When Accidents Result In Spinal Cord Injuries
A brain injury or spinal cord injury suffered in an accident can leave the victim in a coma or permanently paralyzed — and the injured person’s family burdened emotionally and financially. If an accident of this dimension, causing life-changing catastrophic injury, has happened to you or someone close to you, it’s time for someone to fight for you.
Our firm’s founder, personal injury lawyer Robert G. Schock, is a fierce advocate. When accidents alter lives and a lifetime of expensive medical treatment looms, he will fight for compensation on your behalf. When you work with him and the rest of our team at the Law Offices of Robert G. Schock in Oakland, he will speak for your family’s interests throughout the legal process.
Comprehensive Case Preparation And Representation
Mr. Schock excels at investigating accidents and identifying all negligent parties. He is equally proficient at bargaining with insurance companies toward a settlement that reflects the full range of a spinal injury victim’s losses, including evaluating a client’s future earnings capacity.
Any insurer that resists good faith negotiations in catastrophic injury claim cases in California does so at its peril when Mr. Schock is on the case. If negotiations fail, Mr. Schock is fully prepared to safeguard his client’s interests in court. In addition to pursuing financial compensation for lost income and current and future medical bills, he can advocate for punitive damages that reflect the injury victim’s pain, suffering and emotional trauma.
Getting Back On Track: Treatment Options For Spinal Cord Injuries
Sustaining a spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic and life-changing occurrence. While some symptoms of SCI may never go away, excellent treatments and rehabilitation programs exist to ease pain and discomfort, improve mobility and increase independence for people living with SCI.
There are steps that can be taken to ease a victim’s suffering throughout the recovery process, including:
- Initial steps: Immediately after a serious accident, braces can be used to provide support and immobilize the spine. Methylprednisolone (Medrol), while not a cure, can reduce inflammation and slow the progress of the SCI if it is administered within a few hours of the injury-causing accident.
- Surgery options: Once the patient is stabilized and there is a clear diagnosis of SCI, doctors may perform surgery to remove any bone fragments or foreign objects lodged in the spinal region. Additionally, surgery may be helpful to extract fractured vertebrae that may be compressing the spine. In some cases, surgery is performed to stabilize the spine and prevent a deformity from developing.
- Medication options: Later, doctors can prescribe medications to control pain and muscle spasticity and to improve bladder control, bowel control and sexual function.
When a serious or catastrophic injury occurs, like a spine injury or a traumatic brain injury, a personal injury claim will ask the negligent parties and their insurance companies to cover the costs of past, present and estimated future medical bills and expenses.
A skilled personal injury lawyer can take charge of the case and protect your precious rights.
Rehabilitation Of A Spinal Cord Injury
As injured parties begin to recover, many different types of rehabilitative activities could be utilized to help individuals live independently and resume life. Typical recommendations include:
- Physical, occupational or recreational therapy
- Rehabilitative psychology
- Dietitian assistance
- Physiatrist assistance
The goal of these rehabilitative efforts is designed to help individuals maintain and strengthen their existing muscle function, redevelop fine motor skills and learn new techniques to accomplish daily tasks. Rehabilitation services can help recovering patients learn to rebuild their lives and increase the quality of their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Spinal Cord Injury
Given Mr. Schock’s years of experience, he understands that if you or someone you love is suffering from a spinal cord injury, you probably have a lot of questions. Here, he answers some of the questions that he is often asked. However, our firm also offers prospective clients a free, no-obligation initial consultation and case evaluation. If you still have questions about your specific case, this free appointment is a great way to get your questions answered.
What is a spinal cord injury (SCI)?
A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the vertebrae or spinal column. This type of back injury can cause permanent disability or loss of movement and sensation below the site of the injury. Someone who has suffered an SCI may be paraplegic (paralyzed in the lower extremities) or quadriplegic (paralyzed in the lower and upper extremities).
How can I afford my medical care and rehabilitative treatment after a spinal cord injury?
If you have been involved in an injury accident where you suffered a spinal cord injury or another catastrophic injury as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages under personal injury law. If someone else (whether an individual, a corporation, the government or your employer) is at fault in causing your injury, that party can be compelled to pay you damages.
Potential damages include compensation for your pain and suffering as well as reimbursement for past and future medical costs, lost wages, and other losses. To learn more, visit our informational pages about your rights under personal injury law and recoverable damages after spinal cord injury.
Do I need a lawyer?
If you have been injured in an accident, speaking with a lawyer will help you understand your rights and options and whether you have a viable personal injury case. If you believe you were seriously injured as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, it is especially important that you discuss your case with an experienced attorney. Lawyers with experience handling injury claims can help you preserve evidence and make timely and proper document filings to ensure that you have the best possible chance of receiving financial recovery.
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?
Attorney fees vary widely from case to case, depending on the area of law and how much time the case will take to resolve. At the Law Offices of Robert G. Schock, we take all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not charge our clients a fee unless we obtain compensation (in a verdict or settlement) on their behalf. We also offer free consultations and case evaluations.
How does a lawsuit work?
The procedure, timing and outcome of a lawsuit will vary depending on the facts of the case, the type of claim and where the claim is being filed. If you have a personal injury matter, your lawyer will help you file a proper claim for damages in a timely manner. The claim will show that the defendant was at fault in causing your injury and will outline the damage that was done and the relief (usually financial) that is being requested.
The defendant will have a chance to argue his or her side of the case as well. Ultimately, a judge or jury will decide whether the defendant was in fact at fault and how much monetary recovery you may or may not receive. This decision is known as a verdict.
However, anytime before the verdict, a defendant can decide to settle the case. In this scenario, both sides work together to reach an agreement about how much money will resolve and end the lawsuit. When you file a personal injury lawsuit, you have rights. If you work with our firm, Mr. Schock will fight tirelessly on your behalf to protect these rights.
If I sue the person who caused my injury, how long will it take to get paid?
The length of a personal injury lawsuit can vary widely depending on the circumstances surrounding the injury-causing accident. If the case ends in early settlement, it could be over in a few months. If a lengthy investigation is required, if the case takes longer to settle or if the case is tried all the way through to a verdict, it could take many months or longer to be resolved and a financial award to be provided.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can look at the facts and circumstances surrounding your case and give you a more precise estimate of how long it might take for you to obtain financial recovery.
After I am injured, how long can I wait before hiring a lawyer or filing a lawsuit?
If you have been injured in a car crash, a workplace accident, a fight, an instance of domestic violence or any kind of incident, it is important that you speak with an attorney as early as possible.
A lawyer can help you collect and preserve evidence that will be important to proving your case. Furthermore, a lawyer will ensure that you do not miss a filing deadline and forfeit your right to sue.
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years, but similar claims (malpractice, defamation, injury to personal property) may have differing time limits, typically in the range of one to three years, and claims against government entities have specific filing requirements and shorter time limits. Speaking with a lawyer will clarify the deadlines that apply in your case and help you avoid forfeiting your rights.
Schedule A Free Consultation With A San Francisco Bay Area Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one sustained an SCI due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another person, you may be entitled to compensation. The Law Offices of Robert G. Schock offers free initial consultations and case evaluations. To schedule your free appointment, call our team at 510-922-0887 or send an email through the contact form. Initial consultations are always free and can occur at a private home or hospital.
