A spinal cord injury is a serious type of harm that can result in chronic pain, permanent disability and lifestyle changes. At Jacoby & Meyers, our Sacramento personal injury lawyers are passionate about delivering justice to those who are injured by the careless and reckless acts of others. If you or a loved one has recently suffered a spine injury and wish to find out if you have grounds for a case, contact us for a free consultation at our local Sacramento law office.
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers for This Case?
- No law firm in California has won larger settlements for as long as Jacoby & Meyers. We have recovered more than $2 billion in settlements for our clients.
- We fight for the results that spinal cord injury victims need. We recently secured $19 million for a case involving quadriplegia and $17.5 million for one involving paraplegia.
- Our Sacramento spinal cord injury attorney will not charge you anything for legal services unless your case results in financial compensation for your losses. You will pay us $0 upfront.
The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Sacramento
Due to the sensitive nature of the spine, injuries involving this part of the body have the potential to cause lasting and permanent damage. An insurance company will most likely try to downplay the severity of the spine injury to devalue the case and offer less than it is worth. Hiring an attorney to handle insurance settlement negotiations for you can ensure a fair case result.
A lawyer can fight for your rights by thoroughly investigating the injury and gathering evidence to prove fault. Your lawyer can hire spinal cord injury or accident experts to strengthen your claim. If settlement negotiations fail to achieve the outcome you deserve, an experienced litigator can take your case to trial in Sacramento to demand justice in the courtroom.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can occur anywhere along the five sections of the spine, and can range from mild to severe in terms of the resulting effects on the victim. The nerves in the spine are responsible for transferring messages from the brain to the body. Injuries of any kind to the spine can disrupt this messaging system and result in motor and sensory deficits.
Common types of spinal cord injuries include:
- Disk injuries (herniated, slipped or ruptured)
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Spinal concussions
- Fractured vertebra
- Nerve injuries and pinched nerves
- Spinal cord compression
- Severed spinal cord
- Paralysis (the loss of function and sensation in part of the body)
- Paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body)
- Quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs and the torso)
From top to bottom, the spinal cord consists of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacrum and coccyx. Since spinal cord injuries affect functionality from the point of injury down, harm to the uppermost portion of the spine generally causes the most damage. A victim may suffer irreversible quadriplegia, for example, due to a severe cervical spine injury.
How Do You Know if You Have a Spinal Cord Injury?
While prompt medical care is important for any injury, timely treatment is especially critical for a spinal cord injury, as the spine needs to be immediately stabilized to prevent further damage. Recognizing a spine injury right away can allow you to seek the medical care you need.
Common symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries include:
- Severe back or neck pain
- Numbness or tingling anywhere in the body
- Loss of feeling or function in the limbs
- Changes in sensations
- Muscle weakness or spasms
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Trouble breathing
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Sexual dysfunction
If you suspect a spinal cord injury after a traumatic incident in Sacramento, go to the nearest hospital or call 911 to request an ambulance without delay. Treatments such as stabilizing the spine, surgeries, medications and therapies can protect you and limit permanent damage as much as possible.
Common Causes of Spinal Injuries in Sacramento
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 18,000 new spinal cord injury cases arise each year. There are an estimated 305,000 people living with spine injuries in the U.S. today.
The leading causes of spinal cord injuries are:
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Construction accidents
- Sports and recreational activities
- Violence, such as gunshot wounds or stabbings
- Medical malpractice
Spinal cord injuries can also occur due to non-traumatic causes, such as spinal tumors or infections. If the events surrounding a spine injury involve negligence, or someone else’s failure to exercise ordinary care, the victim has the right to file a personal injury claim in California.
Seeking Compensation for a Spine Injury in Sacramento
In Sacramento, injured victims have the right to pursue damages or financial compensation for their losses if another person or party caused the incident. If it can be proven based on a preponderance of the evidence (more likely to be true than not) that another party negligently caused the spine injury, that party can be held financially responsible.
A successful spine injury claim in California could result in payment for the following types of losses:
- Past and future medical bills
- Surgeries, therapies and rehabilitation
- Short-term or long-term disability
- Medical or mobility devices
- Prescription medications
- Around-the-clock care
- Lost wages and capacity to earn a living
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional or psychological harm
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Damaged property repairs or replacement
- Punitive damages, in rare cases
The value of your spinal cord injury claim will depend on the circumstances, such as the severity of your injury and how it has (and will continue to) affect your life. Identifying the cause of your injury and the liable party may require help from a personal injury lawyer. An attorney can investigate to search for signs of fault and gather evidence to support your claim.
Contact Jacoby & Meyers for a Free Spinal Cord Injury Case Evaluation in Sacramento
If you or someone you love recently suffered a back, neck or spinal cord injury in any type of accident in the Sacramento area, don’t hesitate to contact Jacoby & Meyers for legal assistance. We offer free consultations, where you can tell your story to an attorney and receive personalized legal advice at no cost or obligation to hire us.
We won’t charge you a penny for our services unless your spinal cord injury case results in financial compensation for your losses. Contact us today at (916) 269-8918 to schedule a free consultation over the phone or in person. We have an office located in Sacramento at 1215 K St., 17th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. Because you deserve justice.