David I. Fuchs, Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
One of the most serious injuries you can suffer, spinal damage victims face potential life-long disability and other serious symptoms. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), Americans suffer approximately over 17,000 new spinal cord injuries each year. The medical bills for treating these injuries can be overwhelming, and you may not be able to work following the accident that caused you harm. How will you provide for your family? Will you be able to make a full recovery?
Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer David I. Fuchs can help you get the answers you need following a life-altering accident. With over 30 years of experience, he helps his clients fight for fair compensation for their injuries so that they can move forward with their lives. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, call skilled catastrophic accident attorney as soon as you can.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two main categories of spinal cord injuries:
- Complete – This is when there is no movement or sensation below the point where the spinal cord was harmed. Both sides of the body are affected equally.
- Incomplete – This type of injury occurs when there is only a partial loss of movement or sensation below the point where the spine was injured.
Depending on where your spinal cord was injured, you may lose movement in all four limbs (quadriplegia) or two limbs (paraplegia).
Some spinal injuries may result in only partial loss of mobility and sensation. For example, you may lose sensitivity, while retaining the ability to feel significant sensations. Alternatively, you may still be able to move your arms and legs, but you may have lost some of your fine motor skills. A compassionate Fort Lauderdale attorney could examine medical records to pinpoint the extent of your spinal injury and help you determine the best next steps.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
While severe spinal injuries are often immediately identifiable, less severe harm might be harder to diagnose. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries include:
- Significant pain in your back, neck, or head
- Loss of sensation in your extremities
- Partial or complete loss of control over any part of your body
- Loss of balance
- Loss of mobility
- Incontinence
- Muscle spasms, weakness, or paralysis
- Sexual dysfunction
- Difficulty breathing
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek medical treatment right away, even if you have already been seen by your doctor. Following that, you should reach out to a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorney from David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A.
What Usually Causes Spinal Cord Damage?
According to the NSCISC, vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, responsible for 38.3 percent of the total injuries suffered. Surprisingly, slip and falls are the second highest cause of injuries to the spine, responsible for more almost 32 percent of the total number of injuries. The remaining causes break down as follows:
- Violence (primarily gunshot wounds) – 13.8 percent
- Sports injuries – 8.2 percent
- Medical/Surgical – 4.6 percent
- Other – 3.5 percent
Car and other vehicle accidents are typically the result of unsafe or reckless driving, and medical or surgical errors often fall under the umbrella of medical malpractice. Many falls are also the result of negligent maintenance of a property owner. As a result, you could argue that at least 50 percent of spine injuries are caused by avoidable accidents. Regardless of the specific cause, a seasoned Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer is here to help with recovering from a spinal cord injury.
The Cost of Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spine can be truly catastrophic. The NSCISC reports that medical treatment in the first year can range from $359,000 to over $1 million, with lifetime costs ranging from $1.6 million to $4.8 million. If you don’t have health insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover the entirety of your treatment, these expenses could leave you in financial ruin.
The costs of a spinal injury extend far beyond medical bills. You may be permanently disabled and unable to work. You might not be able to take care of your family. You may require special transportation or other accommodations that you have to pay for out-of-pocket. Family members may even have to take time out of their lives and away from their jobs to help with your care.
Finally, you also must consider the non-monetary costs of a spinal cord injury. The stress and anxiety that comes from such harm can be devastating. Victims often become depressed as they struggle through their recovery and have a lower-than-average life expectancy. Even if the medical bills are covered, a spine damage carries a heavy cost to both you and your family. A compassionate Fort Lauderdale lawyer understands this and can pursue compensation that accounts for all the losses of your spinal cord injury.
How a Skilled Attorney could Help with a Spinal Cord Damage Case
In a personal injury case, your attorney’s first objective will be to establish who was at fault and prove their negligence in causing the accident that led to your injury.
Your lawyer will then use their experience and knowledge of the law to make sure that you are fairly compensated for the pain and suffering that is unique to spinal cord injury cases. They can also calculate the potential future costs of your accident, such as expenses for modifications to your home, costs for devices and equipment, as well as the cost of ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Without an experienced spine damage attorney in Fort Lauderdale, you are at a severe disadvantage. People are often unwilling to accept responsibility for an accident, particularly one that results in serious injury. In addition, insurance companies are rarely willing to make sure that the victims are fairly compensated.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Attorney for Help
If you have suffered an injury to your spine, David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. knows how difficult it is to think about what lies ahead. You need to focus on your recovery, but you need someone to work for your future. Attorney David Fuchs, a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer, has the experience and the dedication you need to get fair compensation for your accident. Call today to schedule your free case consultation.
If you cannot come to the Fort Lauderdale office, accident attorney David I. Fuchs will send a representative to see you. His staff speaks English and Spanish.
David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. – Fort Lauderdale Office
8 SE 8th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
P: (954) noswap568-3636