New York Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can change the course of one’s life, causing permanent disability that requires long-term medical care. From falls and motor vehicle crashes, to construction accidents and defective products, many spinal cord accidents and injuries are preventable.  

If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury, you may have grounds to bring a claim to recover the costs of medical care, rehabilitative therapy, and lost income. New York State also allows compensation for the mental and emotional impact of severe injuries.  

Seeking Justice for Spinal Cord Injury?
Speak With Skilled Lawyer Today!
Call (212)566-7500

New York personal injury lawyers with Douglas & London represent injured individuals and aggressively pursue monetary damages from at-fault parties. While legal action cannot reverse your condition, it can ease the financial burden of medical treatment and give you peace of mind knowing your expenses are covered.  

Understanding Spinal Injuries

The United Spinal Association reports that 17,000 new spinal cord injuries occur every year in the U.S. The spinal cord sends and receives signals from the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to any part of the spinal cord can result in permanent changes in the body.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are described in terms of “completeness” which refers to how much sensation or feeling is lost. With an incomplete spinal cord injury, some feeling and sensation remains below the injury site. Someone with a complete spinal cord injury has lost all ability to feel and control their body below the site of injury.  

The loss of control of movement and feeling is called paralysis, and there are various types of paralysis based on the extent of function loss. Paraplegia, for example, affects all or part of the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs. Quadriplegia affects the arms, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs.  

Researchers are making incredible strides in their effort to repair spinal cord damage. Still, with the existing medical treatments, therapies, and mobility devices, individuals with spinal injuries can lead active and rewarding lives, although they often require ongoing care and assistance.

What Are the Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the leading causes of spinal cord injuries are:

• Motor vehicle accidents  
• Slip and fall accidents  
• Acts of violence  
• Sports and recreation activities  
• Diseases  

Researchers have also identified common risk factors for spinal cord injuries. Males make up approximately 80% of spinal cord injuries compared to females. Half of them occur in individuals between the ages of 16 and 30. Spinal cord injury rates are also high in Adults 65 and older, likely because of the increased risk of falls that happens as we age.

Seeking Justice for Spinal Cord Injury?
Speak With Skilled Lawyer Today!
Call (212)566-7500

Long-Term Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries

Non-fatal spinal cord injuries can result in: 

• Expensive medical care including extensive surgeries, medication, and physical therapy. 
• Paralysis requiring a wheelchair and other mobility aids, and modifications to the home. 
• Long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living facility for those who cannot live alone. 
• Disability resulting in time off from work, reduced capacity to work, or total inability to return to the workforce. 
• Psychological trauma requiring counseling to help cope with the drastic changes resulting from a spinal cord injury. 

Liability for Spinal Cord Cases in New York

Personal injury claims rest on the principle of negligence. Negligence is a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care for the situation. Negligence can be an action, or a failure to act.  

Consider someone who consumes excess amounts of alcohol and gets behind the wheel, causing a drunk driving crash that severely injures another driver. That choice to drink and drive is negligent (and most likely criminal, too.)  

Now let’s look at the other form of negligence: failing to take proper precautions to keep others safe. One example is a property owner who fails to provide the require warning signage near a shallow pool. If an unassuming visitor does not realize the water is shallow and dives in, suffering a spinal cord injury, that landlord may be liable for their injuries. Liability is assigned to individuals and entities who cause or contribute to accidents through negligence.  

It’s our job as personal injury attorneys to evaluate the circumstances surrounding an accident, investigate the facts, and determine liability. From there, we take appropriate legal action to hold liable parties accountable under state civil law. If we cannot reach a fair settlement, we are fully prepared to take your case to court. 

Possible Compensation After a Spinal Cord Injury

The lifetime cost of spinal cord injury paralysis can reach into the millions, so it is important to work with an experienced New York paralysis attorney at Douglas & London to ensure your family is financially taken care of.  

We aggressively pursue damages to compensate you for: 

• Any past, current, and future medical expenses associated with your injury, including surgery, physical or occupational therapy, wheelchairs, and other equipment. 
• Lost wages due to time missed from work, or loss of income if your injury prevents you from returning to work. 
• Physical and mental pain and suffering related to your injury. 
• Reduction in your quality of life because of your injury. 

Douglas & London: Award Winning Legal Counsel for Personal Injuries

Spinal cord injury claims are incredibly complex. With extensive medical care and life-long disability, there is a lot at stake. You cannot afford to trust your case to an inexperienced spinal cord injury lawyer. Douglas & London have a track record of achieving excellent results for clients whose lives have been changed by negligence that could and should have been avoided.  

Call 212-566-7500 to reach our team 24 hours a day. Or connect online to schedule your free consultation today. Based in New York City, we are proud to represent clients across New York State and the nation.