Did you sustain a spinal cord injury in Miami, Florida? You may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills and other damages. However, it can be difficult to recover fair compensation without an experienced Miami spinal cord injury lawyer.
At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 100 years of combined experience handling complex personal injury claims in South Florida. We’ve won hundreds of millions of dollars for our satisfied clients over the years.
Contact our law offices in Miami, Florida, today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help. Call us at (305) 937-0191.
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How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Miami, FL
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can change your life in an instant. When all is said and done, you might not recognize your life anymore. You’ll need money for treatment–and you’ll need a lawyer who can hold all responsible parties accountable.
Our Miami personal injury lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers have won thousands of cases for accident victims over the years. We face off against big corporations and insurance companies–and win.
We can help with your SCI case by:
- Investigating the circumstances of the accident
- Assessing your case value
- Demanding fair compensation from all responsible parties
- Hiring experts and specialists who are respected in their fields
- Negotiating with the insurance company to maximize your settlement
You have one chance to recover fair compensation for your injuries. Call our Miami personal injury attorneys to learn more about how we’ll fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Overview of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is an 18-inch long column of nerves, vertebrae, and tissue that runs from the base of the brain to the tailbone. The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Because of this, spinal cord damage is likely to impact other body regions.
Spinal cord injuries can involve damage to the nerves or the spinal bones (vertebrae).
Broadly speaking, there are two primary types of spinal cord injuries:
- Complete spinal cord injuries, where the victim loses complete function below the level of injury
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries, where the victim loses only partial sensation or function below the injury
Either type of spinal cord damage can be life-changing. The extent of the damage will depend on the area of the spinal cord that has been damaged and the severity of the injury.
The spine is divided into four basic regions:
- The cervical spine at the top of the spine (vertebrae C1-C7)
- The thoracic spine in the mid-to-upper back (vertebrae T1-T12)
- The lumbar spine in the lower back (vertebrae L1-L5)
- The sacral spine at the tailbone (vertebrae S1-S5)
Generally, injuries to the highest regions of the spinal cord tend to result in the most severe and life-altering damage.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury
At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers handle all types of spinal cord injury cases in Miami, including those involving:
- Quadriplegia, or paralysis from the neck down
- Tetraplegia, or paralysis in three limbs
- Paraplegia, or paralysis from the waist down
- Anterior cord syndrome injuries (injury to the front of the spine)
- Posterior cord syndrome (injury to the back of the spine)
- Nerve damage in the center of the spinal cord
- Cauda Equina Syndrome, or damage to the nerves in the sacral spine
- Compression injuries
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a spinal cord injury? Call our Miami spinal cord injury attorneys for help today. We’ll review your case for free, so there’s no risk in reaching out to explore your options.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The most common signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of mobility
- Severe pain or pressure in the back
- Problems breathing
- Weakness or decreased sensation in the arms and legs
- Loss of bladder or bowel function
- Changes in sexual function
- Unusual lumps along the spine
The signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury can be dramatic. In other cases, however, the symptoms can be much more subtle. Spinal cord damage is something that can worsen over time, making it important to seek medical attention any time you suspect a spine injury.
What are the Long-Term Consequences of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The long-term consequences of any spinal cord injury depend on the area of the spine that has been damaged. Victims of spinal cord injuries are likely to suffer physical and emotional damage regardless of the type of injury involved.
Long-Term Consequences of Cervical Spine Injuries
The cervical spine is located in the neck. Damage to the cervical spine has the potential to cause catastrophic and permanent damage. In the most serious cases, victims can be paralyzed from the neck down.
Loss of mobility is often only one consequence of severe damage to the cervical spine. Victims may also suffer:
- Respiratory problems, including the need for a ventilator
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Difficulty speaking
- Severe depression
- Complete paralysis of the arms, legs and torso
- The need for a motorized wheelchair
If you or a loved one sustained a severe cervical spine injury, professional around-the-clock nursing care could become necessary. Most victims are unable to eat, drink, bathe or perform any basic tasks without assistance.
Long-Term Consequences of Thoracic Spine Injuries
Long-term consequences of a thoracic spinal cord injury include:
- Paraplegia
- Severe and chronic pain
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Changes in sexual function
- Severe depression
Victims of the most severe thoracic spinal cord fractures often face a lifelong need for a wheelchair and assistance with the basic activities of daily living.
Long-Term Consequences of Lumbar Spine Injuries
Injuries to the lumbar spine often cause:
- Loss of function in the hips or legs
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Changes in sexual function
Victims may require braces or other medical devices to walk on their own.
Long-Term Consequences of Sacral Spine Injuries
Injuries to the sacral spine are relatively rare. The vertebrae in this region of the spine are more sturdy and difficult to damage.
However, victims of sacral spine injuries often experience some loss of function in the hips or legs, but most can walk on their own. It’s also possible for the injury to impact your ability to control the bladder and bowels.
What Causes Most Spinal Cord Injuries?
Any type of accident or trauma can cause a spinal cord injury. Most often, spinal cord injuries occur because of:
- Auto accidents and car accidents
- Other motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Sports accidents
- Trampoline or recreation accidents
- Violence or gunshot wounds
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home neglect
- Birth injuries
At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of personal injury claims in Miami. If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury, don’t hesitate to call and schedule a free case evaluation today.
What is My Miami Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
The cost of treating a spinal cord injury can be dramatic. Over a lifetime, a 25-year-old who suffers paraplegia might spend about $2.3 million to treat the injury over a lifetime. That dollar amount doesn’t even factor in lost wages and other non-financial losses.
There are dozens of factors that could be relevant in determining how much your personal injury case is worth.
Examples include:
- The overall severity of the injury
- Your lost wages and diminished ability to work in the future
- Your current medical expenses and anticipated cost of future medical treatment
- How the injury changes your life
- Your emotional suffering
- Whether you contributed to the accident
Our Miami spinal cord injury attorneys work with experts who can help us understand your case’s more complex valuation issues. Just give us a call today to get started.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Spinal Cord Injuries in Miami, Florida?
Florida personal injury laws give accident victims the right to recover economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of damages you may receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Medical devices
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost independence
- Loss of consortium
Spinal cord injuries can also be fatal. If you lost a loved one, we can help you fight to recover damages for wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
The statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. In Florida, the statute of limitations in personal injury cases is two years. It starts running on the date of your injury.
Historically, the Florida statute of limitations gave you four years to take legal action. However, the law was updated on March 24, 2023, and now accident victims have less time to act. If you suffered your spinal cord injury after 3/24/23, you need to file your lawsuit within two years.
Contact a Miami Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Did you or a family member suffer a spinal cord injury in Miami or West Palm Beach? You may have a legal right to hold the responsible party liable for compensation. Call a Miami spinal cord injury lawyer at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today.
Our personal injury law firm in Miami, FL also provides:
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