Roughly 42.1 percent of all spinal cord injuries are caused by automobile or motorcycle accidents. Because the spinal cord is so important in carrying messages from the brain to the rest of the body via the nervous system, regulating everything from movement to involuntary functions such as breathing, body temperature, bladder, and sexual performance, damage to this part of the body can lead to lifelong, serious health difficulties. Since there is as yet no medical procedure that can repair spinal cord damage, these problems will lead to great expense for both healthcare and lifestyle changes.
There are two common bases for a personal injury lawsuit related to a spinal cord injury as the result of a car accident. Either the driver of another vehicle was negligent, causing the accident that resulted in the injury, or there is some product defect related to the automobile itself that led to the accident. In the latter case, it can range from malfunctioning air bags to bad brakes as a result of a manufacturing defect.
The purpose of a spinal cord injury law suit is to provide a monetary award great enough to restore the plaintiff to a state he or she enjoyed before the accident, insomuch as is possible with the current state of medical science. That means that the award will go above and beyond immediate health care costs and pain and suffering to include anticipated costs incurred by the injury throughout the life of the patient. That can include everything from physical therapy, a motorized wheel chair, and modifications to a victim’s home to make it more accessible.
If you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of a car accident, please call the experienced attorneys at DiCesare, Davidson and Barker to secure the compensation you deserve. For more information, please contact us today.