Spinal Cord Injuries
Gainesville Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Filing a Spine Injury Claim in Florida
Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries that often have significant and long-lasting effects on the lives of victims and their loved ones. If you or someone you care about suffered a spine injury due to the negligent or wrongful conduct of another, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, lost earning ability, and more.
With more than 126 years of combined experience, our Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyers at Schackow & Mercadante are prepared to help you fight for the full, fair recovery you are owed. Our firm is known for its aggressive approach to negotiation and litigation, and we are always ready to take cases to trial whenever necessary.
As your legal team, we will provide you with personal attention and direct, one-on-one access to your attorney. We take the time to truly get to know our clients, better understand their situations, and develop innovative legal strategies tailored to their unique needs, concerns, and goals.
For a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, call (352) 371-3000 or contact us online today.
Let Our Spine Injury Lawyers Fight for You
After a spinal cord injury, you should spend your time focused on getting the medical care you need. You shouldn’t have to worry about fighting with the insurance company or submitting evidence along with your claim. Instead, allow our team at Schackow & Mercadante to handle the legal details of your situation for you so that you can focus on what matters most: healing.
When you trust our firm, you can trust that we will be there for you every step of the way. Our attorneys are happy to answer your questions and will provide direct, honest communication regarding the status of your case and any other concerns you may have. As a client, you will be in direct contact with your attorney throughout the legal process and will have access to our large, friendly, and knowledgeable support staff.
Request a free consultation with one of our Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyers today; call (352) 371-3000 or contact us online to get started.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are classified into the following two categories:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: A complete spinal cord injury occurs when all communication is lost between the brain and the body below the point of injury.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: With an incomplete spinal cord injury, some communication is retained between the brain and the body below the point of injury.
In general, complete spinal cord injuries are considered more severe than incomplete spinal cord injuries. This is because complete spinal cord injuries typically result in complete paralysis, known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia. However, even an incomplete spinal cord injury can lead to numerous physical complications, which may seriously impact the victim’s life.
Some examples of incomplete spinal cord injuries include:
- Paraplegia
- Anterior cord syndrome
- Posterior cord syndrome
- Cauda equina
- Triplegia
- Central cord syndrome
- Brown-Sequard syndrome
Spine injuries can also result in various secondary injuries, such as nerve damage. Some of the effects of these injuries include numbness, swelling, bleeding, immobility, loss of function, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, and more.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries most frequently occur due to serious accidents and traumatic events. However, disease and alcohol are also some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in the U.S.
Common accidents and traumatic events that often lead to spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, such as car, motorcycle, and truck accidents
- Falls, including slips, trips, and falls, as well as falls from heights
- Work-related accidents and injuries, including falls
- Collisions between pedestrians or bicyclists and motor vehicles
- Sports and recreation-related accidents, such as boating or ATV accidents
- Violence, including gunshot wounds and attempted suicide
A common theme among the leading causes of spinal cord injuries is negligence. Far too often, people suffer severe, life-changing injuries because someone else acted carelessly, recklessly, or wrongfully.
Although nothing can take away the trauma of such an incident, the good news is that victims of negligent and wrongful conduct are typically entitled to file personal injury claims or lawsuits against the liable parties. This allows them to seek fair financial compensation for their damages, such as medical expenses, future care costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning ability, and more.
How Much Is a Spine Injury Case Worth?
Many people understandably want to know how much their spinal cord injury claim might be worth. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the potential value of your claim without first reviewing the specific details involved.
Many factors influence how much your claim is worth, including:
- The type and severity of your injury
- Projected future medical expenses
- Whether your injury resulted in permanent disfigurement or impairment
- The amount of income you lost due to missed work
- Whether you were at fault for the incident that caused your injury
- Available insurance coverage
- The cost of your medical expenses
- Your overall recovery time
- How much time you had to take off work due to your injury
- Your degree of physical and mental pain and suffering
- Your degree of fault (if any) in causing the injury
Additionally, many factors also influence how long it will take to resolve your case, including the amount of time it takes for you to recover or reach maximum medical improvement, the liable party’s cooperation and willingness to settle your claim, whether or not your case goes to trial, and more.
At Schackow & Mercadante, we always strive to settle our clients’ claims as quickly and efficiently as possible. We work hard to build powerful, evidence-based cases and negotiate aggressively with insurance adjusters and other liable parties. However, in some cases, it is simply not possible to achieve a fair outcome by settling; when this occurs, our Gainesville spinal cord injury attorneys are fully prepared and willing to go to trial.
Learn more about how our Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyer by contacting us online or by calling (352) 371-3000 today!
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for a Spinal Cord Injury?
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to another party’s negligence, it is crucial to act promptly. In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including spinal cord injuries, is generally two years from the date of the injury. However, this timeline can vary depending on the circumstances of the case.
Failing to file a claim within the designated timeframe can result in losing the right to pursue compensation entirely. This includes damages for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and other losses associated with the injury.
Given the complexities surrounding statutes of limitations and potential exceptions, seeking legal advice early in the process is vital. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case, identify applicable deadlines, and ensure that all required documentation is filed accurately and on time. Acting quickly also allows for the preservation of evidence and the ability to interview witnesses while their memories are still fresh.
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