Suffering Real Damages

You must prove you suffered actual damages, such as lost wages or medical bills. However, damages could also include other intangible damages, such as emotional trauma and physical pain and suffering.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord damage and injury can occur in a variety of ways. Negligence-related spinal cord injuries are often avoidable and can stem from various circumstances.

Motor vehicle accidents – Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of negligence-related spinal cord injuries. A negligent driver may engage in distracted driving, speeding, traffic violations, or other reckless and endangering behaviors that can lead to a car accident that causes spinal cord damage. Additionally, poorly maintained roads or faulty traffic signals may contribute to these accidents.

Medical negligence – Occasionally, spinal cord injuries occur due to surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or improper treatment. Improperly performed spinal surgeries, failure to recognize and treat spinal infections or tumors, and administering excessive traction during childbirth can constitute medical malpractice or negligence and result in serious injuries to the spine as well as other body parts.

Workplace accidents – Employers are required to maintain a safe working environment and provide proper training to all employees. Negligent practices, such as inadequate safety protocols, failure to enforce safety regulations, or faulty equipment, can lead to spinal cord injuries among workers. Falls or accidents involving heavy machinery are especially likely to result in spinal cord injury, thus creating a great risk for those in the construction industry.

Premises liability – When property owners fail to maintain public areas or fail to warn others about potential risks, they act negligently and put others at risk for spinal cord injury. Slip and fall accidents, poorly maintained staircases, or inadequate lighting may contribute to these incidents.

Our lawyers can help determine precisely how your spinal cord injury happened and whose negligence contributed to the accident. We will thoroughly pursue all avenues of compensation and ensure that your personal injury claim is given the time and attention it deserves.

Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are many types and degrees of spinal cord injuries. Often, these involve damage to other body parts, as is the case in a car accident that results in spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Your unique diagnosis from a qualified medical professional will be instrumental in pursuing compensation in your personal injury case.

As with any accident, you must receive proper medical care and continue to seek treatment as needed. Your spinal cord injury lawyer can continue to work on your case while you focus on your physical recovery.

Some specific spinal cord injuries include:

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries can include fractures in the spinal column or the rupture or compression of one or more discs (discs provide cushioning between each vertebra to allow ease of movement).

Overuse Injuries

People who do a lot of heavy lifting on the job, such as warehouse stockers or construction workers, are more susceptible to repetitive or overuse back injuries. This type of work could cause torn, stretched, or sprained back muscles. Moving in a sudden or awkward motion can also cause someone to suffer from muscle spasms in the back.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

When a complete fracture of the spinal cord occurs, it results in a full loss of mobility and sensation below the point of the victim’s injury. However, the location of the fracture determines the degrees of paralysis, which could result in:

Tetraplegia, more commonly called quadriplegia, affects the victim’s torso, pelvic organs, and both the upper and lower limbs.

Paraplegia primarily affects the lower part of a victim’s body, including the lower limbs, pelvic organs, and torso.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

An incomplete spinal cord injury causes less damage than a complete spinal cord injury. However, victims still lose some sensation and functionality. The degree of the loss depends on the extent of the injury.

How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Happen?

Many accidents can result in a variety of back injuries, from painful spasms and torn muscles to an extensive spinal cord injury that causes the victim to become paralyzed. These accidents may include:

• Car or truck collisions
• Motorcycle crashes
• Boat accidents
• Slip and falls
• Construction accidents
• Accidents that happen at work
• Sport-related injuries
• Acts of violence

How Much is a Spinal Cord Injury Claim Worth?

Spinal cord injuries, especially when the damage is more extensive, are typically high-value claims. However, without knowing all of the unique specifics of your accident or your injury, it is impossible to determine a numerical value.

If your case is eligible for recovering damages, you could receive various types of compensation, such as:

• Lost wages if you were unable to go to work after your accident
• Medical costs for your emergency care
• Surgical interventions, physical therapy, and other ongoing medical care you may require
• Prescription medication to manage your pain and other symptoms related to your injuries
• Future earning capacity, if you will never be able to return to work
• Modifications at home, such as an entry ramp, to help with mobility management
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Medical equipment, such as a wheelchair

How Can An Attorney Benefit My Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Our dedicated spinal cord injury lawyers realize that a spinal cord injury causes devastation not just to the victim, but also to his or her loved ones. Figuring out how to manage daily tasks and seek medical care can be overwhelming enough after this type of injury, even without the added burden of dealing with the high cost of medical care.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, your dedicated attorney will determine what your legal options are and how you might best recover compensation. These actions may involve negotiation with the insurance company to obtain an agreeable settlement or filing another type of legal action, if necessary.

If you have a case, our trusted attorneys are dedicated to fully handling the legal process, protecting your best interests, and pursuing maximum compensation on your behalf. We want you to be able to focus on your recovery and your family while we:

• Investigate your spinal injury accident
• Handle on-time filing of legal documents
• Gather evidence to support a strong argument of negligence
• Communicate with the insurance provider and other involved parties
• Keep you informed throughout the legal process

We welcome the opportunity to help you recover the damages you sustained due to negligence.

Wrongful Death and Spinal Cord Injury

Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries often come with an increased risk of mortality. If a spinal cord injury results in the death of your loved one, you may be able to pursue compensation on their behalf. To file a wrongful death action, you must act quickly. Our law firm is experienced in seeking fair compensation for the surviving family members and spouses of those whose lives have been unfairly cut short due to negligence.

By consulting a legal professional as soon as possible, you can begin the process of recovering economic damages as well as compensable losses for the emotional distress and grief that families must face after losing a loved one.

Are There Deadlines For Filing a Claim?

Michigan’s statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of your injury. If you miss your deadline, you will likely have no opportunity to pursue compensation for your damages.

There are exceptions that may extend the deadline or require you to file significantly sooner. Hence, we recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer from our firm to assess what date may apply to your situation.

Can I Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer?

When an unforeseen motor vehicle accident or a workplace slip-and-fall suddenly finds you injured, it’s likely that you’ll have many things on your mind. You may wonder how you’ll pay for your hospital bills, let alone pay an attorney’s fees. Thankfully, our legal team is here to help without putting you at financial risk.

Our attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we won’t charge a fee unless we’re able to recover compensation for you. By meeting with a member of our legal team, you’ll be able to get answers to your questions, including how the contingency fee arrangement works, at no cost to you.

Contact A Clare Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

At Jay Trucks and Associates, we have decades of experience helping injury victims and have recovered millions in compensation for our clients throughout the state of Michigan. Founder Jay F. Trucks is a member of both the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association.

Our legal consultation is completely free, with no obligation to pursue a claim, so there is no risk to you. If we represent you, there are also no upfront costs to pay. We do not receive payment for our services unless you obtain compensation.