Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Spinal cord injuries can happen in an instant and change a person’s life forever. Anyone can suffer the devastating effects of spinal cord damage. Whether it results from an automobile accident, medical malpractice, or a swimming pool accident, these injuries can require lifelong care. The Maine serious injury lawyers at Briggs & Wholey recognize that victims of spinal cord injuries need appropriate medical care as well as financial support. We are devoted to helping victims of someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing seek the compensation they deserve so they can get the care they need.

Spinal Cord Injuries Affect Thousands of Americans

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 12,000 to 20,000 people experience spinal cord injuries each year. The most common cause of such injuries is car accidents at 46%. Falls represent 22% of spinal cord injuries, violence 16%, and sports 12%. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis or loss of sensation in various parts of the body, as well as impairments of the lungs, bladder, or bowel. Victims may also suffer serious psychological effects from both the trauma from the incident and the effects of the injury.

The serious impairments that can result from a spinal cord injury alter the victim’s life forever. The victim of a spinal cord injury may never be able to regain the same earning capacity he or she had before the injury. Some victims are never able to return to work and may need daily care. Family members may have to take on the role of caregivers and sometimes must quit their jobs to care for their loved one.

Spinal cord injuries may require lifelong medical care. According to the CDC, the lifetime cost of medical expenses varies depending on the specific injury, but it is estimated at between $500,000 and more than $3 million.

Pursuing Compensation from the Responsible Party

If an accident was caused by the negligent or intentional conduct of someone else, the victim can pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. To prove a negligence claim, the victim must show that the defendant had a duty with respect to the victim, that the defendant breached that duty, that the breach caused the victim’s injury, and that the victim suffered damages as a result. The duty is defined using the reasonable care that an ordinary, prudent person would use in similar circumstances. A breach could consist of any careless act, often as simple as running a red light or failing to install a proper fence around a swimming pool.

Damages can extend from economic to non-economic harms. If you prevail in a personal injury lawsuit based on a spinal cord injury, you may be able to get compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other types of damages. When a defendant acted in a particularly negligent or reckless way, you may be able to pursue punitive damages as well. The injured person’s spouse may also have a claim for loss of consortium, which includes the loss of the comfort, companionship, and affection of the injured person.

You should explore the possibility of filing a negligence claim as soon as possible after the accident that harmed you. A victim in Maine must take legal action within six years of the injury or risk losing the right to seek compensation.

Contact a Knowledgeable Maine Lawyer to Discuss Your Case

Because the victims of spinal cord injuries may need care and treatment for the rest of their lives, they need the assistance of an experienced lawyer who knows how to most effectively pursue compensation. The Maine personal injury attorneys at Briggs and Wholey have nearly 30 years of combined legal experience. We are dedicated to fighting for injury victims in Portland, Bangor, Bath, Rockport, and throughout Maine, and helping them seek the compensation they deserve. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, let us fight for you. Schedule your free consultation by calling us at (888) 596-1099 or contacting us online.