The Cost of Recovery: How an Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help You
As a leading Florida personal injury law firm, our attorneys have
witnessed the devastating effects of spinal cord injuries. Whether
caused by a car crash, medical error or other accident, spinal cord
injuries can impair a victim’s ability to work, socialize and pay for
much-needed medical care. At Morgan & Morgan, our attorneys are
dedicated to holding the parties responsible for our clients’ injuries
accountable for their actions. By taking legal action, we can help
spinal cord injury victims in Florida recover the compensation they need
to readjust to life following an unexpected accident.
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal
cord injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation
for medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Fill out our case review form to have your claim evaluated by an Orlando spinal cord injury attorney today—at no cost to you.
Medical Malpractice
If you were injured by a medical professional, and believe he or she
directly caused your injury, you may be able to file a claim for
negligence. To prevail in a negligence case, your attorney must prove:
the doctor had a duty of care; this duty of care was breached in some
way; you suffered a spinal injury; and the breach was the cause of the
injury.
For example, assume a patient undergoes surgery on dislocated discs in
their spine. The patient’s surgeon has a duty of care to perform the
procedure with due care, as any other surgeon would under similar
circumstances. During the surgery, the surgeon becomes distracted and
nicks a different part of the patient’s spinal cord. He either fails to
notice his mistake or believes it is insignificant. The patient suffers a
spinal cord injury as a result and, left untreated, the injury worsens,
resulting in partial paralysis. If the patient can prove the surgeon
acted negligently and this directly caused their paralysis, they may be
able to make a claim for damages.
The most difficult factor to prove in a spinal cord injury case is
causation—that the negligent party’s action directly caused the injury.
If you move forward with a spinal cord injury lawsuit, an attorney can
gather evidence to prove causation by reviewing medical documents and
procedure notes; interviewing witnesses; investigating the surgeon’s
background; and consulting with medical malpractice experts to obtain
their opinions.
Car Accidents
Negligence
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident in Florida- or
near one of our other offices in Atlanta, Lexington or Memphis- and
believe your injury was caused by another's action or failure to act,
you may be able to recover damages for your losses. While product
liability is also a possible course of action, most cases will be
brought under the theory of negligence. In a negligence claim, your
attorney must prove four elements: the defendant owed you a duty of
care, this duty was somehow breached, you suffered an injury, and the
breach was the direct cause of your injury.
For example, a red car speeds through a red light and hits a blue
vehicle at the intersection. Drivers have a duty of care to act
carefully and exercise awareness of their surroundings to prevent harm
to others with whom they share the road. By speeding through the light,
the driver of the red car has breached this duty. When the blue car is
struck, the driver suffers injuries to his left hand and leg. To treat
his injuries, the driver of the blue car has to undergo costly surgery
and rehabilitation. If the driver of the blue car can prove that the red
car’s breach of duty was the direct cause of his injuries, and that he
suffered damages as a result, he may be able to recover compensation for
his losses.
Collecting Evidence
If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, a car accident
attorney can help collect information and evidence which may be vital to
your claim’s success. Our attorneys have access to experts who can
assist in the fact-finding stages of your claim which may involve:
- Evaluating the crime scene;
- Interviewing witnesses;
- Reviewing traffic footage, if any;
- Reviewing information taken by an insurance company; and
- Consulting experts in the car accident field, including accident recreationists.
Product Liability
Strict Liability
If you were injured in a car accident and believe a product in either
car contributed to or caused the crash, you may have a product liability
lawsuit against the manufacturer. In a product liability case, a
manufacturer can be held strictly liable for its defective products,
without proof of negligence. Your attorney must show that a defect
exists and an injury resulted; however, if your car was purchased second
hand—or used—strict liability in not a viable cause of action.
Negligence
If you believe the car or one of its parts was responsible for the
crash, you may be able to recover compensation from the manufacturer. To
prevail, your attorney will have to show:
- The manufacturer had a duty to sell a safe product;
- The manufacturer breached this duty (knew or should have known of defect); and
- The defect caused the injuries sustained.
In preparing a claim against a product manufacturer, your attorney may
review the company’s manufacturing process, determine whether other
manufactured parts were defective, and establish how the defect could
cause your injuries.
Who is Liable When You Suffer a Back Injury at Work in Florida?
Workers who sustain a spinal cord injury at work may have concerns about
their job and how they will continue to provide for their families.
Fortunately, Florida law allows these employees the opportunity to
collect workers’ compensation while they are unable to work. Workers’
compensation provides benefits for medical bills and lost wages. In
exchange for workers’ compensation, these workers cannot sue their
employer; however, they may be able to file a lawsuit against a
third-party, whose negligence caused their injury. Workers who have been
denied workers’ compensation should contact an attorney immediately to
discuss their claim.
What Damages Can You Receive in a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?
In a spinal cord injury lawsuit, an attorney may be able to help you recover the following damages:
Medical Bills: Plaintiffs can
recover money for any medical bills resulting from the injury, including
hospital bills, prescription drugs, doctor visits and rehabilitation,
as well as any future medical expenses.
Lost Wages: Compensation for time spent away from work, as well as a loss of earning capacity may also be awarded.
Pain and Suffering: When an
individual suffers a spinal cord injury, they can experience lasting
physical and emotional pain. These victims can receive monetary damages
for this pain and suffering.
Wrongful Death: When a spinal
cord injury results in death, the victims’ family may be able to sue the
negligent party. In these cases, the family may be eligible for damages
based on the pain and suffering of the victim, as well as money to ease
the financial burden left by their loved one’s absence.
If you or someone you love suffered a severe spine or back injury,
please fill out our free, no-obligation case review form. Our Orlando
spinal injury attorneys will evaluate your case to determine how we may
be able to help you.
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