Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in New York City
Every year, thousands of people suffer new spinal cord injuries in the U.S. Some of the most serious injury types, spinal cord injuries often impose permanent effects on survivors and their families. When the spine sustains a severe injury, it can cause irrevocable loss of movement and sensation in the body. If you or a loved one has a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, discuss your case with one of our New York City attorneys today.
Why Choose Us?
- Our firm knows how to obtain fair settlements and verdicts. We have secured over $2 billion in damages for our clients in the last 10 years.
- Our lawyers answer calls around the clock. We believe in the importance of open communication with clients throughout the claims process.
- Our attorneys work on contingency. This means they only charge fees for their time and services if they secure results for their clients.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Insurance claims adjusters, or the agents assigned to evaluate cases, will almost always try to lowball spinal cord injury settlement offers. Rather than offering the full value of these serious injuries, insurance companies will try to offer as little as possible – especially when the insurer knows the claimant does not have an attorney. Hiring a lawyer puts you in a position of power during settlement negotiations, increasing your odds of obtaining a better offer. Your lawyer can take over complex legal processes on your behalf while you focus on healing and rehabilitation.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to the spine can take many forms and can have a variety of different impacts on the victim. From a slipped disc with a few months’ recovery time to a severed spine and permanent quadriplegia, the patient’s prognosis depends entirely on the injury diagnosis. Going to the hospital immediately after a spine injury is crucial for the patient’s well-being. This is true for any type of spinal cord injury:
- Complete spine injury. These injuries occur when something completely severs the spinal cord, cutting off the messaging system between the brain and the body. It may be possible to regain some function with physical therapy and other treatments, but in general, patients with complete spine injuries suffer permanent paralysis.
- Incomplete spine injury. These injuries only partially sever the spine, typically leaving some degree of movement and sensation below the point of injury. The degree of function the patient retains depends on the severity of the injury, as well as the success of the healing process.
The extent of damage can depend on where on the spinal cord the injury occurred. The higher on the spinal cord, the worse the injury. Quadriplegia refers to paralysis of all four limbs and the trunk of the body, while paraplegia refers to paralysis of only the lower limbs. Other types of spinal cord injuries include triplegia, anterior cord syndrome, central cord syndrome, and Brown-Sequard syndrome.
Is Someone Else Liable?
Liability refers to someone’s legal responsibility for another person’s damages. In New York, the courts may hold one person or party liable for another’s spinal cord injury if that party negligently or recklessly caused the injury. It is up to the victim, however, to prove the defendant’s negligence and fault. Proving negligence becomes easier with help from a law firm, which has the resources to investigate your case and gather evidence. If you are not sure who may be liable for your spine injury, contact an attorney for assistance.
Contact Us Today
Our lawyers know how life-changing a spinal cord injury can be for victims and their families. If a New York City driver, property owner, criminal, product manufacturer, or another party contributed to your spine injury, you may have grounds for a liability claim. Contact us to request a free consultation about your case at our downtown office.