As one of the most important parts of the human body, the spinal cord is also incredibly vulnerable to damage in the event of a car wreck, slip and fall, or other accident. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries can cause nerve damage and paralysis, forever changing a victim’s life.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligent actions, the Northern California spinal cord injury lawyers at Tiemann Law Firm can help you take legal action and pursue financial compensation.
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can vary greatly in severity, but all of them have an impact on your health and your ability to continue working or participating in the activities you enjoy. The National SCI Statistical Center (NSCISC) estimates there are 17,730 new spinal cord injuries every year across the United States and anywhere between 249,000 and 363,000 people currently living with SCI. Almost all of these cases result in some loss of feeling that doesn’t return for weeks or months or more.
If your injuries were the result of an accident caused by someone’s reckless actions, the Northern California spinal cord injury lawyers want you to know that you don’t have to go through this trying time alone. You have legal options, and with the guidance of an experienced and skilled legal representative, you can pursue financial compensation to cover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
To learn more about how Tiemann Law Firm can help you take control of your future, call us today at (916) 999-9000 and schedule a free consultation.
Why You Need a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Whether your accident resulted in whiplash or some level of paralysis, it’s imperative that you retain an attorney who has experience handling spinal cord injury cases and a consistent track record of getting results. With so much on the line regarding your physical and financial health, handling your case without the skills and knowledge of a top-notch attorney can greatly affect the outcome and could result in recovering not enough or no compensation at all.
Spinal cord injury cases can be incredibly involved and expensive, especially if they end up going to court. A law firm that specializes in these cases has the necessary resources and manpower to pour over hundreds of documents, find evidence, and leave no stone unturned in investigating and arguing your case. A spinal cord injury lawyer also has a deep understanding of the legal system and knows what type of evidence needs to be tracked down and presented to a jury in the event your case goes to trial.
Along with giving you the best possible chance at recovering full compensation to pay for damages, hiring a personal injury lawyer for your spinal cord injury case lets you focus solely on your recovery while Tiemann Law Firm handles the rest. Spinal cord injury victims often require operations and a lengthy rehabilitation period. Facing these challenges while also negotiating with an insurance company that’s doing everything possible to avoid paying you can greatly affect your recovery and emotional well-being. Let the Northern California spinal cord injury lawyers carry this burden for you.
Read more: Five Ways To Prove Your Spinal Cord Injury
Why Hire Tiemann Law Firm?
Once you decide to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer to handle your case, the most important decision you will make is choosing a law firm to work with. It’s not enough to simply have legal representation. You have to have the right lawyer for the job who will treat your case with the urgency and care it deserves. The Northern California spinal cord injury lawyers treat every case like it’s our own and promise to treat you and your family with respect, as we all navigate the legal process together. At Tiemann Law Firm, the client-lawyer relationship is a partnership.
Successful cases don’t just happen. They require hours of hard work, relentless dedication to justice, and a passion for helping victims get through this tragic time so they can move on with their lives. We’ve earned our reputation as a law firm that aggressively fights for our clients, and we promise to do the same for you. When you hire us to handle your spinal cord injury case, we won’t just accept the first offer to claim victory and move on. Winning isn’t recovering something. It’s getting every dollar you need.
Take the first step and contact Tiemann Law Firm to schedule your free consultation.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is responsible for controlling all function and movement in the human body by sending and receiving messages from the brain to control both voluntary and involuntary actions. As a literal neural highway that controls everything from organ and sensory function to walking and talking, it is essential to life. If it is damaged in a car wreck, slip and fall accident, or workplace accident, the consequences can be life-altering. It’s no wonder that victims spend an average of 11 days in the hospital and 31 days in rehabilitation following their accident.
The first classification of spinal cord injuries is either complete or partial. In complete spinal cord injuries, the damage is far more severe and permanent. Here, the victim has no sensation and cannot voluntarily move anything below the point of injury on both sides of the body. On the other hand, a partial spinal cord injury means there is still some sensation and function below the injury point, and the severity of the nerve damage can be better or worse on one side.
SCI can also be classified as either tetraplegia or paraplegia.
- Tetraplegia (quadriplegia) – When the spinal cord is damaged in the neck region causing paralysis below the neck, including arms and legs.
- Paraplegia – Occurs when the injury is below the neck causing loss of sensation in some area of the lower part of the body.
According to the NSCISC, incomplete tetraplegia is the most common outcome (47.6% of cases), and complete tetraplegia is the rarest (12.3%). Regardless of classification, all spinal cord injuries can result in lifelong complications that impact your personal and professional lives. This includes difficulty breathing, trouble regulating blood pressure, and loss of bowel or bladder control. Some other consequences of spinal cord injuries include:
- Loss of sexual function
- Loss of control or severe motor skill degradation
- Tingling or numbness in the limbs
- Inability to walk safely without the use of a wheelchair
- Inability to speak
- Difficulty supporting head or neck
- Loss of independence requiring long-term, round-the-clock care
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
When the neck or spine experiences a sudden jolt or force from a violent impact, the consequences can be catastrophic. At Tiemann Law Firm, we’ve handled a variety of different spinal cord injury cases, and our attorneys know what it takes to successfully argue your case.
Since 2015, the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States has been vehicle crashes, but they are not the only cause. Some of the most common causes include:
- Slip and fall
- Fall from a height
- Gunshot wounds
- Physical assaults
- Medical malpractice
Spinal cord injury severity can vary greatly depending on the facts and details of your accident. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you still may be eligible for financial compensation to help cover any medical bills or lost wages, so call us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering your legal options following a spinal cord injury, you likely have many questions about your potential case. We would like to answer all of your questions at your free case review. Meanwhile, here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
The exact answer to this question will depend entirely on the details of your individual case and the severity of your injuries. In most instances, cases involving a spinal cord injury take several months to over a year to settle, depending on whether the at-fault driver’s insurance company cooperates, how extensive the accident investigation is, and whether or not we have to go to court. That’s why it’s crucial to get in touch with a Northern California spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible following your accident so we can start the process.
One of the most significant roadblocks we could potentially face with your case is if you’ve waited too long to take legal action. In the state of California, injured victims have to file a personal injury claim against the responsible party within two years from the date of the injury. If you wait to take action until after the two-year period, the court will more than likely refuse to hear your case, and you will lose all rights to compensation.
Every case is unique, so your attorneys will work closely with you to help you determine the full value of your case. They will take into account your economic losses, such as your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earnings potential. And they will also take into account your non-economic losses, such as mental anguish and pain and suffering. They may work with health and financial experts to help determine the maximum value of your case.
Contact Tiemann Law Firm Today
Tiemann Law Firm knows how spinal cord injuries can disrupt a person’s life. It can cause chronic pain and discomfort, prevent you from working, and, in severe cases, take away your independence. We can’t undo the damage already done, but we can do everything in our power to make the future right.
Don’t waste another moment worrying about how you’re going to pay a lifetime of medical bills or continue to support your family. The Northern California spinal cord injury lawyers will get you the financial compensation you need to avoid financial ruin. Call us today at (916) 999-9000 and schedule a free and confidential consultation.