Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Madison

Have you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in Madison, Alabama? Also called SCIs, these injuries are among the most expensive to treat, with lifetime costs in the millions of dollars. Moreover, they often have a devastating effect on a patient’s ability to earn a living, care for themselves, and engage in the everyday activities of life.

If someone else caused your SCI, Attorney April H. Collins and the team at Collins Law, LLC, firmly believe that you should not be the one to bear these costs. Instead, we want to empower you to get the money you need to take back your life and live it to its fullest. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and discover how a Madison spinal cord injury lawyer can make a difference.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Madison, AL Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?

Living with a spinal cord injury is hard enough without having to pursue a complicated personal injury claim, too. However, doing so might be the only way to secure the money you need to care for yourself or your loved one.

Rather than try to balance rehabilitation and ongoing care with a legal case, contact Collins Law and empower yourself to get the money you need without taking on the headache yourself. Attorney Collins and her team can:

• Investigate what happened to determine all liable parties that may owe you money
• Work to reduce your medical bills so that you have one fewer thing to worry about
• Communicate with at-fault parties, insurance adjusters, and others on your behalf
• File your spine injury claim and send demand letters to initiate the legal process
• Negotiate for a settlement that fairly compensates you for what you’ve suffered
• Prepare your case for trial and represent you in court if it becomes necessary
• Treat you with honesty, respect, and compassion throughout the course of your case

We understand that money is likely one of your major concerns right now. That’s why we won’t charge you any fees upfront. You only pay us if we win your spine injury case, and because we never take more money than our accident victim clients would, we make sure more accident compensation goes into your pocket. We at Collins Law are also known for reducing our clients’ medical bills once we’ve resolved their case, a rare aspect in the legal profession.

Don’t make the mistake of pursuing your own case and putting your long-term financial security at risk. Instead, hire a Madison spinal cord injury attorney with Collins Law who will do the hard work for you.

What Compensation Can You Pursue for a Spinal Cord Injury?

The lifetime costs of a serious spine injury can be considerable. In fact, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) in Alabama has estimated these costs to be in the millions of dollars. Their research suggests that someone who suffers an SCI affecting motor function at any level will have lifetime costs of $1.43 million if they’re 50 years old. At 25, those costs rise to $2.03 million. On the upper end of the spectrum, someone who experiences high tetraplegia at age 25 can expect lifetime costs of over $6 million.

As a result, spine injury compensation must also be considerable if it is to be fair. It can account for your:

• Past and future medical costs, including surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and physical and occupational therapy
• Lost wages as well as diminished income if the injuries affect your career prospects
• Pain and suffering, accounting for both the physical and emotional discomfort of the injuries
• Loss of consortium for your spouse if the injuries affect your relationship
• Modifications so that your home and vehicle accommodate your condition
• Reduced quality of life, for the way lingering impairment affects your ability to live independently and take part in favorite activities

What Is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?

While you would undoubtedly like to know how much your case could be worth, it’s important to understand that there is simply no average settlement for a car accident back injury.

First, there are too many factors that go into determining what a settlement should cover for an average to be helpful. For example, a herniated disk that can be repaired through surgery and rehabilitation will necessarily pay out less than a neck injury that results in tetraplegia. Second, settlements are typically confidential, which makes it hard to arrive at an average.

Rather than guess what your case could be worth, schedule a free consultation with a spinal cord injury law firm like Collins Law. We can review your case and give you an idea of what you may expect.

How Long Do You Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Alabama?

Alabama’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases generally gives you two years to file your spine injury lawsuit. Lawsuits filed after this deadline passes can be dismissed as untimely filed on a motion by the defendant. If this happens to you, you will likely be time-barred from securing compensation, regardless of the strength of your underlying case.

Don’t risk this possibility. Instead, reach out to an experienced spinal injury lawyer from Collins Law so you can get started on your claim right away.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Research by the NSCISC has found that the most common causes of traumatic spinal cord injuries (tSCIs) are:

• Motor vehicle accidents, accounting for almost 38 percent
• Falls, accounting for nearly 32 percent
• Acts of violence, accounting for over 15 percent
• Sports mishaps, accounting for 8 percent
• Surgical/medical errors, accounting for almost 4 percent

Approximately 4 percent of tSCIs were classified as “other.”

What Are the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Medical professionals classify SCIs in different ways. First, an SCI can be either:

• Complete, meaning that there is no communication between the brain and the body below the site of injury
• Incomplete, meaning that there is limited communication between the brain and the body below the site of injury

Doctors may also classify an SCI based on where on the spine the injury occurred:

• Cervical spinal injuries happen in the seven vertebrae of the neck, C1-C7
• Thoracic spinal injuries happen in the 12 vertebrae of the upper back, T1-T12
• Lumbar spine injuries happen in the five vertebrae of the lower back, L1-L5
• Sacral spine injuries happen in the five fused vertebrae that make up the sacrum, S1-S5

A severe spinal cord injury in the lower portions of the back can result in paraplegia, which is the loss of movement and potentially sensation in the lower trunk and legs. A severe injury in the upper back or neck can result in tetraplegia, which is paralysis affecting all four limbs.

What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

The symptoms a given SCI presents will depend on the location, severity, and extent of the spinal damage. Common ones include:

If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms after an accident, seek medical help immediately. Then, contact a back injury lawyer with Collins Law to get started on your case.

What Are Treatment Options for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Unfortunately, most spinal cord injuries are not curable given current medical science. As such, treatment emphasizes limiting further damage, helping the patient retain their independence, and teaching them how to adapt to their impairments.

Treatment generally begins with emergency care to stabilize the spine and limit the spread of damage. Surgery may be conducted to take pressure off the spinal cord, remove foreign material and damaged tissue, and protect the vertebrae.

Over time, the patient will likely be prescribed physical, behavioral, and occupational therapy to help them learn to adapt to their condition. They may also receive mental health counseling to combat despair and psychological trauma. The goal is to help the patient live as happy and independent a life as possible under the circumstances.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury?

The long-term effects of a spinal cord injury will depend on how severe the impairment is. Patients with extensive damage will likely need intensive, possibly in-patient care. Those with more control of their bodies can live more independently, learning to care for themselves with the help of external adaptations.

Even in the best circumstances, patients will likely have considerable limitations on their ability to care for themselves, earn a livelihood, and participate in social activities as they once did.

Contact a Madison, AL Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

Are you dealing with the challenging aftermath of an SCI that you or a loved one suffered in Madison, Alabama? If so, you deserve a seasoned legal advocate dedicated to winning your case while treating you with integrity, compassion, and respect.

Discover how a spinal cord injury lawyer in Madison can be your voice in pursuing the full and fair compensation you need to take back your life. Contact Collins Law today.