Emotionally and physically devastating, spinal cord injuries can leave you needing rehabilitation, care, and financial resources to cover the costs. You need an Austin spinal cord injury attorney as your unwavering advocate.
At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, we understand the profound impact such injuries can have on one's life and the lives of their loved ones.
With over 20 years of dedicated service in Texas, our mission is to stand by your side, providing not only legal guidance but also the compassionate support you need during this challenging time. We're here to inform, represent, and care for you at every juncture of your case.
Why Choose Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC as Your Austin Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Our promise at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC is not merely about offering legal counsel, it's about genuinely understanding the breadth and depth of your circumstances.
We don’t just handle cases, we build relationships. It's about you having the peace of mind that we will explore every possible legal avenue on your behalf. We work to take the legal burdens off your shoulders, so you can focus on your recovery and on rebuilding your life after a serious spinal cord injury.
Our team of Austin personal injury lawyers doesn't just possess extensive legal acumen; we're also fiercely devoted to the well-being of our clients.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries in Austin
The spinal cord, an extension of the brain, is a bundle of nerves running down the middle of the back. It acts as the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body, playing a pivotal role in movement, sensation, and bodily functions.
Types of Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Spinal cord injuries can upend your life, leaving you grappling with not only the physical and emotional toll but also the financial stress of recovery. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury in Austin due to someone else's negligence, working with an experienced Austin spinal cord injury lawyer is crucial to recovering the compensation you deserve. Here’s an overview of the types of compensation a spinal cord injury attorney can help you pursue:
Medical Expenses
Severe injuries like spinal cord damage, disc injuries, or catastrophic injuries often result in extensive medical bills.
Compensation covers:
Immediate medical costs: Hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and emergency care.
Ongoing medical care: Chronic pain management, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
Medical equipment: Wheelchairs, specialized beds, and other assistive devices.
Medical specialists & experts: Compensation for consultations with medical professionals and specialists who provide treatment for spinal cord injuries.
Lost Wages & Future Earnings
Spinal cord injuries often leave victims unable to return to their previous jobs.
Compensation can include:
Lost wages: Coverage for income you lost while recovering.
Future earnings: For those unable to return to work due to severe injuries like paraplegia or quadriplegia, compensation considers the long-term impact on your earning potential.
An experienced Austin spinal cord injury attorney ensures you pursue fair compensation to cover your loss of income and help alleviate financial stress on your family.
Rehabilitation & long-term care costs
Recovering from spine injuries or severe spinal cord damage can take years and may require:
Physical therapy: To help regain movement and manage chronic pain.
Rehabilitation facilities: For those needing specialized care after severe injuries like incomplete spinal cord damage.
Home modifications: Adapting your living space to accommodate mobility challenges, including ramps, lifts, and widened doorways.
Legal action against negligent parties can help you secure funds to cover these rehabilitation costs and ensure you maintain a semblance of normal life.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact our law offices for a free case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process, collect evidence, and fight for your legal rights. Reach out now to secure the fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
While the causes can be diverse, the most frequent incidents leading to spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including;
- Acts of violence, such as gunshot or knife wounds
- Slips, trips, and falls
Spinal cord injuries can vary significantly in severity. Depending on where the injury occurs and its severity, effects can range from numbness to full paralysis, potentially leading to conditions such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.
These injuries are generally classified as either complete or incomplete injuries.
- Complete injuries: Where there's a total loss of function below the level of injury. Given their severe nature, complete injuries often carry a higher compensation value. This is because they usually entail significant medical expenses, long-term care, extensive therapy, and substantial income loss, if not a complete loss of earning capacity.
- Incomplete injuries: Some function remains below the primary level of injury. The compensation for incomplete injuries depends on the extent of impairment. While they might have a lower value than complete injuries, they can still result in substantial recoveries, especially if they significantly affect one's quality of life and ability to work.
Other Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Paraplegia
This is a result of injuries to the thoracic region of the spine, leading to paralysis of the legs and lower body. Paraplegia can drastically affect an individual's mobility and daily life. Compensation often reflects the costs of wheelchairs, home modifications, and other assistive devices, in addition to ongoing medical care and therapy.
Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
Caused by injuries to the cervical spine, it results in paralysis of both arms and legs, sometimes including the torso. Quadriplegia involves extensive care needs and poses considerable challenges for the injured individual and their caregivers. Given its profound impact on one's life and substantial ongoing expenses, legal recoveries for these injuries are often sizable.
Whiplash and Other Strains
Often seen in car accidents, these are milder injuries affecting the neck and upper back. They might not cause paralysis but can still result in pain and limited mobility. While the recoveries for strains might be smaller compared to more severe spinal injuries, they can still be significant, especially if they involve chronic pain or require prolonged therapy.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Despite the devastating initial impact, advancements in medical care and rehabilitation mean many individuals can lead fulfilling lives post-injury. Therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and adaptive technologies play crucial roles in this journey.
When pursuing any of these recovery options, your legal considerations and rights are of the utmost importance. Our Austin spinal cord injury attorneys will help you recover the money you need to handle whatever your recovery and rehabilitation entails.
Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
While grappling with the complexities of medical treatment following a serious injury, take comfort in knowing your rights. Moreover, knowledge is power when the injury results from another's negligence or an unforeseen workplace incident.
Your attorney can explain the full scope of damages and rights to which you’re entitled, including:
Compensation for Medical Expenses
The immediate and long-term medical care for spinal cord injuries can reach millions of dollars. You may seek compensation for hospital bills, surgeries, medications, assistive devices, and ongoing therapies.
As you adapt to a new way of life, you may require home modifications, specialized equipment, or prolonged rehabilitation. You may seek compensation to cover these essential adjustments to your living and working environment.
Loss of Income and Earnings
A spinal cord injury can drastically affect your ability to earn, both in the immediate aftermath and in the future. You may seek compensation for the income you've lost and the potential future earnings that are now beyond reach.
Pain and Suffering
Beyond the tangible financial burdens, the emotional and psychological toll of such injuries is undeniable. The law recognizes this, allowing victims to claim compensation for the pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life they endure.
Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC believes in standing firmly by your side during these trying times. Ensuring you get a fair settlement is our paramount concern. While compensation can't undo the trauma, it can alleviate some burdens, allowing you to focus on healing and rebuilding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
How soon after my injury should I contact a lawyer?
Immediately following a spinal cord injury, your focus naturally rests on medical care and recovery. However, seek legal counsel shortly after the event.
An early consultation not only ensures your rights remain safeguarded but also allows for the timely collection of crucial evidence and eyewitness testimonies. The sooner you involve an attorney, the better positioned you are to build a robust case and claim the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Can I claim compensation even if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes, even if you believe you might have had some role in the accident, you may recover compensation.
Many jurisdictions adopt the concept of comparative negligence. This system allows for an injured party to claim compensation even if they were partly at fault, though the awarded amount may decrease based on their degree of fault. Consult an attorney who can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation and jurisdiction.
How is the amount of compensation determined?
The determination of compensation is a nuanced process, taking into account various factors. These factors encompass current medical expenses, projected future medical and rehabilitation costs, lost income, anticipated loss of future earnings, and the physical and emotional distress experienced.
Additionally, considerations around the extent of negligence and liability also play a pivotal role in shaping the final compensation amount. Your attorney will diligently assess all these factors to arrive at a just and fair compensation figure.
What if my injury occurred at work?
Workplace injuries, including spinal cord injuries, bring forth a unique set of considerations. If your injury transpired while on the job, you may qualify for workers' compensation benefits, which can cover medical bills and partial wage replacement.
Beyond this, if your injury was due to the negligence of a third party (for instance, a contractor or equipment manufacturer), you might have grounds to file a third-party claim for additional compensation. The intricacy of workers' compensation and personal injury claims underscores the importance of professional legal guidance.
Are there any time limits on filing a spinal cord injury claim?
Absolutely. Every state enforces statutory time frames, known as statutes of limitations, within which you must file a personal injury claim, including those for spinal cord injuries. These time frames can differ based on the state and the nature of the claim.
Missing this window can forfeit your right to claim compensation. Hence, act promptly and consult a legal professional to stay within the permissible time limit.
How do I pay for your legal services?
Recognizing the financial burden injuries can impose, many personal injury law firms, Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC included, offer their services on a contingency fee basis.
This structure means you pay no upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs for you. Instead, the firm's fees are derived from a percentage of the settlement or court award you receive.
If, for any reason, you recover no compensation, you owe nothing. This approach makes quality legal representation accessible to everyone, irrespective of their financial standing.
Types of Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Spinal cord injuries can upend your life, leaving you grappling with not only the physical and emotional toll but also the financial stress of recovery. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury in Austin due to someone else's negligence, working with an experienced Austin spinal cord injury lawyer is crucial to recovering the compensation you deserve. Here’s an overview of the types of compensation a spinal cord injury attorney can help you pursue:
1. Medical Expenses
Severe injuries like spinal cord damage, disc injuries, or catastrophic injuries often result in extensive medical bills. Compensation covers:
Immediate Medical Costs: Hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and emergency care.
Ongoing Medical Care: Chronic pain management, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
Medical Equipment: Wheelchairs, specialized beds, and other assistive devices.
Medical Specialists & Experts: Compensation for consultations with medical professionals and specialists who provide treatment for spinal cord injuries.
A skilled Austin spinal injury lawyer will use your medical records and collaborate with medical experts to calculate the full extent of your past, present, and future medical costs.
2. Lost Wages & Future Earnings
Spinal cord injuries often leave victims unable to return to their previous jobs. Compensation can include:
Lost Wages: Coverage for income you lost while recovering.
Future Earnings: For those unable to return to work due to severe injuries like paraplegia or quadriplegia, compensation considers the long-term impact on your earning potential.
An experienced Austin spinal cord injury attorney will ensure you pursue fair compensation to cover your loss of income and help alleviate financial stress on your family.
3. Rehabilitation & Long-Term Care Costs
Recovering from spine injuries or severe spinal cord damage can take years and may require:
Physical Therapy: To help regain movement and manage chronic pain.
Rehabilitation Facilities: For those needing specialized care after severe injuries like incomplete spinal cord damage.
Home Modifications: Adapting your living space to accommodate mobility challenges, including ramps, lifts, and widened doorways.
Legal action against negligent parties can help you secure funds to cover these rehabilitation costs and ensure you maintain a semblance of normal life.
4. Pain and Suffering
Beyond the financial burdens, spinal cord injury victims endure significant emotional distress. Compensation includes:
Emotional Distress: The emotional burden of adjusting to life with spinal injuries, such as the loss of bowel control or dealing with chronic pain.
Loss of Quality of Life: Compensation for the devastating effects on your ability to live a normal life, participate in activities you once enjoyed, and maintain relationships with family members.
By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may recover compensation for these intangible damages that insurance carriers often try to minimize.
5. Household Assistance & In-Home Care
If your spinal injury requires ongoing in-home care, compensation can cover:
Professional Caregivers: For tasks you can no longer perform independently.
Household Modifications: Changes to accommodate spinal cord damage, ensuring safety and accessibility in your home.
Your Austin spinal cord injury lawyer will factor these costs into your personal injury claim to maximize compensation.
6. Contingency Fee Basis
At our law firm, we understand the financial burden a spinal cord injury brings. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay no upfront fees. You only owe us if we recover compensation for you, allowing you to focus on healing without the added worry of legal fees.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact our law offices for a free case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process, collect evidence, and fight for your legal rights. Reach out now to secure the fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Your Trusted Allies in Austin
At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, we believe it's not just about winning claims, it's about securing futures. Our record speaks of our unwavering dedication to fighting for and upholding our client’s rights.
The Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC team consists of seasoned attorneys with a shared vision — serving the hardworking individuals of Texas. We are steadfast in our belief that everyone merits top-tier legal advice.
Contact an Austin Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
Your journey with Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC goes beyond legal battles. We're here as your steadfast partners, guiding and supporting you till the end. It's this ethos that solidifies our position as Texas’s go-to for injured accident victims and their families. Contact us online or call us at (512) 477-7333 and experience the difference of a firm that truly cares.