Spinal cord injuries are some of the most catastrophic accident injuries. Victims are often left with lifelong mobility impairment and many other medical problems.
Our experienced Glendale spinal cord injury lawyers know how bad these injuries can be. We have helped many spinal cord injury victims recover compensation, including $4,000,000 for a car crash victim who suffered a fractured spinal cord and was paralyzed, and $2,163,000 for a car accident victim who suffered a spinal cord injury and brain injury. Partner Jeffrey Phillips has represented many victims of serious or catastrophic injuries and is a Leaders Forum member of the American Association for Justice.
We can be reached 24/7 by phone or online contact form. Your consultation with our firm is free of charge and there is no obligation ”“ you decide whether to take legal action if you have a case. Our attorneys work on contingency so there are no upfront fees. We do not get paid unless we win.
To learn more about how we may be able to help you, call us today at 602-222-222 .
Can I Pursue Compensation for My Spinal Cord Injury?
When people suffer spinal cord injuries as a result of another party’s negligence, or the negligence of a product manufacturer, they may be eligible to pursue compensation for damages.
Proving negligence occurred can be very complicated. Our Glendale spinal cord injury lawyers must look at the circumstances involved in the accident to determine if negligence may have occurred.
There are four elements of negligence:
A duty of care existed: It must be established that the party at-fault owed you a duty of care – a legal duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent harm to you.
The duty of care was breached: The at-fault party failed to uphold his or her duty of care. In a vehicle accident, the at-fault party may have breached his or her duty of care by breaking traffic laws or speeding.
The breach and your injury are linked: The at-fault party’s breach of duty of care directly caused your injury ”“ the injury would not have occurred had the at-fault party upheld the duty of care he or she owed you.
There are damages: As a result of your injury, you have experienced damages ”“ this includes things like medical care costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Since each spinal cord injury claim is different, it is important to discuss it with a qualified attorney who can determine if the four elements of negligence may have been present.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Every case is unique, and the facts of the case impact its value. The severity of one’s injuries and the amount of time they are expected to impact the victim play a significant role in determining the value of a case. Typically, the value of a claim increases in cases of more severe injuries, compared to minor injuries.
In spinal cord injury cases, victims may pursue compensation for damages such as:
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Loss of enjoyment of life
Pain and suffering
Property damages
Physical therapy
Medical care, including past, present and future treatments
Medications, both prescription and over the counter
Medical assistive equipment
Our Glendale spinal cord injury attorneys can examine your situation to determine how much your damages may be worth. If you have questions about your spinal cord injury claim, we are here to provide answers.
Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation to learn what legal options may be available to you.
The aftermath of a spinal cord injury is devastating for families. Victims may have severe physical limitations and challenges that place extra burdens on friends and family members. The last thing you want to have to deal with is the complex legal process.
Working with an experienced law firm is often a benefit to injured victims as they pursue compensation for damages. Our attorneys have years of experience working on such claims ”“ we know what is required to prove negligence, perform thorough accident investigations and accurately value damages suffered.
Our Glendale spinal cord injury lawyers can also talk to the insurance company for you. It is generally not a good idea for accident victims to deal with the insurance company because insurers know how to trick and take advantage of accident victims.
They ask victims for statements and offer settlements quickly to try to close the claim without having to provide fair compensation to victims. Insurers know the questions to ask and what to say to try to trick victims into downplaying their injuries and the value of their damages.
We can protect your claim from the insurance company and negotiate for the full value of your damages. We are also prepared to take the case to court if necessary.
Call Phillips Law Group today to learn how our team of investigators, attorneys, paralegals and assistants can help you. 602-222-222 .
Deadlines for Filing Injury Claims in Arizona
In Arizona, accident victims generally have two years to file a personal injury claim. This two-year period starts from the date of the accident. If a claim is not filed within the state’s statute of limitations, it may be dismissed if it gets to court.
This may not necessarily be the deadline for your claim though, because each situation is different. There are various exceptions to the two-year deadline, depending on whether the victim is a minor or mentally incompetent. Claims against government entities have a much shorter deadline ”“ you have just 180 days from the date of the accident.
There are many factors that can affect the deadline for your claim. This is why you should discuss the claim with a licensed Glendale spinal cord injury lawyer.
Types of Accidents that Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result from many different accidents. These include:
Automobile accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Commercial truck accidents
Boating accidents
Slip and fall accidents
Premises accidents
Workplace injuries
Acts of violence
Sports accidents
What are the Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
There are essentially two types of spinal cord injuries, acute and overuse injuries. Acute injuries are those that occur from an accident, like a car accident, diving accident or sports accident. Some examples of acute injuries include: dislocations/fractures, disc injuries, and sprains.
Fractures occur when bones in the spinal cord crack or break. There are two main types of spinal cord fractures:
Complete spinal cord injuries result in the loss of all feeling and movement below the point of the injury. This results in one of two types of paralysis depending on the part of the spine that is affected: tetraplegia affects all arms, hands, pelvic organs and the body’s trunk; paraplegia affects all or parts of the legs, pelvic organs and trunk.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries leave some feeling and movement below the injured area. Incomplete spinal cord injuries range in severity.
Disc injuries include bulging or ruptured discs. Discs are essentially cushions located between vertebrae. When they are compressed or ruptured, they can touch nearby nerves and cause intense pain.
Sprains are when muscles and tendons around the spine are stretched or twisted. Sometimes these tendons and muscles can get torn.
Overuse injuries often include stiffness and spasms. Stiffness can often happen to workers who lift heavy things on a regular basis. The muscles can become tight and cause pain and limited mobility.
Spasms happen when muscles suddenly contract, causing intense pain.
Phillips Law Group is here to assist injury victims. Phone: 602-222-222
Steps to Take After a Spinal Cord Injury
After suffering a spinal cord injury, it is important to take the following steps, not only to help you recover, but to strengthen your claim:
Get immediate medical care: Your injuries need to be diagnosed by a medical professional, which can also help link them to the accident.
Follow your doctor’s orders: It is important that you follow all instructions given by your doctor. Doing so helps your recovery and helps show you did not take or fail to take action that resulted in your injury getting worse.
Gather evidence: Keep all medical bills, gather the names and contact information of all parties at the scene, request witness names and contact information, and take photos at the accident scene if you are able to do so.
Contact an attorney: An attorney can start working on your claim as soon as he or she determines you have a case and you decide to proceed. It is a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as possible because there is limited time to take legal action. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the more time he or she will have to investigate and build a case before the statute of limitations passes.
Hiring an experienced attorney allows you to fully focus on your recovery rather than all the steps in the legal process.
Our attorneys understand how difficult it is to deal with the aftermath of a spinal cord injury, for victims and their loved ones. We have obtained hundreds of millions in compensation for Arizona injury victims, including compensation for spinal cord injury victims.
Phillips Law Group has been fighting for the rights of injury victims for nearly three decades. Founder Jeffrey Phillips has been lead counsel in more than 40 jury trials and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association ”“ Top 100.
Request a free consultation with Phillips Law Group today ”“ there are no upfront fees or obligation to hire our firm. If we represent you, we are only paid if we recover compensation on your behalf.
