Spinal cord injuries are some of the most painful injuries a person can endure, but they seem even worse when they are the result of someone’s negligence.
Imagine spending a fun-filled day on Las Olas Boulevard or at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, then getting hit by a careless driver or experiencing a slip and fall because of someone’s negligence. Reach out to a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer.
Accidents like these don’t just ruin your day. They have the potential to change your whole life.
The pain, expense, injury, and loss associated with spinal cord damage due to negligence leave you feeling desperate and hopeless. Fortunately, you have legal options.
The Blakeley Law Firm of attorneys has the experience and skill to help you with a spinal cord injury claim anywhere in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas.
Reach Out Today!
Why Us?
We represent people facing spinal cord claims in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas with competent and skilled legal care.
Our adroit legal team has focused on injurious accidents for over a decade, advocating for victims’ rights to fair compensation and building an exemplary reputation.
Here’s what we offer you:
Experience with spinal cord cases: Blakeley Law Firm boasts extensive experience handling cases related to spinal cord injuries. With a dedicated team of skilled attorneys, we’ve successfully represented clients suffering from spinal cord injuries, achieving favorable outcomes.
Our in-depth knowledge of the complexities surrounding such cases and a track record of securing just compensation make us a trusted choice for anyone seeking legal assistance concerning spinal cord injuries.
When you turn to Blakeley Law Firm, you can rely on our proven experience to navigate the intricacies of your case and advocate for your rights.
Convenience: At Blakeley Law Firm, accessibility is crucial to us. We fully grasp the significance of meeting deadlines, protecting necessary evidence, and constructing a robust case.
Se habla Español: We provide services in English and Spanish to support our diverse population in Fort Lauderdale. We want you to feel at home when you choose Blakeley Law Firm.
Customer reviews:
Visit our testimonials page to see what past clients say about our work.
- We get a lot of praise for our commitment to taking care of clients, our clear communication style, stellar representation, and overall professionalism.
- Our clients often mention how we treat our clients like family, making them feel supported and guided throughout the legal process.
- Most clients appreciate how easy it is to contact us for consistent updates and knowledgeable answers to all their questions.
Give us a call today to discuss how we can help you get compensation for your spinal cord injuries. Getting you on the road to recovery is our goal. We can start today with a short phone call.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that can result in a loss of function, sensation, or mobility.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves extending from the base of the brain down the vertebral column (spine) and helps transmit signals between the brain and the body.
An injured spinal cord disrupts these communication pathways, leading to various degrees of impairment.
Common Causes of SCI
Many different factors can cause spinal cord injuries, but they often result from traumatic events.
Here are some common causes of spinal cord injuries:
- Falls from heights or accidents, such as slipping and falling, can lead to SCIs.
- Car, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents can cause spinal cord injuries.
- High-impact sports and activities can result in SCIs, especially when a collision or a hard fall occurs.
- Diving into shallow water or hitting the bottom of a pool or body of water can cause SCI.
The severity and outcome of an SCI varies depending on the cause, location, and extent of the injury.
Timely medical attention and applicable treatment are crucial for spinal cord injuries to minimize damage and maximize recovery potential.
Complications Related to SCIs and What You Can Do About Them
Spinal cord injury can cause many challenges, including filing a claim against someone for the negligence that caused your SCI. A spinal cord injury lawyer plays a pivotal role in navigating the difficulties of the legal process.
Much like a rehabilitation team helps you develop strategies to address complications from spinal cord injuries, a personal injury lawyer helps devise legal strategies to advocate for your rights and well-being.
Just as the rehabilitation team recommends equipment and resources to enhance the quality of life and independence, a personal injury lawyer can help you access the necessary resources and compensation to facilitate your recovery journey.
Here are some areas often affected by spinal cord injuries:
- Bladder and bowel control: Bladder and bowel control changes can increase the risk of complications. A spinal cord injury lawyer can assist in securing the financial means to access necessary medical treatments, devices, and therapies to improve these functions.
- Pressure injuries: Victims can prevent pressure sores due to reduced skin sensations with proper care and support, but it’s expensive and painful. Legal assistance can help you obtain the resources needed for specialized equipment and in-home care to mitigate this risk.
- Circulatory control: Managing issues like orthostatic hypotension and autonomic dysreflexia may require narrowly focused medical attention and accommodations. A spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for these critical needs.
- Respiratory system: Breathing difficulties and related health issues can arise after a spinal cord injury. Legal support can ensure you have access to the necessary medical treatments, equipment, and therapies to address these challenges.
- Bone density and muscle tone: Spinal cord injuries can impact bone density and muscle tone. Legal advocacy can help obtain funding for rehabilitation programs and adaptive exercise equipment.
- Fitness and wellness: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle post-injury is crucial. A personal injury lawyer can help secure fitness programs and dietary support resources.
- Sexual health and pain management: Issues related to sexual health and pain management may involve specific medical care, which legal counsel can help you access.
- Depression: Coping with the emotional impact of a spinal cord injury is part of the healing process. Legal representation can assist in obtaining compensation for counseling and mental health services.
A lawyer can ensure you receive the necessary support, resources, and compensation to enhance your quality of life and well-being.
Establishing Negligence in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Spinal cord injury cases can be daunting, especially when you’re grappling with the physical, emotional, and financial aftermath of an accident, too.
Proving negligence is a huge part of getting a fair settlement, but doing so while you’re in pain and confused is impossible.
A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can make all the difference. These professionals are trained to evaluate the evidence in your case and determine whether you have grounds to establish a negligence claim.
Your situation must satisfy four elements to prove negligence, each playing a crucial role in holding the at-fault party responsible for your injuries and related losses.
Duty of care
The first element in establishing negligence is demonstrating that the at-fault party owed a duty of care. This duty signifies their responsibility to act in a manner that reasonably ensures your safety and well-being.
For instance, every driver on the road has a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and obey traffic laws. This obligation extends to various scenarios, such as a property owner’s duty to maintain a safe environment for visitors or a healthcare provider’s duty to provide competent patient care.
Breach of duty
The next step is to show that the at-fault party breached this duty or failed to uphold their responsibility to keep you safe.
If the at-fault driver was speeding, running red lights, or driving recklessly, they were likely in breach of their duty of care.
Similarly, if a property owner neglected to repair hazardous conditions on their premises or a healthcare provider deviated from accepted medical standards, they breached their duties.
Causation
Breaching the duty of care is insufficient to establish negligence. You must prove the breach of duty directly led to what caused your injuries. Causation links the at-fault party’s actions to your wounds.
Proving causation to the court usually takes a medical expert to testify that a surgeon’s negligent actions directly caused a patient’s complications or an accident reconstruction specialist to show that a negligent driver’s actions were the primary cause of a collision.
Damages
The final element in proving negligence is establishing that you suffered compensable damages due to the accident or incident.
Damages usually include medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
Damages are the tangible and intangible costs you incur due to the at-fault party’s breach of duty and the resulting harm. They serve as the basis for compensation through a personal injury claim.
While these elements may seem straightforward, navigating the complexities of a personal injury case requires the guidance of a skilled attorney who can review the evidence, build a compelling case, and advocate on your behalf.
Don’t hesitate to seek legal counsel if you have suffered a spinal cord injury and subsequent losses due to someone else’s negligence.
The Blakeley Law Firm can assess the unique circumstances of your case, determine the strength of your claim, and work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. The sooner we can get started, the better.
Do I Need an Attorney to File a SCI Claim in Fort Lauderdale?
The legal system in Florida is more complicated than it seems.
Hire a lawyer after a spinal cord injury in Fort Lauderdale to help with these key issues:
- Florida’s laws: Florida has specific rules about car accidents, insurance, and who’s at fault. A lawyer understands these rules and can ensure insurance companies and courts treat you fairly.
- Liability: Sometimes, proving who caused an accident, like a slip and fall or car wreck, is hard. An attorney will investigate the accident, accumulate evidence, and interview witnesses to determine who’s to blame.
- Compensation: An experienced attorney can assess the appropriate compensation for your losses and identify all available financial resources. They are adept at negotiating a just and equitable sum on your behalf.
- Communicating with insurance companies: Insurance companies frequently aim to minimize their payouts. Attorneys handle all communication with these companies to safeguard your interests and ensure they don’t exploit you.
- Legal obligations: In accident cases in Florida, you may need to go to court, deal with legal paperwork, and provide evidence. A lawyer is experienced in handling all these tasks correctly, making the process easier for you to navigate.
- Preventing mistakes: A lawyer can keep you from making mistakes like talking to the insurance company alone or missing important deadlines that can hurt your case.
- Less stress: You can focus on getting better when you have a lawyer because you don’t have to worry about your case as much.
- No upfront costs: Most Florida SCI lawyers don’t charge you unless you win. You don’t have to pay them in advance.
Using the services of an attorney following a spinal cord injury in Florida significantly increases the chances of receiving fair compensation for your losses, all the while ensuring your legal rights are upheld throughout the legal proceedings.
We Can Help You Get Your Life Back
If you suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, we can help rebuild your life. Reach out to a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer. Call our Fort Lauderdale office at (954) 253-9445 to discuss how we can help you.