Los Angeles Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injuries can result in lifelong disabilities, including quadriplegia and paraplegia. Car accidents and falls are the most common causes. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury in Los Angeles due to someone else’s negligence, a Lanier Law Firm spinal cord injury lawyer can help you recover substantial compensation.
Legally Reviewed By: Michael A. Akselrud
- Last Modified November 13, 2023
The Lanier Law Firm Difference
How much is my Los Angeles spinal cord injury case worth?
The Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
What are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries?
Who is liable for my spinal cord injuries?
What should I do if I sustain a spinal cord injury in Los Angeles?
How much does it cost to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Los Angeles?
When should I contact a Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyer?
How can The Lanier Law Firm help with my spinal cord injury case?
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine estimates that approximately 1,400 people in California sustain spinal cord injuries every year. Fewer than 35 percent of people with spinal cord injuries are employed 20 years later.
The estimated lifetime cost of a cervical spinal cord injury for a 25-year-old is $4.2 million. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, the Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve.
The Lanier Law Firm Difference
We are redefining legal care at The Lanier Law Firm. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers are passionate about getting justice for injured individuals, and it shows in the feedback we regularly receive from past clients, such as the following:
“I highly recommend The Lanier Law Firm. The staff is friendly, respectful, and thorough. They kept us informed throughout our legal case and explained the process in layman’s terms. I want to especially thank Cris Garcia, who translated for my father. She was very compassionate, understanding, and always available to help.” — Naomi Ellis
We have won nearly $20 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients since our establishment in 1990. Our successful case results include the following:
- $5.5 million for a worker who sustained severe head injuries
- $2.2 million for a woman hit by a drunk driver
- $1.95 for a construction worker injured at work
When you need a spinal cord injury lawyer in Los Angeles, you need an award-winning legal team with proven experience and strong litigation skills. Our peers have recognized our Los Angeles attorneys with the following honors and awards for our ability to win record-setting verdicts and settlements:
- Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdict
- Best Lawyers in America
- Elite Trial Lawyer Award
- Trial Lawyer of the Year
- Most Feared Plaintiffs’ Firm
- America’s 100 Most Influential Lawyers
- Top 10 Trial Attorneys
How much is my Los Angeles spinal cord injury case worth?
A spinal cord injury case may have a significant value with consideration given to the following factors:
- The severity of your injuries
- Your medical costs
- Your financial status before the accident
- The available insurance and collectible assets of the liable parties
- The type of claim
Catastrophic injuries resulting in permanent disability have the highest case values due to the lifetime of pain and suffering, the need for ongoing medical treatment, and the inability to work.
Types of Damages in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
- Economic Damages
Economic damages cover verifiable medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages, including projected lifetime medical expenses and future wages you would have earned throughout your life if not for the injury. - Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover the subjective losses affecting your quality of life, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of society, and disability. - Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion to punish a defendant in specific cases when the injurious conduct involved malice, fraud, or oppression.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries that Occur in the Workplace
If your spinal cord injury occurred at work, your case may qualify for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation provides the following:
- Medical care for the work-related injury
- Partial wage replacement
- Death benefits
Workers’ compensation does not provide non-economic damages or punitive damages.
Can I sue my employer?
If you are an employee covered by workers’ compensation, you generally cannot sue your employer. However, if a third party caused or contributed to your injury, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against responsible parties, such as:
- Premises owners
- Vehicle drivers
- Defective product manufacturers
- Contractors
If you meet the statutory definition of an independent contractor, the employer is not required to provide workers’ compensation for your injuries, and you may sue the employer.
By submitting this form, you agree to our terms & conditions. Please read the full disclaimer.
Legally Reviewed By: Michael A. Akselrud
- Last Modified November 13, 2023
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The Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord can block message signals, resulting in a loss of sensation and motor function. Spinal cord injuries generally affect the body from the point of injury downward.
The four major regions of the spine are:
- Cervical: the neck
- Thoracic: the upper and middle back
- Lumbar: the lower back
- Sacral: the buttocks area
Cervical injuries are the most serious because they can affect the entire body. The long-term impact of a spinal cord injury may not manifest for weeks or months after the injury. Sensation and function may return in some cases, but the following effects could be permanent:
- Quadriplegia: paralysis that impacts all limbs
- Paraplegia: lower-body paralysis
- Weakness
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Difficulty walking
- Chronic pain in the back, neck, or head
- Changes in sexual function
- Unnatural spine or head positions
Spinal Cord Injury Complications
People with spinal cord injuries may experience health complications — such as breathing and swallowing problems, blood clots, spasticity, unstable blood pressure, and autonomic dysreflexia — during the acute phase and over time.
Respiratory infections are the leading cause of death in people with spinal cord injuries.
What are the most common causes of
spinal cord injuries?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are car accidents and falls.
Spinal Cord Injuries in Car Accidents
A study published in the Asian Journal of Neurosurgery found that rollover car accidents were the most likely type to result in spinal cord injury, followed by collisions with other vehicles.
The lumbar region was the most common injury site in both types, but injuries to the cervical spine were more common in rollover accidents.
In 2022, the nonprofit group Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) reported that 312 people were killed in car accidents in Los Angeles.
Vulnerable roadway users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, are also more likely to experience a traumatic brain injury, serious spinal cord injuries, death, and other catastrophic injuries.
Motorcycle riders are similarly vulnerable roadway users because they lack the protection of being enclosed in a vehicle.
Spinal Cord Injuries From Falls
A study published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine found that the most common causes of falls are:
- Slipping, tripping, and stumbling
- Falls from building structures
- Falls involving stairs and steps
- Falls from heights
- Falls involving ladders
- Falls from scaffoldings
According to the study, people ages 61 years and older had the highest incidence of falls on the same level. These falls were more likely to create incomplete injuries to the cervical region.
Falls from heights were more likely to cause complete injuries in the thoracic areas. These falls occur most frequently on job sites, especially construction sites.
Other common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Workplace accidents
- Sports injuries
- Violence
- Medical malpractice
Who is liable for my spinal cord injuries?
Establishing liability in a spinal cord injury case requires a detailed investigation into the incident that precipitated your injury. In many cases, law enforcement or an insurance company can incorrectly assign fault. Liability is established by proving the following:
- Someone owed a legal duty of care.
- The person breached the duty of care.
- The breach of duty caused an injury that would not otherwise have occurred.
- The breach of duty is the proximate cause of injury.
Our Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyers can identify multiple liable parties in the same incident. For example, in a car accident, the liable parties could include another driver, a tire manufacturer, a trucking company, or the city of Los Angeles.
In other cases, liability may include:
- Negligent premises owners
- Premises owners with inadequate security
- Schools or other government entities
- Medical staff and facilities
What should I do if I sustain a spinal cord injury in Los Angeles?
If you believe you have suffered a spinal cord injury, call 911 and do not move or allow anyone else to move you unless necessary to escape impending danger. Any movement can result in permanent paralysis.
As soon as you are safe, document the incident by taking pictures of the scene and keeping your medical bills. Collect the contact information of any witnesses present. promptly contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.
How much does it cost to hire a spinal cord
injury lawyer in Los Angeles?
The Lanier Law Firm handles spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we charge nothing until we successfully recover your compensation. This means you risk nothing by contacting The Lanier Law Firm.
When should I contact a Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyer?
Contacting a spinal cord injury attorney right away is key. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury law firm will perform an in-depth investigation of your accident, which can be most fruitful with early access. Over time, evidence degrades, and witnesses may forget important details.
The California personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of injury, with some exceptions. Early case involvement will ensure your attorney has sufficient time to investigate and build the strongest case possible.
How can The Lanier Law Firm help with my spinal cord injury case?
The insurance company may offer an early lowball settlement that seems generous but falls substantially short of covering your economic and noneconomic losses. Insurance companies can attempt to blame the victim, minimize injuries, or resort to stall tactics in the hopes of letting the statute of limitations expire.
Our attorneys have a reputation for being hard to beat in court, which gives us an upper hand in settlement conversations. We know what it takes to negotiate proper compensation and, when necessary, to win in court.
You can count on us to fight for you in every way necessary to win the compensation you deserve. However, time is limited. Contact The Lanier Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
By submitting this form, you agree to our terms & conditions. Please read the full disclaimer
