Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Each year, more than 250,000 people suffer from spinal cord injuries worldwide, and less than 1% recover complete function prior to being discharged from the hospital. If you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury, whether due to a car accident or a fall on someone’s property, having an experienced Charleston spinal cord injury lawyer on your side will help you receive full and fair compensation.

Our attorneys at Forbes Law Offices understand the severity and complexity of spinal cord injuries, and we are here to fight for you in Charleston or anywhere in West Virginia.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition that often results in permanent disability and disproportionately affects individuals under the age of thirty. It occurs when the nerves running through the spinal cord are disrupted, usually due to a major trauma like a car accident, and often leads to loss of motor skills and sensory function below the site of the injury.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), approximately 17,000 new cases of SCI occur every year in the United States, and 282,000 people are currently living with SCI. Motor vehicle collisions make up 38% of new SCI each year, while 30% are due to falls. The age group at highest risk for SCI are those who are sixteen to thirty years old.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Symptoms

While there can be a wide range of symptoms and diagnoses specific to each individual, spinal cord injuries can usually be divided into two general categories:

• Complete: This is permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord and can cause substantial or total loss of movement below the injury location. Complete spinal cord injuries usually result in paraplegia or quadriplegia, which are the loss of function of either just your legs or both your arms and the legs, respectively.
• Incomplete: This is partial, and in some cases, temporary damage to the spinal cord and can affect sensation and mobility at different levels depending on the severity of the injury. With an incomplete spinal cord injury, you may still have feeling below the injury site, but your mobility will be limited.

Symptoms of a spinal cord injury vary, depending on the site of your injury and its severity, but may include one or more of these:

• Numbness, weakness, or tingling in your arms or legs
• Sharp pain after physical activity
• Localized neck, upper back, or lower back pain
• Pain or muscle spasms when you stand up straight
• Lower back pain down your backside and into your thighs and calves
• Chronic aching in your lower or middle back while sitting
• Sleep issues due to back pain

Seek medical attention immediately if you’ve had a back or neck injury and you feel any of the previously mentioned symptoms.

What Causes a Spinal Cord Injury?

Any traumatic damage to your back or neck can cause a spinal cord injury and irreparable damage, and while motor vehicle accidents and falls are the two most common sources of these injuries, any of the following can also be the cause:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Slips and falls
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Sports accidents
• Acts of violence
• Construction accidents
• Pedestrian accidents

As you can see, any number of accidents can cause a spinal cord injury, and if you think your case might fall into another category, our attorneys at Forbes Law Offices have experience with many types of accidents and injuries and are just a phone call away =.

Determining Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries

In West Virginia, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive.

Compensatory, also called economic or noneconomic, damages are the most common and are awarded to help cover different costs associated with your injury.

Punitive damages are imposed by a court to punish the defendant’s particularly egregious behavior.

The following explains in further detail some common types of compensatory and punitive damages:

Economic Damages

These damages are easy to calculate as they are related to costs incurred for treatment or other expenses due to your injury:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity

Although receiving compensation for the previously mentioned items is a good start, a spinal cord injury can also lead to depression or other mental health issues, and the need for compensation for the types of damages listed in the next section.

Noneconomic Damages

These damages are often harder to quantify, but with the assistance of our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys, you may receive compensation for the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish or emotional distress (including post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Loss of companionship

Mortality risk is highest in the first year after a spinal cord injury due to dramatic life changes and severe limitations, and our attorneys understand how compensation for mental and psychological damages can greatly increase the life expectancy of our clients.

Punitive Damages

These damages are only awarded when the defendant’s actions are especially harmful, and there has to be sufficient proof that the defendant acted with malice, caused you harm, or acted with outrageous indifference. Although punitive damages are rarely awarded, your lawyer will help to determine if the details of your case might fit the necessary criteria.

Choosing the Best Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

When it comes to finding a spinal cord injury attorney, we know that there are many options out there to choose from. At Forbes Law Offices, we have decades of experience and are sensitive to the complexities, injuries, and challenges of each individual case. From medical bills to long-term care and everything in between, we’re here for you.

The last thing you need after suffering something as devastating as a spinal cord injury is to worry if you’ll be able to get the compensation and care you deserve. Contact our office today for a free consultation so that we can help you during this difficult time.