San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Vaage Law > Practice Areas > San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Spinal cord injuries can be among the most debilitating types of injuries. If another’s negligence caused you to suffer a spinal injury, you may be entitled to significant compensation for lifelong costs. Read on to learn more about your legal rights.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Fast Facts

Spinal cord injuries are devastating, impacting not only the physical health of victims but also their emotional well-being and financial stability. The costs associated with medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term support can be overwhelming. Studies show:

• Approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury occur each year, excluding those who die before reaching the hospital.
• The leading causes of spinal cord injuries include motor vehicle accidents (42.1%), falls (26.7%), violence (15.1%), sports incidents (7.6%), and other or unknown causes (8.6%).
• Before their injuries, 57.5% of spinal cord injury patients were employed. This figure drops to 11.5% one-year post-injury and rises slightly to 35.4% twenty years after the injury.
• Among those discharged from hospitals, 30.1% have incomplete quadriplegia, 25.6% have complete paraplegia, 20.4% have complete quadriplegia, and 18.4% have incomplete paraplegia.

On top of it all, dealing with insurance companies can be particularly challenging for spinal cord injury victims. Insurers often attempt to minimize payouts, which can leave victims without adequate resources for their recovery.

San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

The spinal cord plays the important role of relaying signals from the brain to the rest of the body. As such, any injury to the spinal cord can interrupt or undermine basic bodily functions and create permanent life changes.

At Vaage Law, we understand how challenging a spinal cord injury can be for the individual and their loved ones. There will be various hardships and financial setbacks, but pursuing legal action can help to provide a higher quality of life for all those involved.

If you experienced a spinal cord injury, contact our law firm at (619) 338-0505 to schedule a free consultation regarding your legal rights and options. Founded in 1992, we have decades of experience as San Diego spinal cord injury attorneys.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) involves any type of damage to the bundle of cells and nerves that extends from the brain down through the spine and into the lower back. SCI can often be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord, or due to damage to the surrounding tissue and vertebrae that encase the cord.

SCI symptoms can be severe and can involve loss of muscle function or motor coordination, loss of sensation, and other more serious conditions like paralysis. Due to the nature of such symptoms, legal action may typically be necessary if another party’s negligence caused the spinal cord injury.

In many instances, due to the connection between the brain and the spinal cord, traumatic brain injuries may also involve some degree of spinal cord injury. Also, more serious instances can lead to a wrongful death claim, in cases where the injury leads to a loss of life.

There are roughly 54 SCI cases per 1 million people in the U.S. (about 18,000 new instances each year). These types of claims can be complex, so it’s important to hire a law firm that has proven results in such cases.

How Can a San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help with Damages?

Spinal cord injury patients may be entitled to significant compensation if another’s negligence was the cause of their injury. Treatment and rehabilitation for an SCI can be extensive and ongoing, but a legal damages award can help tremendously with the financial burdens associated with recovery.

Our San Diego spinal injury attorneys will walk through the process of filing a claim and getting the justice you deserve. Whether it’s seeking accountability from an employer, or medical fees and costs accrued, Vaage Law is here to support you every step of the way. So contact us or reach out by phone at (619) 338-0505.

A damages award can provide financial relief for:

• Medical expenses and treatments
• Lost wages
• Loss of the ability to generate future income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship of a loved one
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Besides these, spinal cord injuries may require lifestyle adjustments, which also translate into additional expenses, such as:

• Nursing home care or intensive care
• Hiring an assisted living aide
• Home or vehicle modifications
• Ongoing psychiatric/psychological counseling
• Wheelchairs, ramps, lifts, and other medical equipment

The exact amount of damages will vary from case to case and will depend on factors like the severity of the injury and the treatments required.

The attorney’s skill and knowledge will also play a role, so it’s important to select a San Diego spinal injury lawyer who has direct experience with SCI lawsuits.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries can result from many causes and situations. This means that various parties can be held liable for an SCI, depending on the circumstances.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries can include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Premises liability accidents, such as a slip and fall
• Jail injuries (such as when a detainee is mistreated by staff)

In most cases, spinal cord injuries are caused by some sort of direct catastrophic contact to the spine and spinal column.

In terms of the actual mechanism of injury, a spinal cord injury can involve:

• Broken vertebrae, which can then damage the delicate cord and nerves
• Disc abnormalities, such as when a bulging disc presses onto the cord
• Penetrating injuries, such as a gunshot that penetrates into the spinal cord
• Narrowing of the spinal cord, as can happen with repetitive stress injuries or arthritis

An experienced San Diego spinal cord injury lawyer can work with a medical expert to determine the exact cause of the SCI. This can be of tremendous assistance when determining which party is liable and what the resulting damages might be.

Anoxic brain injuries are a form of traumatic brain injury caused when a brain is denied oxygen—the damage done is immediate and profound. Who can be held liable for such injuries? How can a lawyer help your family after such a horrifying tragedy?

What Are Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms?

Common symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:

• Loss of motor function
• Numbness or loss of sensation (the ability to feel in the extremities)
• Paralysis
• Exaggerated reflexes
• Muscular spasms

In some cases, symptoms may be more nuanced, since the spinal cord affects various other bodily functions. Other symptoms of an SCI may include:

• Altered sensations, such as differences in the ability to feel heat or cold
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Changes in sexual function
• Extreme pressure in the back, neck, or head
• Difficulty walking or balancing

You should seek medical attention immediately if you were injured and are experiencing any of these symptoms. You should also contact a San Diego spinal injury attorney, who can help advise you on what steps to take if you feel someone else is responsible.

What Does a San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Do?

Spinal cord injury claims may involve many complex determinations of liability, damages, and other concepts. A spinal cord injury lawyer can perform many of the services and tasks that are crucial for a successful case.

After an SCI, we understand that you may not be in the best position to handle various tasks, and we empathize with your situation. At Vaage Law, we can help by providing legal services such as:

• Reviewing the circumstances and facts of the spinal cord injury
• Researching the applicable laws
• Gathering important medical records and reports
• Interviewing key witnesses, including medical experts
• Formulating a strong trial strategy
• Negotiating for the maximum amount of damages

An experienced San Diego spinal cord injury lawyer can handle these actions so that you can focus on recovering and spending time with your family and loved ones.

Types of Claims a San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Handles

Medical and Healthcare Legal Issues

Victims of spinal cord injuries face numerous medical and healthcare challenges, which can often lead to complex legal situations involving medical malpractice, surgical errors, or inadequate rehabilitation.

A lawyer can assist in holding healthcare providers accountable for negligence or malpractice and securing compensation for medical expenses, ongoing treatment, and pain and suffering.

These attorneys can also pursue cases against manufacturers of defective medical devices that may have contributed to the injury.

Civil Rights, Discrimination, and Special Populations

Spinal cord injury victims may face discrimination and civil rights challenges, particularly in employment, education, or encounters with law enforcement. San Diego spinal cord injury attorneys advocate and ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

They help clients secure necessary workplace accommodations, fight against wrongful termination, and address any discriminatory practices. Attorneys also assist military veterans in navigating Veterans Affairs claims and represent inmates injured due to neglect or abuse in correctional facilities.

Disability and Accessibility Issues

San Diego spinal cord injury attorneys play a vital role in addressing disability and accessibility issues. They assist clients in obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and other disability benefits, guiding them through the application and appeals processes.

Attorneys advocate for necessary accessibility improvements in public spaces, transportation, and educational institutions, ensuring compliance with laws like the ADA. They also help secure adaptive equipment and technologies essential for clients’ independence and daily living.

Contact Vaage Law: San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm

Spinal injury lawsuits can be complex and require a high degree of legal skill. Such injuries can be severe and can cause lifelong changes that must be addressed through the proper legal channels. We understand these hardships and are here to help alleviate your worries throughout the process.

“When Mr. Vaage walked in I was like, ‘Wow, this is a winner […] he’s gonna save my life.'”

• JODI BREWER

Why Hire Vaage Law

Vaage Law is committed to obtaining the maximum benefit possible on your behalf while minimizing the stress associated with litigation so you can focus on healing. For more than 35 years, Bob Vaage has represented many individuals, and their families, as their San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Attorney.

We have secured more than $175 million on behalf of clients and have tried more cases to verdict than most San Diego civil attorneys. We recently secured $26 million in a medical malpractice case and $12 million in one concerning civil rights.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, and subsequent discrimination or negligence, contact us right away at (619) 338-0505 to schedule a free consultation. We are on hand to provide you with the legal representation and guidance you need.

Proudly Representing San Diego Residents

FAQ: San Diego Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

To learn about your options and rights as an injured victim, please contact our office as soon as possible.