Glendale Spinal Injury Lawyers
Injury to the spinal cord and its surrounding vertebrae is considered one of the most serious forms of acute trauma. When the spinal cord is compromised, it can result in partial or complete paralysis due to nerve damage, the effects of which are life-altering. Mobility issues can dictate employment options, negatively affect mental health, and create ongoing medical expenses. If you or a loved one have suffered from such injuries, the Glendale spinal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe can help.
Our Glendale personal injury lawyers provide exceptional legal support to Arizonans who have sustained spinal injuries in incidents resulting from negligence by thoroughly examining the circumstances of the injury, gathering compelling evidence of the defendant’s liability, and creating a strong argument for maximum compensation. Reach out to our team at 602-977-1900or complete a free online case review today to schedule a free consultation.
Why You Should Hire Our Glendale Spinal Injury Lawyers
Surviving a spinal injury is no small feat. At Lerner and Rowe, we hold great respect for our clients who have overcome the odds to rebuild their lives after suffering such a potentially catastrophic injury, and we want to offer our support in seeking the compensation you deserve. You can rest assured that your Arizona spinal injury lawsuit will receive our time, attention, and unwavering effort to maximize your compensation.
Our clients are at the center of everything we do at Lerner and Rowe, which creates a valuable level of trust between our team and our clients. Furthermore, we have meticulously built a reputation based on diligent service, a reliable work ethic, and skillful communication. Our case results are a reflection of these efforts. For almost two decades, injured Arizonans have turned to Lerner and Rowe for effective, specialized representation, and we have consistently delivered.
A life-changing spinal cord injury can happen in seconds in a Glendale motorcycle accident, on a poorly maintained premises, or even as a result of a healthcare provider neglecting to fulfill the standard of care. As your Glendale spinal injury attorneys, we will work tirelessly to ensure that the settlement you receive is a fair representation of the damages you have sustained as a result of someone else’s failure to perform their duty of care to you.
Understanding Spinal Injuries in Glendale, Arizona
As a close suburb of Phoenix, the city of Glendale, Arizona offers historic attractions, hiking trails, and the opportunity to watch the Cardinals play on their home field. Over the years, Glendale has grown and attracted a larger population, which has made for busier streets.
Estimates indicate that the vast majority of spinal cord injuries are acquired in motor vehicle accidents and serious falls. In 2022, Arizona recorded 85,970 traffic accidents in Maricopa County. This underscores the risk of sustaining a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle crash in Glendale. Arizonans are already at a higher risk of spinal cord injuries as compared to other states, with a rate of approximately 5.9 spinal cord injuries per 100,000 people.
Common Causes of Arizona Spinal Injuries
The spinal cord can be damaged by a direct blow or a sudden jarring motion, which interrupts or severs this communication pathway between the brain and the body. In the U.S. there are approximately 18,000 new spinal cord injury cases each year. Spinal injuries are more often acquired from a single event, as opposed to manifesting as a result of a chronic condition.
Motor vehicle accidents and falls have been identified as the top causes of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. People who fail to wear seatbelts or engage in reckless driving behaviors are at an increased risk of a spinal cord injury, as are the elderly and those who work in hazardous occupations like construction. Arizona spinal injury accidents are often the result of:
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Our Lawyers Handle in Glendale
The spinal cord, a vital pathway for messages between your brain and body, can be injured due to vertebrae trauma. This can happen when vertebrae fracture or crush the cord itself. Even without a break, the force of impact can bruise, compress, or sever the cord.
Spinal Cord Injury Categorization
Spinal cord injuries can be classified as complete or incomplete, which indicates the extent of the injury and whether function can be regained. Complete spinal cord injuries are characterized by permanent damage, whereas an incomplete spinal cord injury may offer the possibility of rehabilitation.
Another way to categorize a spinal cord injury is by location. The location of the injury indicates what parts of the body will be impacted by the injury. The four major divisions include cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cord injuries. Anything below the injury site may be subject to impairment in terms of sensation and function. For example, people who sustain damage to the lumbar region of their spine would likely experience issues standing or walking while their upper body remains unaffected.
Our Glendale spinal injury lawyers have vast experience with cases involving a variety of spinal injuries. We are ready to review your case and fight for your compensation.
Long-Term Health Consequences of Glendale Spinal Cord Injuries
Other than mobility issues, survivors of spinal cord injuries are prone to other health problems as a result of their paralysis. The respiratory system and the cardiovascular system are particularly vulnerable to harm as a result of nerve damage and circulatory changes, respectively. Depending on the location of the injury, survivors may also struggle to experience sensation and function in a sexual context. Conditions associated with spinal injuries include:
- Muscle atrophy
- Pneumonia
- Kidney failure
- Pressure sores
- Chronic pain
- Fertility and sexual function
- Bladder and bowel problems
Given the implications of spinal cord injuries on a person’s independence and general quality of life, it is not surprising that many survivors experience lower self-esteem, body image issues, and feelings of isolation, not to mention the mental exhaustion that comes with navigating an often inaccessible world. These circumstances can be conducive to depression, anxiety, self-harm behaviors, and suicidal thoughts. With proper treatment and support, survivors of spinal cord injuries are better equipped to lead fulfilling lives, which is why you need a Glendale spinal injury lawyer on your side to help you win the compensation needed to recover.
Seeking Compensation for Damages in a Glendale Spinal Injury Lawsuit
Spinal cord injuries are life-altering events, demanding months or years of rehabilitation. This journey comes with a heavy financial burden. Physical therapy can be expensive, and recovery often means missing work and accumulating medical bills. The financial impact of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. Studies show the first year of medical care alone can cost over a million dollars. Glendale spinal cord injury lawyers can help recover these economic damages caused by another party’s negligence.
Recoverable damages include:
- Medical bills
- Costs of home modifications
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Punitive damages
Spinal cord injuries cause emotional and lifestyle changes that go beyond the financial. Lawsuits can also compensate for these non-economic damages, such as:
- Wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
The Benefits of Hiring Our Glendale Spinal Injury Lawyers
Spinal cord injuries usually entail a strict regime of rest and rehabilitation. For most plaintiffs, filing a personal injury claim while recovering from such a devastating injury is not feasible. Further, personal injury claims have a greater likelihood of being successfully settled by experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys who have the resources to sift through dense medical records, conduct investigations, and coordinate communication with insurance companies.
Insurance companies have an interest in keeping the hit to their profits minimal, which means that it is in your best interest to engage a Glendale spinal injury lawyer who is prepared to counter their justifications for paying out the minimum amount in damages.
Spinal cord injuries often entail medical complications in the long run, as well as ongoing mental, physical, and financial costs. A Glendale spinal cord injury lawyer will be able to calculate the value of your damages, as well as provide insight as to what costs you are likely to experience in the future so that you can seek out the full compensation you are entitled to receive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Spinal Injury Claims
The Arizona legislature created provisions for plaintiffs in personal injury claims to seek fair compensation through the policy of comparative negligence. In recognition that not every personal injury is a straightforward case with one person to blame, comparative negligence allows the injured party to recover compensation for their damages, even if they contributed to their injury. A judge will decide what percentage of the fault the plaintiff is responsible for, and then that percentage will be subtracted from the settlement that their spinal injury lawyer negotiates.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims, such as spinal cord injury claims, is two years in Arizona. To ensure that your claim remains eligible for consideration, do not wait until the last minute to file your spinal injury lawsuit. Otherwise, you risk forfeiting your right to seek compensation. Keep in mind that if you intend to file a workers’ compensation claim, which is distinct from a personal injury claim, the deadlines are not necessarily the same.
No, you do not need to pay your personal injury attorney prior to receiving their services. You are not obligated to provide payment until they have settled your spinal injury claim, as per the standard contingency fee arrangement. Personal injury lawyers recover a third of the settlement as their fee, and they do not receive any fee if they cannot settle a client’s claim.
Contact The Glendale Spinal Injury Lawyers at Lerner and Rowe
A spinal injury can drastically change your career plans, saddle you with medical debt, and require that you alter numerous aspects of your life, such as your housing situation, your hobbies, and the way that you understand yourself. In the midst of such a destabilizing event, you need a team that you can count on to provide steady, effective legal aid. Our Glendale spinal injury lawyers have proven themselves capable time and again on behalf of injured Arizonans.
We are cognizant of the logistical, financial, physical, and mental challenges spinal cord injury survivors contend with, and we are dedicated to holding the liable party accountable in an Arizona personal injury lawsuit. Our team regularly goes the extra mile for our injured clients because they deserve to have their lives acknowledged and their losses fairly compensated.
Arizonans who have suffered a spinal injury as a result of another party’s negligence should not hesitate to contact our team at Lerner and Rowe at 602-977-1900 or complete a free online case review today. We will happily take the time to outline the personal injury claims process, address your questions and concerns, and provide an educated estimate of what your Glendale spinal injury claim may be worth.