Washington, DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Did Someone Else’s Negligence Cause Your Spinal Cord Injury? Our DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Can Help

A spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating results of a catastrophic accident. Damage to the nerves in the spinal cord may cause complete or partial paralysis, impacting nearly every aspect of your life. In addition, spinal cord injuries rarely heal and may require millions of dollars of medical expenses throughout a lifetime. If negligence played a part in your spinal cord injury, you will need an experienced Washington, DC spinal cord injury lawyer to get you compensation to cover your expenses.

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What Are Your Legal Options Following a Spinal Cord Injury in Washington, DC?

After a spinal cord injury, you could be facing extensive medical bills as well as the cost of adaptive technology, home renovations, in-home nursing assistance, and physical therapy. Victims may also require treatment for psychological trauma. However, if someone else’s negligence caused your accident or injury, then you may be able to recover compensation for these costs through a legal claim.

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The Washington, DC, spinal cord injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have a proven record of helping individuals with catastrophic injuries. Our attorneys work with medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists to help our clients receive the maximum possible compensation. In one case, our firm recovered a $7.5 million settlement for a client who suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence. You can learn more about your rights and available legal options by contacting our DC personal injury attorney.

What Happens When You Injure Your Spinal Cord?

The spinal cord comprises 31 pairs of nerves that travel from the base of your brain down your back. These nerves branch out and reach your arms, legs, chest, and abdomen. The brain will use these nerves to command your muscles to move these parts of your body. The spinal cord nerves also control the function of your organs, such as your heart, lungs, and bladder.

Unlike other parts of your body, the spinal cord can’t repair itself following an injury. The symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

Weakness or complete loss of muscle function
Loss of voluntary muscle movement in chest, arms, or legs
Loss of sensation in the body below the level of injury
Loss of bowel and bladder function
Difficulty breathing if the damage was to the upper neck

What are the types of spinal cord injuries?

What Are The Most Common Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms?

Specific spinal cord injury symptoms typically depend on two factors:

Incomplete spinal cord injury. An incomplete injury means that some signals from the brain can still reach beyond the injury site, allowing the victims may retain some sensation and movement. However, partial paralysis can still be severely disabling and costly.
Complete spine injury. A complete spinal cord injury means there is a total lack of sense or motor functions below the level of injury. These types of damages may require extensive therapy and medical treatment. In some cases, victims may require around-the-clock care.

The extent of a disabling spine injury depends on the damage location; injuries that occur higher up the spine typically have more severe and limiting symptoms.

Depending on the site of the damage, the injury may result in:

Paraplegia. If the injury occurs below the arms, the result may be loss of function of the legs and lower body. Paraplegia may include paralysis of the legs, hips, and/or lower organs. Generally, victims require specialized medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and ongoing physical therapy.
Quadriplegia or tetraplegia. If the spine injury occurs in the neck or high back, the victim will experience paralysis of all four limbs. In some cases, victims may also lose the ability to eat, speak or breathe without assistance. Victims typically require constant medical support, physical therapy, and assistive technology.

Spinal cord injuries are not only devastating but can put a family deeply in debt. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a 25-year-old with a high tetraplegia spinal cord injury could face an estimated $4.7 million in lifetime health care costs and living expenses.

What Are The Main Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries?

A spinal cord injury may result from trauma to the back or an infection that causes pressure on the nerves. However, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

Car and truck accidents – Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), traffic accidents account for 38 percent of spine injures annually, more than any other cause.
Slips and falls – Falls account for 30.5 percent of spinal cord injuries each year, per the NSCISC. Older adults have an increased risk of suffering spinal cord injuries after a slip and fall accident.
Sports and recreational injuries – Dozens of recreational activities, such as skiing, football, swimming, and riding ATVs, can cause spinal cord injuries. Often, defective equipment, lack of supervision, and other negligence increase the chances of a severe sports-related spinal injury.
Medical procedures – Surgical errors during back and neck procedures can easily result in trauma to the spinal cord. Additionally, medical negligence such as failure to diagnose infections and spine conditions may cause permanent paralysis.
Product defects – Defective auto parts and poorly designed vehicles may increase the risk of a spine injury in a severe accident. Also, defective furniture, medication, safety equipment, and other products may also cause spine damage.
Swimming pool accidents – Diving accidents in shallow pools are a common cause of brain, neck, and spinal cord injuries.

If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you might be able to collect compensation for your medical bills and other damages through a personal injury lawsuit.

How a DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help

If someone else’s negligence injured you, your first step is to contact an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer to learn what options are available. Fighting the insurance company alone could result in a lower settlement than your injury is worth. It’s a fact that a personal injury attorney can get you three times the amount of compensation that you could get on your own.

At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, we’ve spent decades helping spinal cord injury victims with their claims. We know how the insurance companies work, and we have the resources needed to get you the maximum amount of compensation for your injury.

Don’t deal with your injury claim on your own. Regan Zambri Long PLLC is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Washington, DC spinal cord injury lawyer today.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury in DC

What Damages Can I Receive From a Successful Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?

Depending on the severity of your spinal cord injury, the damages you can receive include:

Current and future medical expenses such as surgeries, therapy, and home care costs
Rehabilitation costs
Lost wages and earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment or consortium

I Had a Pre-Existing Problem With My Back. Will That Affect My Case?

Since an injury was already present, many people think that they won’t recover because of a pre-existing condition. But that’s not the case.

Even if you had a spinal issue at the time of the accident, the defendant is still liable for any injuries that the accident caused, including aggravating a current injury or making it worse

Many defendants will try to prove that the injury was already present, so they are not obligated to pay for the injuries. When dealing with this kind of defense, it’s so important to seek medical treatment and have a spinal cord injury attorney representing you.

Is There a Time Limit on When to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Washington, DC?

According to DC’s statute of limitations, you have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after the accident. Although this may seem like a long time, speaking with an attorney sooner than later is advisable.

What If I Was Partially Responsible for My Spinal Injury?

Washington, DC is one of the few jurisdictions that still use contributory negligence. It’s a defense that can prevent plaintiffs from receiving compensation after an accident because they contributed to their injury.

For example, you get into a car accident that leaves you paralyzed from the waist down. The other driver, who had been drinking at the time, was found at fault. However, the police report later states that you were texting before the accident occurred. Even though the other driver was found at fault for the accident, you may be partially to blame since you weren’t paying attention to the road at the time of the accident. Since there was negligence involved on your part, you will not be able to recover compensation.

Speak to a qualified personal injury attorney to see what options may be available to you.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

Fortunately, many spinal cord injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom. Once you hire our injury attorneys, we will negotiate with the insurance company to get you a fair settlement. If we cannot settle your claim, we are prepared to go to court on your behalf.

Remember, Regan Zambri Long PLLC works on a contingency fee. What this means is you do not pay until the case is settled or reaches a verdict. If we cannot get a favorable conclusion to your case, you do not have to pay.

Questions? Contact A Spinal Cord Injury Attorney For A Free Consultation

Spine injuries require lengthy hospital stays, rehabilitation services, and expensive equipment in many cases. In addition, spinal cord injury symptoms can make returning to a former occupation difficult or impossible.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury caused by the negligence of another party, then you may be able to recover compensation that can help pay for these costs. Our Washington, DC spinal cord injury lawyers can help you understand your rights and available legal options.

For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call (202) 960-4596 or fill out our online case review form.

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596