Everett Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Suffering a spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant. Beyond the physical impact, the financial and emotional consequences can be overwhelming for both victims and their families. If your spinal cord injury occurred due to another party’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care. At Murphy Trial Law, our experienced attorneys help spinal cord injury victims in Everett seek the justice and financial relief they deserve.
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Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) involve damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as movement, sensation, or both. The severity of the injury depends on the location and extent of the damage. For some victims, it can mean permanent disability, while others may experience partial recovery with extensive rehabilitation.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
Complete Injuries: When the spinal cord is completely severed or damaged, it results in a total loss of function below the injury site. Victims of complete spinal cord injuries often experience paralysis, either paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) or quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down).
Incomplete Injuries: These injuries involve partial damage to the spinal cord, leaving the victim with some degree of function below the injury site. Incomplete injuries can result in varied symptoms, including reduced sensation, limited mobility, or partial paralysis.
Understanding the extent of your injury is critical for developing a treatment plan and determining the compensation you may be entitled to pursue.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Affect Your Life
The consequences of spinal cord injuries extend far beyond the physical impact. Victims often face life-altering changes that affect their independence, emotional well-being, and financial stability. Here’s how SCIs can affect different aspects of your life:
Physical Effects
- Loss of Mobility: Depending on the severity, spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, limiting your ability to move and perform basic tasks independently.
- Chronic Pain: Many SCI victims experience chronic pain, either from nerve damage or as a result of secondary conditions like muscle atrophy or pressure sores.
- Reduced Sensation: In addition to paralysis, victims may experience numbness or altered sensation in certain parts of the body, making daily activities more challenging.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
- Depression and Anxiety: The sudden loss of independence and lifestyle changes can lead to emotional distress, depression, and anxiety.
- Isolation: Many victims struggle with feelings of isolation due to physical limitations, affecting their social interactions and overall quality of life.
Financial Strain
- Medical Bills: Spinal cord injuries often require extensive medical care, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and specialized equipment like wheelchairs and home modifications.
- Lost Wages: Many victims are unable to work for extended periods, if ever again, leading to a significant loss of income.
- Long-Term Care: Some victims require ongoing care, either from family members or professional caregivers, adding to the financial burden.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Everett
Spinal cord injuries can occur in a variety of ways, but they are often the result of someone else’s negligence. In Everett, these injuries commonly stem from:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries, often due to the severe impact during crashes.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Falls, especially from significant heights or on slippery surfaces, can lead to serious spinal damage.
- Sports and Recreational Activities: High-impact sports such as football, diving, and skiing pose a significant risk for spinal cord injuries.
- Workplace Accidents: In industries like construction, manufacturing, or warehousing, accidents involving heavy machinery or falls from heights often result in spinal injuries.
- Acts of Violence: Gunshot wounds or physical assaults can also damage the spinal cord.
- Medical Malpractice: Negligence during medical procedures, such as improper spinal surgeries or anesthesia errors, can lead to spinal cord damage.
Knowing the cause of your spinal cord injury is essential for determining who may be held liable for your damages.
Who Is Liable for Spinal Cord Injuries?
Identifying who is responsible for a spinal cord injury is one of the most important aspects of a personal injury case. Liability often depends on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the parties involved. Potentially liable parties may include:
- Negligent Drivers: In motor vehicle accidents, the at-fault driver can be held liable for any injuries caused by their reckless or negligent actions.
- Property Owners: If your spinal cord injury occurred due to unsafe property conditions, the property owner may be held accountable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
- Employers: In workplace accidents, your employer could be liable if they failed to provide a safe work environment or proper training.
- Medical Professionals: Doctors and healthcare providers can be held liable if your injury resulted from medical malpractice.
- Product Manufacturers: If a defective product, such as a faulty vehicle or medical device, caused your injury, the manufacturer could be held responsible.
Determining liability requires thorough investigation and legal expertise, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced lawyer.
Proving Negligence in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
In order to recover compensation for a spinal cord injury, you must be able to prove that another party’s negligence caused the injury. This involves establishing four key elements:
- Duty of Care: The responsible party owed you a duty to act in a safe and reasonable manner.
- Breach of Duty: The responsible party failed to fulfill this duty through their actions or inaction.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly caused your spinal cord injury.
- Damages: You suffered actual harm, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, as a result of the injury.
Our attorneys will work closely with you to gather evidence, such as accident reports, medical records, and expert testimony, to build a strong case.
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What Compensation Can You Claim?
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to several forms of compensation to cover your damages. Some of the most common types of compensation include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any future medical care related to your spinal cord injury.
- Lost Wages: You can seek compensation for wages lost due to your inability to work, as well as for any reduction in earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Long-Term Care: If your injury requires long-term assistance, you can seek compensation for in-home care or nursing facilities.
- Home Modifications: Injuries that lead to permanent disability may require your home to be modified with ramps, widened doorways, or other adjustments.
Our attorneys will help you pursue the maximum compensation to ensure that you and your family are financially secure during your recovery.
Steps to Take After a Spinal Cord Injury
After suffering a spinal cord injury, the steps you take can significantly impact your ability to pursue compensation. Here’s what you should do:
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Always prioritize your health by getting immediate medical care. Even if your symptoms seem mild, spinal injuries can worsen without proper treatment.
- Document the Incident: Take photographs, collect witness statements, and obtain a copy of any police or accident reports.
- Follow Medical Advice: Adhering to your doctor’s treatment plan is crucial for your recovery and for building a strong legal case.
- Consult an Attorney: Contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and explore your legal options.
By following these steps, you can help protect your health and ensure you’re in the best position to file a successful claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Washington?
In Washington state, you generally have three years from the date of your spinal cord injury to file a personal injury claim. However, certain exceptions may apply, depending on the specifics of your case:
- Discovery Rule: If you didn’t immediately realize that you were injured, the statute of limitations may begin from the date you discovered the injury.
- Minors: If the victim is under 18, the statute of limitations may be extended until their 18th birthday.
It’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your case is filed within the required timeframe.
Why You Need an Everett Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Handling a spinal cord injury claim can be overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with the physical and emotional toll of the injury. Here’s why working with our attorneys is essential:
- Legal Expertise: Our team is experienced in spinal cord injury cases and understands the legal complexities involved in proving negligence.
- Maximizing Compensation: We will fight to ensure that you receive the full compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care.
- Negotiation with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to settle for less than what you deserve. Our attorneys will handle negotiations to ensure you get a fair settlement.
- Courtroom Representation: If your case goes to trial, we will represent you in court and advocate on your behalf to secure the compensation you need.
- Emotional Support: We understand the challenges that come with spinal cord injuries. Our team is here to support you throughout the legal process, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
When you partner with Murphy Trial Law, you gain access to a dedicated team that will work tirelessly to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Get a Free Consultation with an Everett Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, it’s crucial to act quickly to protect your legal rights. Our team at Murphy Trial Law offers free consultations to discuss your case, answer your questions, and outline your options moving forward.
Don’t wait—time is of the essence when it comes to filing a claim. Call us today at (425) 835-2614 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Everett spinal cord injury lawyer. Let us help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve during this challenging time.
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