Few injuries are as devastating as those involving the spine. Unfortunately, avoidable accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Miami. If you or someone you love is struggling with a spine injury you may be entitled to compensation. Since spinal cord injuries tend to be quite expensive, the money you get can be incredibly helpful in the weeks, months, and years after your accident.

Hiring an attorney to handle your case will help you maximize the financial award you receive. Call the Miami spine injury lawyers at Lavent Law, P.A. to schedule your free consultation today.

Why You Should Hire A Miami Spine Injury Lawyers

The spine is responsible for relaying messages from the body to the brain. When the spine is damaged, the body’s ability to communicate with itself is compromised. This can result in a loss of sensation, feeling, and the ability to move. Your road to recovery after a traumatic accident can be long, tiresome, and expensive. You will need to focus all of your time and energy on getting better.

While you can pursue compensation on your own, it’s best to let an experienced lawyer handle your personal injury case. Here’s why:

You simply may not have the time and energy needed to navigate a complex legal case;
Others will be quick to shift blame for the accident to you, which can hurt your personal injury case;
It’s hard to know what your case is worth without expert input and analysis;
More than one person may be responsible for your spine injury; and
Insurance companies will fight you every step of the way and do everything they can to limit your financial recovery.

At Lavent Law, P.A., our personal injury attorneys understand that a spine injury can change your life forever. We have the experience and resources that are necessary to help you get the money you need and deserve. Call our Miami office today to schedule a free case assessment.

Understanding Spine Injuries

More than 17,000 people in the United States suffer a spine injury every year. A spine injury can be broadly defined as any damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the back, beginning at the base of the brain. The spinal cord is an essential part of the body’s central nervous system. When the spine is damaged, it’s common to experience losses of sensation, feeling, movement, and control.

Complete vs. Incomplete

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A spinal cord injury will be classified as complete if you lose the ability to feel and move below the level of the injury.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A spinal cord injury will be classified as incomplete if you retain some sensation or movement below the level of the injury.

The level of injury is the specific location where your spine is injured. Generally speaking, the higher the injury on your spine, the more severe the injury. For example, injuries to the top of the spinal cord tend to be more devastating than injuries to the base of the spinal cord. Why? More of the body is below the level of the injury and, therefore, likely to be affected.

Paralysis Caused By a Spinal Cord Injury

Paralysis, or the loss of sensation and movement, is a common consequence of a spinal cord injury. When the spine is damaged, your body loses the ability to communicate. As a result, the brain is unable to successfully send signals to control different parts of the body. The type of paralysis you may experience will depend on the level of your spinal injury.

Quadriplegia: Quadriplegia refers to the paralysis below the neck- including the arms, hands, legs, feet, pelvis, and trunk.

Paraplegia: Paraplegia refers to the paralysis below the waist – including the legs, feet, pelvis, and trunk.

Monoplegia: Monoplegia refers to the paralysis of a single limb.

Hemiplegia: Hemiplegia refers to the paralysis of the limbs on one side of the body.

Signs, Symptoms, and Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury

The symptoms you experience will depend on which part of your spine has been damaged in the accident. Generally speaking, the higher the level of injury, the more severe the consequences and symptoms. Spinal cord injury victims may experience:

Chronic pain
Tingling or numbness in the extremities
Loss of sensation or feeling
Loss of mobility
Loss of impairment of speech
Inability or difficulty controlling the bladder and bowels
Uncontrollable spasms or reflexes
Difficulty breathing
Inability to regulate your body temperature, and
Partial or complete paralysis.

It’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of these symptoms after an accident. Early medical intervention can prevent your spinal cord injury from getting worse.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Miami

Spinal cord injuries are typically caused by unexpected and, in many cases, avoidable trauma. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the leading causes of spinal cord injuries include:

Traffic Accidents: More than 38 percent of spinal cord injuries are sustained in traffic accidents involving cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Falls: Nearly one out of every three spinal cord injuries is the result of a fall. Falls are the leading cause of spinal cord injury in elderly victims.

Assaults: Violent attacks, including assault, battery, and gunshot wounds, cause approximately 13 percent of all spinal cord injuries.

Recreational Accidents: Recreational accidents and sporting injuries are responsible for approximately 8 percent of all spinal cord injuries.

Medical Negligence: Medical malpractice and surgical errors account for nearly 5 percent of all spinal cord injuries.

Damages Available to Spinal Cord Injury Victims

Spinal cord injuries can have devastating physical and emotional consequences. The financial costs of your spine injury can also be quite overwhelming. Between lifelong medical care, reduced earning capacity, and disability, a spine injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your life. More severe spinal cord injuries can even exceed a million dollars in costs.

You don’t have to shoulder these costs on your own. When someone else causes your injury, you have the right to demand compensation. At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys will aggressively pursue damages on your behalf, including money for:

Medical bills
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Lost wages
Disability
Disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
Rehabilitation
Nursing care, and more.

Contact our compassionate legal team for immediate assistance with your spine injury case. We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to call today.

Time Limit for Filing a Spine Injury Lawsuit

You’ll only have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your spine injury. In most cases, your claim must be filed within four years of the date of your accident. You may have additional time to file a claim if your injury wasn’t detected right away. You won’t be able to get the money you deserve if you don’t file your claim before the statute of limitations expires.

Contacting an attorney immediately after your accident will help to protect your rights. Call Lavent Law, P.A. to find out how our experienced attorneys can help you get the money you need as you fight to recover from a spinal cord injury.

Call Our Miami Spine Injury Lawyers

Have you or someone you love suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury in a Miami accident? Contact the personal injury lawyers at Lavent law for immediate assistance. We know that dealing with a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. Our goal is to help you fight for the money you deserve. If someone else is to blame, we’ll help you hold them accountable. Call our office today to set up a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and answer the questions you have.