Evelyn Hudson 
Spinal cord injuries are serious and life-threatening. They are usually considered catastrophic injuries since they lead to physical disabilities that make it difficult or even impossible for the sufferer to earn a living or accomplish everyday care tasks on their own.
If you sustained a spinal cord injury due to somebody else’s reckless or careless actions, it’s your right to seek compensation for the serious effects of your injury on your quality of life and finances. Also, the compensation you will get should cover the possible impacts you may encounter in the future because of the injury. A personal injury lawyer near me can give you more advice regarding this process. Ensure you work with a lawyer who has extensive experience in handling your type of case.
What are Spinal Cord Injuries?
The spinal cord offers stability for your back that lets you walk and stand. Also, it relays messages from your brain to your other body parts, so they can function and feel a sensation. Damage to any part of your spinal cord is a spinal cord injury. In general, this injury leads to a loss of function and sensation below the damaged area. A spinal cord injury is usually permanent since your spinal cord cannot fully heal from injury on its own. Spinal cord injuries are commonly suffered by victims of fall accidents and motor vehicle accidents.
Spinal Cord Injury Expenses and Impacts
A spinal cord injury’s expenses depend on your age when the injury happened and the level of paralysis you sustained. In general, your living expenses and medical costs for five years while sustaining this injury can be $350, 000. Your injury may cost $40, 000 per year for every subsequent year of your life. If you sustained high tetraplegia, your first year of treatment can cost over a million dollars.
Apart from the economic costs of your injury, you will also deal with changes in all aspects of your life. These include your ability to make a living, life without help, and your relationships.
Seeking Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury
If you sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of another party’s wrongdoing, you can seek compensation that covers the impact and expenses associated with the injury. Your injury attorney can initiate a claim that demands the insurance company of the at-fault party to pay you a certain amount. Typically, this will start the negotiation process where both parties make offers and counteroffers until a settlement agreement is reached. Your attorney will collect important evidence to prove your case to the insurer and get a fair settlement. Should the insurance company refuse to settle the claim outside of court, you have three years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit.
