Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Chicago

Spinal cord injuries occur due to different reasons. However, here are the most common:

Slip and Falls

Slip and fall accidents can happen in different places, including both private and public properties. For example, you may slip and fall at an apartment complex, a shopping mall, or a grocery store. In addition, slip and fall accidents are also quite common at construction sites, public transportation stations, hospitals, and other similar facilities.

Car Accidents

Spinal cord injuries resulting from car accidents can be life-changing. These injuries usually occur when one vehicle hits the other from behind. However, drivers and passengers can also suffer spinal cord injuries when their vehicles roll after an accident or get hit from any direction. In other words, spinal cord injuries are not restricted to rear-ended collisions.

Playground Accidents

A trip to the playground is always exciting for any child and even adults. But some of these trips end in devastating injuries, usually due to someone's negligence. If that is what you are dealing with as a parent, you may be able to secure compensation for your loved one's injuries.

Birth Injuries

No parent wishes their child to be born with spinal cord injuries. But in some cases, negligence on the doctor's side often leads to this kind of injury. The saddest part is that when it comes to something as serious as a spinal cord injury, the child might never get a chance to live a normal life after birth.

Infections

Certain infections can also lead to spinal cord injuries. Some of these infections may result from medical malpractice or any other form of negligence away from hospitals.

Gunshots

Chicago is a beautiful city—there's no doubt about that. But then, the issue of insecurity always pops up in most conversations about this beautiful city. Although there are many different gangs in the city that are partly to blame for insecurity, many people do not talk about the other side of the coin.

The truth is, the law enforcement in Chicago also houses some rogue officers who should not be in the force in the first place. These trigger-happy officers make certain situations worse. If you or your loved one has suffered spinal cord injuries after getting shot by a police officer, you may be able to hold them accountable.

For example, in the summer of 2022, an unarmed 13-year-old was shot by Chicago police despite raising his hands as a sign of surrender. The teenager then suffered paralysis after the incident.

Now here comes the saddest part. Because the spinal cord carries signals from the nerves to the brain, spinal cord injuries are often devastating. Here is an overview of some of the most common effects of these kinds of injuries:

Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, especially in the arms or legs. As a result, the victim might be confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of their lives.

Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control

On top of not being able to take themselves to the bathroom without help, spinal cord injury victims might also lose control of bowel or bladder control. When this happens, chances are they will need a caregiver to take care of them.

Sexual Dysfunction

Spinal cord injury victims might also suffer from sexual dysfunction. This happens when there is damage to the nerves that send signals from sexual organs to the brain. As a result, the brain fails to process sexual excitement, making it impossible for the individual to enjoy sex.

Spasticity

This is a condition where the body muscles contract, making it impossible to walk or even move. Some individuals who suffer from spasticity also struggle from lack of sleep.

Cardiovascular Complications

Studies show that people who suffer spinal cord injuries are at a higher risk of developing spinal cord complications. This happens especially in injuries around the neck and mid-back spine.

Respiratory Infections

Some spinal cord injury victims may also suffer from various respiratory complications. This happens due to the weakening of the chest and abdominal muscles. As a result, the chest and the entire respiratory system get exposed to infections such as cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis.

Pressure Sores

Pressure sores are not only painful and unpleasant but also life-threatening. They usually occur due to a lack of movement, particularly when sitting or laying in the same position for a prolonged period.

If you have suffered spinal cord injuries due to someone else's negligence, a Chicago spinal cord injury attorney might be able to help. Here is how:

The first thing the attorney will do is review the case. This step helps establish whether you have a valid claim against the other party for the injuries you or your loved one sustained.

The attorney will obtain the facts of the case, including but not limited to:

• the location of the incident;
• your actions before the incident; and
• what the law says about that particular incident.

Secondly, the attorney will review any evidence presented to them. Doing so will help them understand the weight of the case and how to proceed with it.

If the evidence is insufficient, the attorney might help collect additional evidence to add more weight to the case. This process could involve interviewing witnesses, obtaining surveillance footage, consulting experts, etc.

Once the attorney has the facts of the case, they will then identify the liable party. Depending on the circumstances of the injury, more than one party might be responsible for the injury.

After identifying the parties responsible for your injuries, the attorney will devise a legal strategy. This is one of the most important aspects of pursuing compensation for a spinal cord injury or any other injury for that matter. It is also one of the many advantages of hiring a spinal cord injury attorney experienced in these kinds of cases.

Depending on the nature of the injuries, the case might take different dimensions. For example, if you got injured in the workplace, you might be able to file a worker's compensation claim. Still, this claim requires a strategy. The attorney will determine the best time to file the claim and where exactly to file it.

In the case of a worker's compensation claim, the attorney might be able to help you recover compensation from your employer's insurer. In addition, if a third party contributed to the accident, the lawyer might also help you file a lawsuit against the third party. All this is done to ensure that you maximize your claim because spinal cord injuries can be life-changing.

When you suffer spinal cord injuries, chances are you will not have the time and energy to handle the complex paperwork required to pursue such a claim or lawsuit. It is even worse if you suffer paralysis due to the accident. In that case, this is not the time to assign your favorite family member the role of reviewing or processing the paperwork you need to file a claim.

Rather, you need experts. You need experienced individuals to help you navigate the complexities of obtaining compensation for your injuries. Remember, spinal cord injuries usually involve huge amounts of compensation. For this reason, the other party will likely put up a strong fight to avoid liability or limit the amount of compensation you may be entitled to.

But this should not be the case. You deserve reasonable compensation. You deserve the kind of compensation that takes into account the kind of injuries you have suffered and their impact on your quality of life.

This is something a seasoned spinal cord injury lawyer in Chicago can help you with. The attorney will review your damages and build a strong case against the other party, ensuring you receive the compensation you need and deserve.

It is also worth noting that after such an injury, the last thing you need is to find yourself in endless negotiations with the other party. Chances are, you will not have the energy for that, whether you are the victim or someone else is. Instead, a seasoned attorney will represent you during the negotiations. And if the other party is unwilling to settle, the attorney will explore other options, such as filing a lawsuit.

If you or your loved one has suffered spinal cord injuries, it is advisable to contact an attorney right away. Failure to contact an attorney could mean jeopardizing your claim. An attorney can help you understand your rights and also help you navigate the complex process of filing a claim or lawsuit against the liable party.

The damages you may be able to recover depend on the specifics of your case. In most cases, spinal cord injury victims recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include damages that involve money, such as medical expenses, loss of wages, caregiver costs, medical transportation costs, medical equipment costs, etc. On the other hand, non-economic damages include the kind of damages that do not necessarily involve money, such as mental distress, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, etc.

The victim's spouse can also file a loss of consortium claim if the injury has had a significant impact on the couple's romantic life. For example, as stated earlier, some spinal cord injuries can lead to sexual dysfunction, meaning the victim might no longer be able to enjoy sexual relations with their spouse.

If the court determines that the defendant was grossly negligent, the judge might also award the plaintiff punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the defendant for their gross negligence and also serve as a warning to other parties.

Yes, you do. Just because the other party is willing to settle the claim does not mean they have your best interests at heart. A skilled attorney can help determine the amount of compensation you may be eligible for, ensuring the offer is reasonable. If it is not, the attorney will help negotiate with the other party or pursue other options, such as filing a lawsuit against them.

Because spinal cord injuries are serious, chances are you will likely encounter fierce opposition from the defendant's legal team. For this reason, you need an attorney with experience, a solid track record of winning such cases, and powerful legal resources to fight for you. These qualities define Morgan and Morgan.

We are the largest personal injury law firm in Chicago and the entire country. So far, we have helped our clients recover more than $25 billion as compensation for their injuries. And when it comes to legal resources, we have an army of over 1,000 personal injury attorneys backed by skilled paralegals, experts in different fields, and a vast network of professionals ready to fight for you.

All you need to do is fill out our free case evaluation form to get started. We might be able to help you or your beloved obtain the compensation you need and deserve after such a horrific injury.