Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Suffering a spinal cord injury can be catastrophic, resulting in severe outcomes such as paralysis. Reinhardt | Harper | Davis understands the lifelong ramifications of spinal cord injuries, and our experienced team of lawyers have the resources to help you navigate this difficult time. You do not have to go through this alone.

What is a spinal cord injury?

A spinal cord injury involves a severe injury to the spine, spinal cord, or brain. This can include skull or spinal fractures. The fallout from these types of injuries can be life-altering, requiring lifelong medical care for paraplegia, quadriplegia, or even death.

In addition, there are secondary illnesses that can result from a spinal cord injury, including respiratory issues, infections, and chronic pain. Our skilled team of catastrophic injury lawyers have the tools to help you fight for your right to recover damages.

The long-term impact of spinal cord injuries

Accidents that result in spinal cord injuries are considered catastrophic due to the change in the quality of life an injured person will experience. These types of injuries have lifelong ramifications, such as:

• Physical limitations
• Rehabilitation needs
• Paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower body)
• Quadriplegia (AKA tetraplegia – paralysis of all four limbs)
• Emotional and psychological effects
• Loss of independence
• Reduced or diminished earning capacity

What are common causes of spinal cord injuries?

Spinal cord injuries can occur in myriad ways, including:

• Car accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Tractor-trailer collisions
• Sports-related injuries
• Medical negligence and surgical errors
• Slip and falls (workplace, construction, premises liability)
• Acts of violence

What type of compensation am I entitled to?

Naturally, the injured person and their loved ones will have concerns as to how they will be able to afford the loss of income, mounting medical bills, and what the future holds as far as medical care. Reinhardt | Harper | Davis has helped countless families navigate the legal process, the medical questions, and general repercussions from this life-changing event, so that our clients can focus on what’s important: healing.

Personal Injury Cases vs Workers’ Compensation Cases

Coverage varies, depending on whether it’s a workers’ compensation case or a personal injury case.

Workers’ Compensation benefits

• Lost wages
• Potential medical benefits
• Future medical expenses (with qualifying injury)
• Potential lifetime wage loss benefits and medical benefits for spinal cord injuries

And should the incident result in the death of a loved one:

• Funeral, cremation, and burial expenses, along with death benefits, which can be up to 500 weeks of a worker’s compensation wage loss check

Personal injury benefits

Per Virginia law, you may be entitled to monetary damages if the injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person or party. In fact, Virginia passed the Wrongful Death Act, which allows the decedent’s family members to recover monetary damages, should the injury lead to death.

The types of compensation and reimbursements that are possible in these cases include:

• Medical expenses incurred
• Future medical expenses
• Expected loss of future income
• Loss of services, protection, care, and assistance previously provided by the injured
• Punitive damages against the defendant for their “willful or wanton conduct”

And should the incident result in the death of a loved one:

• Funeral, cremation, and burial expenses
• Compensation for grief, mental anguish, sorrow, and solace

I have a spinal injury. What do I do now?

This can be an overwhelming time for those navigating life post-injury, and most people haven’t experienced the nuance of complicated medical cases. In addition, there is a statute of limitations set on these types of cases, where if too much time has passed since the accident, the injured person cannot recover for damages. Legal acumen is necessary in building the strongest case possible.

Reach out to one of our spinal cord injury attorneys today to help you get started on your road to recovery. Our legal team is thorough when collaborating with your doctors, life care planners, and loved ones to ensure the best possible outcome.

Some of the many services we provide includes:

• Ensuring you do not prematurely offer statements or sign documents with predatory insurance carriers, who are skilled at carrying out a friendly line of questioning which can produce answers that will be used against you
• Preserve any evidence that proves you were not at fault for the incident
• Aid you in seeking proper medical care and documentation for all treatments
• Collaboration with medical experts, economists and life care planners to solidify a plan that protects you in the long-term

Reinhardt | Harper | Davis has over 100 years of combined experience guiding injured people through some of the most trying times in their lives. With offices in Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville, we are conveniently located to serve clients across Virginia. Call us today for a free case evaluation, at 804-359-5500. We look forward to helping you rebuild your life.