Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys in Vero Beach

Severe spinal cord injuries can rob you of basic functions that most of us take for granted. The toll these injuries take can be devastating and last for a lifetime. Medical bills and physical therapy costs are commonly exorbitant and indefinite. Serious disability, including paralysis and cognitive damage, means that you may not be able to continue working in your former mode of employment, and may not be able to work at all, period. How are you going to get by with seriously reduced or no income? How can you be expected to deal with these intense financial pressures while also transitioning to life post-paralysis, with its emotional hardships and loss of quality of life?

The road to recovery may not be easy, but you don’t have to go it alone. The Vero Beach spinal cord injury attorneys at Kogan & DiSalvo can take legal action on your behalf to get the full compensation you deserve to cover your financial losses now and into the future. If the insurance company is playing games with your life by trying to lowball your payout, we’ll step in and play hardball at the negotiating table. If all relevant insurance policies are maxed out and do not come close to fully covering your losses, which unfortunately is often the case with spinal cord injuries, we will identify all liable parties and sue for damages above and beyond the insurance claim.

You don’t have to settle for anything less than your case is truly worth. Recovering from your injuries is challenging enough without having to deal with the added stress of medical debt and lost income. Let our attorneys take the burden of compensation and litigation off your shoulders so that you can focus 100% on healing. Reach out to us anytime for a free consultation to see how we can help.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

“Blunt trauma” during motor vehicle accidents accounts for nearly half of the nation’s spinal cord injuries, followed by falls, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other causes of spinal cord injuries include violent assault and medical malpractice.

Negligence on the road happens in a variety of scenarios, including accidents involving trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars hitting pedestrians.

Off the road, spinal cord injuries can result from:

• Sports accident
• Construction site falls from height
• Machinery accident
• Slip and fall

Common Spine Injuries

The spine can be injured in a variety of ways, including:

• Fracture
• Contusion
• Laceration
• Compression
• Central cord syndrome

The NIH reports that “almost half of the spinal injuries result in neurological deficits, often severe and sometimes fatal.” Common symptoms of acute spinal cord injuries include:

• Pain
• Paralysis
• Depression
• Nerve damage
• Impaired breathing
• Impaired circulation
• Muscle wasting, weakness
• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Loss of sensation in chest, arms, legs

What Can A Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Do to Help?

Florida limits your time to sue for a spinal cord injury. Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury in Florida is two years from the time of the injury. The safest way to protect your rights is to consult a Vero Beach catastrophic injury attorney, to be sure your claim is filed with the court in time.

Attorneys at Kogan & DiSalvo can sue the party responsible for your injury and recover damages. This is of paramount importance because of the devastating nature of spinal cord injuries and the cost of care when incapacitated.

Many people with spinal cord injuries can’t work. Research by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation found that across the nation, “people living with paralysis are often unable to afford health insurance that adequately covers the complex complications that are commonly linked with these conditions.”

Spinal cord injury victims, the Foundation found, often must rely on family members or friends to be their primary caregivers. This can put extreme financial and emotional pressures on whole communities. While there may not be a simple solution to the challenges faced by catastrophic injury victims and their caregivers, using legal action to obtain the maximum available compensation can go a long way to allowing you to live with dignity and some semblance of financial security.

What Kind of Damages Can Be Recovered After a Spinal Cord Injury?

Florida law allows for both economic and noneconomic damages in a spinal injury case. Damages are based upon proof of your injury, monetary losses, and the pain and suffering you experienced.

Economic damages typically include past and future lost wages, medical care, hospital costs, and home care. In addition, the cost of rehabilitation is often an important consideration in spinal cord injury cases.

Noneconomic damages compensate you for the physical pain and mental anguish you have endured and may continue to suffer. This includes loss of consortium (sexual intimacy) as well as other aspects of life partnership, including providing companionship, comfort, support, and aide to your partner.

Members of your family may also be able to recover damages when you suffer a spinal cord injury. Your spouse also may have a claim for loss of consortium. In addition, if you have a child who is unmarried and dependent on you, and your injury is permanent, they may also have a claim for damages for permanent loss of your services, comfort, companionship, and society.

Kogan & DiSalvo Can Help

The spinal cord injury attorneys of Kogan & DiSalvo will evaluate your case and prepare a powerful demand package to move your case toward settlement or trial. Call now for a free consultation with our attorneys serving Indian River County and Vero Beach.