Being injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence can be stressful and frightening. Those fears can increase when you suffer a spinal cord injury due to the seriousness of something so life-altering. A spinal cord injury can disrupt every aspect of your life and create financial hardship.
If you were injured because of another person’s wrongdoing, you should contact a Cincinnati spinal cord injury lawyer at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC. Our team of experienced, award-winning attorneys is ready to use their skills and knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation at (513) 351-5997 or through our online form.
Why You Should Choose Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC
The attorneys of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC have years of experience representing clients in personal injury cases. We will use our expertise to provide you with the following services:
- Interviewing you to understand the issues and build a strong strategy for your case
- Communicating with insurance companies and witnesses on your behalf
- Negotiating settlements with the other party’s attorney for you
- Preparing you for depositions, mediation, and trial
- Representing you in court proceedings
Using our experience and knowledge, we will build a strong case and fight for you to receive maximum compensation.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are severe and may require lifelong treatment. Some common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Car crashes: Car accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries and are often the result of negligent or reckless driving.
- Slip and falls: Accidental falls can also result in spinal cord injuries and are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in elderly people.
- Violence: Assaults and domestic violence can also cause spinal cord injuries.
- Sports: Children and teenagers are at a higher risk of suffering spinal cord injuries while participating in sports. This risk increases when the sport is high impact, such as football and hockey.
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Ignoring signs of a spinal cord injury can result in the injury worsening. Therefore, if you have any symptoms of a spinal cord injury, seek medical attention immediately. Then, contact your spinal cord injury attorney to let them know of the change in your medical condition. Symptoms may include:
- Numbness in your hands and feet
- Issues walking
- Back, neck, or head pain
- Inability to move certain body parts
- Weakness in a body part
- Bladder control issues
The spinal cord relays signals from the brain to the body. Ignoring signs that your spinal cord could be damaged may lead to permanent disabilities. However, a spinal cord injury does not necessarily mean permanent disability. It can also result in the following:
- Slipped disk
- Nerve damage
- Herniated or ruptured disk
An experienced spinal cord injury attorney will review your case and determine the compensation you should pursue based on the facts of your case.
Recoverable Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
When you are injured because of someone else’s wrongdoing, you can seek compensation for your losses connected to those injuries. In Ohio personal injury cases, recoverable compensation can include economic, non-economic, and sometimes punitive damages.
Economic compensation is relatively easy to calculate using bills and receipts because they are tangible. Economic compensation includes:
- Past medical expenses, including ambulance rides, doctor visits, surgery, and medication that you have already received bills for
- Future medical expenses, including surgeries and doctor visits
- Cost of physical therapy that is required to regain motor function and your ability to perform daily activities
- Medical equipment expenses, including wheelchairs, modifications to homes and cars, or any other equipment needed to help you function daily
- Lost wages for missing work because of the injury
- Reduced earning capacity if you cannot make the same amount of income you did prior to your injury
Non-economic compensation is not as easy to calculate because it is based on intangible things. This means that it is more subjective to the person who was injured. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
In some cases, the court may award punitive damages if they find that the defendant’s behavior was grossly negligent or even intentional. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant for their actions and deter them and others from behaving similarly in the future.
Compensation Caps in Ohio
Ohio is a state that caps compensation in personal injury cases. The cap does not apply to economic damages such as medical expenses and lost wages. This means that if you win your case, the negligent party should cover your tangible expenses. However, there are caps on non-economic damages and punitive damages.
Non-Economic Compensation Cap
Under Ohio law, the cap on non-economic damages for non-catastrophic injuries is either three times the economic damages or $250,000, whichever is greater. However, note that $350,000 in non-economic compensation is the maximum award. If the court awards you $200,000 in economic damages, you won’t receive $600,000 in non-economic damages. You will only receive $350,000.
If your injury was catastrophic, there is no cap on non-economic compensation. In Ohio, a spinal cord injury may constitute a catastrophic injury. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Amputation or loss of use of a limb
- Disfigurement
- Loss of an organ
- Permanent functional injury that prevents you from taking care of yourself
Punitive Damages Cap
The cap for punitive damages in Ohio is two times the compensatory compensation. However, if the defendant is an individual or a small employer, punitive damages are limited to ten percent of that person or entity’s net worth, up to $350,000.
Contact a Cincinnati Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC
If you received a spinal cord injury in an accident, you are likely scared about the impact it will have on your life. You may wonder how you will handle the costs of such a severe injury. The experienced Cincinnati personal injury lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC understand how stressful the situation can be and stand ready to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Don’t let someone else’s wrongdoing place you in a financially impossible situation. Contact our legal team today to discuss seeking maximum compensation for your case. You can reach us at (513) 351-5997 or through our online contact form to discuss your case during a free case evaluation.
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