What Types of Financial Compensation Can I Receive for a Major Spinal Cord Injury?

 Posted on December 10, 2019 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

The spinal cord’s main functions are to transmit nerve signals and coordinate the body’s reflexes. When the spinal cord is damaged, the results can be devastating. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that over 17,000 individuals suffer from a spinal cord injury every year in the United States. There are nearly 300,000 Americans currently living with the negative health effects of a spinal injury. If you have suffered a spinal injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Reimbursement for Medical Expenses After a Spinal Injury

No amount of money could ever fully compensate someone for a catastrophic injury such as a severe spinal cord injury. However, financial compensation from a personal injury lawsuit can help an injured person and their family manage the enormous expenses incurred by a serious spine injury. A personal injury lawsuit may help you receive reimbursement for your current and future medical expenses including:

• Ambulance fees
• Surgery costs
• Prescription medication costs
• Expenses for x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests
• Expenses related to physical therapy and other ongoing medical treatments

Compensation for Other Considerations

Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. However, when a person experiences a major spinal injury, they incur many more damages than just these. 

Spinal cord injuries vary significantly in their severity. Some spinal injuries do not result in any significant, long-lasting harm. Other spinal injuries can lead to the complete loss of feeling and motor function. Quadriplegia or tetraplegia is the paralysis of an individual’s arms, legs, pelvic organs, and truck caused by spinal injury. Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs, trunk, and pelvic organs. When a person suffers tetraplegia and paraplegia, their life is forever changed. They may not be able to work in their chosen occupation, participate in the activities and hobbies they once loved, or enjoy life the way they could before the injury. 

If you have suffered a serious spinal injury which has affected your ability to live life the way you could before the injury, you may qualify for compensation for your disability or “loss of a normal life.” Illinois law also allows for compensation for the pain and suffering and emotional distress experienced by an injured person. You may could receive reimbursement for any home modifications you need, such as modifications to make your home wheelchair accessible.

Contact a Waukegan Spine Injury Lawyer

To learn about your legal options following a major spinal cord injury, contact an experienced and compassionate Lake County personal injury attorney at Salvi and Maher, L.L.C. Schedule a free consultation by calling us today at 847-662-3303.

Sources:

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/IL_IPI_Civil.pdf

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890