Eau Claire Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Accidents can happen anywhere and under any circumstances. When the unexpected happens it can leave you suffering from physical pain as well as the personal uncertainties and challenges that come with a severe injury. If you suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, the law may allow you to seek compensation for your losses and damages. Call our Eau Claire spinal cord injury lawyers right now to find out how.
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What You Can Expect From Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers
The experienced and compassionate Eau Claire spinal cord injury attorneys at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers understand the delicate nature of recovering from a spinal cord injury. We understand this is a difficult time for you and your family as you adjust to the aftermath of the accident you have suffered. If you choose to work with us, we will work hard to represent you and your rights as we fight for the compensation you deserve under the law.
Injured in Eau Claire? Get Nicolet.
A Spinal Cord Injury Is a Catastrophic Injury
Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries. These injuries often affect a person’s ability to move, function, feel, and take care of themselves. The severity of a spinal cord injury differs depending on where on the spine it occurred and how extensive the damage is, but the impact of any spinal cord injury can be felt in every aspect of a victim’s life.
When a spinal cord injury occurs due to someone else’s negligence, the injury victim may be entitled to financial compensation for the accident-related losses and damages they have sustained. To recover compensation from the at-fault party, you must be able to prove that they were negligent in causing your injury.
Negligence in an Eau Claire Spinal Cord Injury Case
In Wisconsin, a victim must prove that the at-fault party was negligent by offering clear evidence of:
- The at-fault party owed the victim a legal duty of care, meaning that the at-fault party could reasonably have been expected to act in a way that would have prevented the accident.
- The at-fault party breached their duty of care by acting or failing to act in a way that was contrary to their duty.
- The accident injured the victim.
- The at-fault party’s actions or failure to act was the direct cause of the accident and the victim’s injuries.
Common Causes Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur in many different types of accidents. Some of the most common causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents - Car accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. Car accident victims are at high risk of spinal damage, especially when accidents occur between large trucks and passenger vehicles, when the vehicles were traveling at high speed, or when they involve an inebriated driver. A car accident claim that involves a spinal injury is always complex and requires the help of an attorney who not only understands the severity of the injury but can clearly describe the widespread impacts the injury will have on your life and how those impacts will translate to monetary losses.
- Motorcycle accidents - While spinal cord injuries can happen in any motor vehicle wreck, they are even more common in motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists who survive a collision often suffer severe injuries including damage to their head, neck, and/or spine. Spinal cord injuries are common in accidents when motorcycle riders are struck by a larger vehicle or thrown off their bike.
- Work-related accidents - Construction work and other physically demanding industries see their share of neck and back injuries. Work-related accidents that can result in spinal cord injuries include incidents involving heavy machinery, falling debris, trips and falls, and other hazards that can be present at a construction site, factory, warehouse, or other worksite. Seeking recovery for these losses can require a complicated worker’s compensation claim, which differs from other personal injury claims and can limit your legal options. Consult an attorney in the aftermath of a spinal cord injury at work to make sure you protect your right to compensation.
- Slip and fall accidents - When you suffer a spinal cord injury on someone else’s property due to a dangerous condition that led to a slip or fall, you may have a claim against them through their property insurance coverage.
- Medical malpractice - There are several medical procedures or treatment options that, when performed negligently, can cause a serious spinal cord injury. Chiropractic malpractice, negligent administration of anesthesia, misdiagnosis, or errors during surgery can all result in damage to your spine as a result of the medical malpractice.
- Recreational activities - Certain fun but potentially dangerous recreational activities such as boating or riding ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles can lead to serious spinal cord injuries. If you were injured due to someone else’s carelessness while you participated in a recreational activity or sport, you may be eligible for compensation under the law.
The Challenges Victims of Spinal Cord Injuries Face
A spinal cord injury does not just affect your physical health but can also impact how you experience life now and in the future. Unfortunately, many individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury face a range of lifelong limitations and health concerns that restrict their ability to live their life as they did before the accident occurred.
Change in Ability and Loss of Function
Disabilities are common after a spinal cord injury. Injury to the spine can affect your mobility and ability to engage in day-to-day activities that were a normal part of your life in the past. Many victims of spinal cord damage suffer some form of paralysis that can range from limited movement to complete paralysis. This change in mobility has a profound impact on a victim’s quality of life.
Reduced Quality of Life
A severe spinal cord injury affects how you can live your life. If you are unable to enjoy your life as you did before or even care for yourself in basic ways, your quality of life can be drastically reduced because of your injury.
Lost Work
Spinal injuries often require extended medical care, treatment, and rehabilitation. The long recovery after a spinal cord injury is likely to cause you to miss extended periods of work, which results in significant losses of income. In addition, permanent injuries that cause significant disability may make it impossible to return to your previous job or advance your career.
Strained Relationships
Injuries as severe as spinal cord damage can have a profound impact on your personal relationships and the lives of your family members. Family members are often tasked with the basic care the injured person requires and must assist them with their daily routine and tasks. This can create stress and additional financial burdens as many family caretakers must leave or modify their careers to care for their injured loved one.
Prolonged Pain and Suffering
Spinal cord injuries are painful and traumatic for the victim. A victim of an injury of this magnitude not only suffers physically but also endures mental and emotional trauma as a result of their accident and new limitations. For many, the accident is a constant fear they must face, and the injuries are a reminder of that accident day in and day out.
How Can Our Lawyers Help You After a Spinal Cord Injury in Eau Claire?
If you have suffered a severe injury to your spine, the future you face may seem uncertain. You may be unsure of how you will pay for the medical expenses and how the injuries will affect your life in the future. You must focus your energy on your recovery, but you also need to make sure your rights are protected against all of the interests in the aftermath of an accident.
Contact us as soon as possible after your spinal cord accident. We can work to protect your rights in an injury claim and lawsuit if the circumstances warrant such a claim. A spinal cord accident attorney can manage your case and take on the stress of taking the actions necessary to protect your claim.
If you decide to work with a lawyer, they will do the following for you:
Investigate the Accident
An accident attorney will use the resources at their disposal to investigate how and why your injury occurred. When a victim suffers an injury in an accident, they may not be fully aware of how they were injured. A lawyer can help you understand the circumstances that led to your injury. They will work with you to collect evidence and gather information to support your claim.
Find out Whom You Can Hold Accountable
In many cases, it’s not all that straightforward to figure which party or parties are responsible for your injuries. The liability and fault in an accident depend on many factors, including the relationship a potentially at-fault party had with you as well as the relationships that at-fault party had with others who may bear liability for your accident. A lawyer will work to uncover who is to blame for your injuries and who might be legally responsible for your losses.
Calculate Your Overall Losses
Your lawyer will help you calculate the full amount of damages you have sustained due to your spinal cord injury. An insurer or at-fault party will almost always try to settle your case for the minimum compensation they can get away with. But under the law, you may seek more than your economic losses.
Damages in a spinal cord injury accident can include medical expenses, income loss, pain and suffering, future impacts on your life, and the loss of quality of life you have suffered. A lawyer working on your behalf will take the time to understand the severity of your injury and the way the injury has affected your life and your livelihood.
Negotiate a Settlement
Once a party has accepted liability for your injuries, a lawyer will work to ensure you receive fair and reasonable compensation for the damages you have incurred. With your input and assistance, a lawyer will negotiate a settlement on your behalf that will help you move forward and set a path for your future after your devastating accident.
File a Lawsuit, If Needed
There are some situations in which a lawsuit may become necessary in your case. While many spinal cord accidents resolve through a settlement out of court, if you disagree over who caused the accident or you cannot agree with the at-fault party on your damages, you may need to file a lawsuit in court.
Make Your Rights and Interests a Priority
When you have an attorney on your side, you will be relieved to know an advocate will speak up for your interests and rights throughout each step of the process. Insurers and at-fault parties will fight for their own interests and to protect their pocketbooks as best they can. To go it alone against these parties can risk your overall claim and the amount of compensation that you ultimately receive for your accident.
Contact Our Eau Claire Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Today
Contact the experienced and compassionate Claire spinal cord injury attorneys at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers as soon as possible after your accident for your free case evaluation. There are deadlines for filing your claim, so don’t delay—call now at (715) 226-6149. Protect your rights and your future by reaching out to our attorneys today.