Compassionate Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Serving Communities Throughout Northern California
At GJEL, our California spinal cord injury attorneys have extensive experience representing victims who have sustained catastrophic injuries. We know how devastating any spinal cord injury can be on you and your family. Our law firm is committed to helping spinal cord injury victims recover full compensation.
Victims need a complete settlement offer that fully accounts for all necessary medical care, rehabilitative treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. If you or a family member suffered a serious spinal cord injury in an accident in Northern California, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm today for immediate legal guidance.
Why are Spinal Cord Injuries So Serious?
The spinal cord plays a key role in running every part of the human body. Every function runs through the spinal cord. This means that even a seemingly minor spinal cord injury could have catastrophic consequences. When a person has suffered a spinal cord injury, whether in a car accident, bicycle collision, or any other type of accident, then damage has occurred directly to their spinal cord. This damage can cause disruption in the communication of signals between the body and brain. The normal reflex messages that should be sent through the body’s spinal cord are no longer able to travel along that path. As a result, the victim will likely experience extreme physical and psychological complications.
In general, spinal cord injuries are classified as a ‘complete’ injury or an ‘incomplete’ injury. With a complete injury, the victim will likely lose feeling at all points below the spinal cord injury. Complete spinal cord damage can often result in paralysis. The extent of the paralysis will depend largely on where the spinal cord damage occurred. With an incomplete injury, the victim may retain some feeling beneath the point of the injury. Incomplete spinal cord damage can be especially complex, and the long-term prognosis will always depend on the specific nature of the injury. As with most serious injuries, early treatment is the key to a maximum recovery.
How Common are Spinal Cord Injuries?
Tragically, many American families are forced to deal with the devastating effects of spinal cord injuries every year. According to the most recent data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), more than 17,100 people suffer spinal cord injuries every year. Currently, there are at least 300,000 Americans who are living with the effects of a spinal cord injury. Many more family members are affected in the sense that they must provide care for their loved one.
All spinal cord injuries are serious. The NSCISC estimates that a spinal cord injury results in an average of 12 days of hospitalization, with many requiring far more than that. After a period of hospitalization, most spinal cord injuries require many months, or years, of outpatient services. Sadly, spinal cord injury victims are not always able to make a full recovery. Victims must be able to access full financial compensation to pay for their medical bills, physical therapy, assisting living care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Devastating Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
All spinal cord injuries require emergency medical attention. Truly, there is no such thing as minor spinal cord damage. Any spinal cord injury has the potential to cause catastrophic, life-changing damage to the victim. Some of the common effects of a spinal cord injury include:
- Severe pain and suffering;
- Loss of muscle control;
- Loss of full cognitive abilities;
- Personality changes;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Inability to control bladder or bowels;
- Partial paralysis; and
- Complete paralysis.
Most people who suffer spinal cord injuries find it very challenging, if not altogether impossible, to return to work on the full-time basis. Day-to-day physical assistance may even be required. In the most severe cases, spinal cord injury victims might need to seek full-time medical care. Beyond the intense physical suffering and loss of independence, spinal cord injuries are also emotionally devastating, and they have the potential to cause considerable damage to a person’s mental health.
Recovering Full Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
If you or a family member suffered a serious spinal cord injury, you need to be able to access full compensation. Spinal cord injuries are not just physically devastating, they are also financially devastating. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that the average spinal cord injury costs somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 annually to treat. Over a lifespan, a spinal cord injury could cost the victim millions in medical costs and lost income.
Victims must be able to recover compensation to pay for their medical care and to provide financial support to their family. At GJEL, our California spinal cord injury lawyers have deep experience dealing with the unique details involved in catastrophic injury claims. We know how important it is to ensure that victims can recover for their long-term damages. Among other things, our legal team has helped spinal cord injury victims recovery for:
- Emergency medical bills;
- Ongoing medical costs;
- Necessary medical assistance;
- Outpatient services;
- Medication and medical equipment;
- Any in-home care;
- Rehabilitative treatment;
- Long-term disability;
- Loss of current and future wages;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional anguish;
- Disfigurement; and
- Diminished quality of life.
Contact Our California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today
At GJEL, our skilled personal injury attorneys work aggressively to help spinal cord injury victims recover full and fair financial compensation for their damages. Our law firm has been advocating for the rights of injured victims in California for more than four decades. If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury, we can help.
For a free initial consultation, please contact our legal team today. With main offices in Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, Hayward, Walnut Creek, and Orinda, our law firm represents injured victims all around the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout Northern California. We are ready to fight for your legal rights.