North Miami Beach Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

March 16, 2023 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman

Few financial and emotional setbacks to your family are as devastating as serious accidents. They are often eligible to recover compensation for their related losses and expenses. At Dolman Law Group, we work with victims and their families to deal with the long-term effects of permanent injuries or death due to someone else's negligence.

As North Miami Beach spinal cord injury lawyers, we're in the business of aggressively defending the rights of the injured. Although compensation alone can't undo the effects of a severe injury, you can contact an attorney as soon as possible to keep your legal rights intact.

Florida also offers support and services for victims of spinal cord injuries. For details, you can click here.

Why Hire Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in North Miami Beach?

Preparing civil claims against defendants is complex, and an attorney may make the difference in collecting on a valid claim. If you've been hurt in an accident in North Miami Beach, you can turn to an attorney for assistance. Consultations with our team members are always free.

Dolman Law Group's Experience With Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Many accidents can result in spinal cord injuries. Spinal injuries can involve damage to the bones and discs, and nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in one or more areas of the body. Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

Spinal damage is a serious concern when a vehicle hits you. Before attempting to resolve your legal claim alone, consider hiring an attorney. Preparing a claim requires substantial medical documentation from treating doctors, which must show your spinal cord injury resulted from the event. You will also need evidence to prove negligence and liability.

Personal injury claims and lawsuits are complex and require time, energy, and resources. Many spinal cord injury victims have none of these things in excess in the initial months to a year following their injury. They need to focus on healing and rehabilitation, not preparing evidence to support an insurance claim.

Sometimes, these claims take years to complete. An attorney can help you seek compensation as quickly and effectively as possible.

Every Spinal Cord Injury Case Is Unique

Florida personal injury laws provide relief for people injured due to another party's negligence. However, there is a legal standard in Florida. Per Florida Statutes § 627.737, the serious injury threshold means a person must prove one of the following to seek damages from another party in a car accident civil claim:

  • Permanent injury
  • Significant and permanent disfigurement or scars
  • Significant and permanent loss of a bodily function

These terms can be interpreted in numerous ways. You may be limited to filing a claim based on your no-fault insurance. Still, minor injuries or minimal scarring may not be significant enough to warrant a claim for damages based on the liable party's actions.

Regardless, we can review the facts of your case and determine who was responsible. If we find a viable defendant, we may suggest that you pursue the case and can help you form a plan for obtaining compensation.

It is important to note that this only applies to motor vehicle crashes. In other situations, you may be able to hold a negligent and liable party responsible via an insurance claim or in court regardless of the severity of your injuries.

North Miami Beach Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me 833-552-7274

How to Obtain Damages in Florida's Civil Courts

Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, you have four years to pursue your personal injury claim. Don't wait until this statute of limitations approaches, however. It's important to act quickly before evidence or testimony is lost.

An attorney can also estimate your claim's value based on evidence and documentation of your bills, losses, and other costs. The defendant's insurance policy limits also affect how much you could potentially recover.

Typical Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Insurance companies want to settle claims for as little as possible. They look at charts that have been published in previous years to determine approximately how much a claim should merit. At Dolman Law Group, we do not accept these generalized, under-estimated offers unless we believe they fairly compensate our client.

An attorney from our team can evaluate all medical records, lost wages, and associated damages to decide how much compensation we should seek. For example, we would consider future earnings our client would lose due to permanent injuries. Then, we can pursue a negotiated settlement or court verdict that adequately compensates our client.

While many cases settle, we can also litigate a claim if needed. Personal injury victims often seek damages such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Prescription costs
  • Transportation expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Legal fees and costs
  • Punitive damages, in rare cases

For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving North Miami Beach, call (305) 676-8154

Who Bears Liability for a Spinal Injury Case?

There are many reasons your behavior might have partly caused the accident. However, just because you made a mistake does not mean you shouldn't seek justice. We need to investigate the accident and talk to all witnesses with knowledge of the event. We'll determine why the defendants were at fault and how responsible parties should have prevented these injuries.

We may still be able to hold the other parties at fault in your injury accident even if you contributed to the cause or worsened your injuries in some way. Florida, like most states, allows victims to pursue compensation when this occurs; however, the available payout is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff, per Florida Statutes § 761.81.

For example, if your spinal cord injury occurred when you fell downstairs with a missing handrail, the property owner is likely legally responsible. However, they claim you had been drinking and were partially responsible. The jury rules your behavior was 20 percent the cause of your accident and injuries. In this case, you could recover up to 80 percent of the value of your case.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries occur in many ways and affect the person who lives with them in a wide range of ways, as well. The most common types of spinal cord injuries include:

  • Tetraplegia: Also known as quadriplegia, this condition causes paralysis in all limbs. Your injury may be at the neck (cervical spine) and cause loss of sensation all the way down your body. This type of injury makes it difficult to control your bladder, bowels, breathing, and other bodily processes.
  • Paraplegia: This type of injury makes it difficult to move or have feelings in the lower portion of the body, including the legs. If you have damage to the thoracic spine (at the chest level), you could lose feeling below that point.
  • Triplegia: Damage to the spinal cord does not always affect both sides of the body. In this case, you experience a loss of movement and feeling in one arm and both legs, also known as an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms

Spinal cord injuries are well known for causing paralysis of varying degrees among those who have suffered this specific type of injury. Still, several other symptoms can afflict someone who has suffered damage to their spinal cord. Those who suffer spinal cord injuries have to seek immediate medical treatment or risk suffering severe long-term problems and complications due to their injury.

You don't necessarily need to suffer a blow to your back to develop an injury to your spinal cord, and even those who have suffered a blow to their spinal cord may not feel anything at first that signals something is wrong. When the spinal cord and tissues around it swell, additional damage occurs. While some damage may heal when the swelling goes down, this is not always true. This means these injuries often get worse before they improve.

Even if there is the remote possibility that you have suffered damage to your spinal cord because of an accident you were involved in, you should keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

  • Bladder or bowel control issues
  • Trouble walking
  • Pain or pressure in the neck or spine
  • Impaired breathing
  • Difficulty maintaining balance
  • Contorted positioning of the back and neck
  • Loss of control in the arms or legs
  • Tingling sensations felt in the extremities
  • Numbness felt in the arms or the legs
  • Involuntary spasms

Why Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in North Miami Beach?

The spinal cord injury lawyers at our law firm have extensive experience helping clients who were injured due to medical negligence. Our personal injury law firm will fight aggressively to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your catastrophic injuries.

We understand how difficult it is to deal with the physical pain and mental anguish associated with a spinal cord injury. That's why we work hard to provide compassionate care and support throughout the entire process.

Our experienced spinal cord accident attorneys have helped thousands of people recover damages after suffering from devastating accidents. Contact us now for a free consultation.

Spinal Cord Injuries Can Be Life-Changing

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most severe traumatic brain injuries. It occurs when the spinal column is damaged by trauma, such as a car crash or fall. The spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spinal cord is damaged, these messages are disrupted, and the person becomes paralyzed.

What Are Some Common Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries?

A spinal cord injury can happen anytime during life, but some common causes include:

  • Car crashes
  • Falls
  • Sports injuries
  • Workplace accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Motor Vehicle accidents
  • Medical errors
  • Truck accidents
  • Other types of accidents

In addition to paralysis, a spinal cord injury can cause:

  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Weakness
  • Loss of bowel and bladder control
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Memory loss
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Impaired vision
  • Sensory issues
  • Paralysis
  • Problems with balance and coordination
  • Difficulty walking
  • Hearing problems
  • Emotional distress
  • Death

How to Obtain Damages in North Miami's Civil Courts

If you were injured due to someone else's negligence, you might be able to obtain damages from them. To receive compensation for your injuries, you will need to prove that the person who caused your injury was negligent. This means they had a duty to act reasonably and follow specific rules. If they failed to do this, then you could sue them for any resulting damage, including costs for medical care and medical expenses. Our legal team knows how to maneuver the Miami-Dade County legal system and courts. We have worked with spinal cord accident victims such as yourself for many years. 

How Do Defendants Avoid Paying Their Fair Share?

If you experience an injury, it's important to report it to the appropriate insurance company as soon as possible. However, you do not have to give a recorded statement or take other actions without contacting an attorney first. Defendants' insurance carriers may argue that you were partly or fully responsible for the accident and, therefore, they shouldn't have to pay your claim.

An attorney can show the defendant's insurance company that you're serious about your case. Dolman Law Group can handle the insurance company and your legal case while you focus on getting better.

How Much does a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Cost Me?

When you've been hurt in an accident, don't wait to find legal help. Take advantage of the free consultation our North Miami Beach injury attorneys offer. We handle many spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis. We only collect a fee if you secure a settlement or favorable judgment.

Call us today for a free evaluation of your case, or contact us online.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA

1820 NE 163rd St #306,
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
(305) 676-8154

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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