Florida Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
The spinal cord contains nerves that control movement and sensation throughout the body. Injuries to the spinal cord can leave victims with reduced sensation in the limbs, breathing difficulties, inability to walk, or difficulty controlling their limbs. Very severe spinal cord injuries are often fatal.
Getting the right legal help after a spinal cord injury can make all the difference in the compensation you receive for your injuries. Meldon Law has fought for hundreds of victims of catastrophic accidents. Our Florida spinal cord injury attorneys understand the great responsibility our clients place in our hands when they choose us to represent them in a personal injury lawsuit. We know what you deserve for your claim, and we will go to battle with defendants and insurers to help you get it.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Happen, and How Can Our Florida Spine Injury Lawyers Help?
The leading causes of spinal cord injuries include various incidents that often lead individuals to seek legal counsel from Florida spinal cord injury lawyers to pursue compensation. Understanding these causes can help raise awareness and provide insight into how spinal cord injury attorneys in Florida assist victims.
- Traffic accidents: Accidents involving vehicles such as large cars or trucks are the cause of almost 40% of all spinal cord injuries. These include injuries suffered by pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and bus passengers.
- Medical malpractice: Errors committed by medical professionals, such as surgical mistakes or misdiagnosis, account for roughly 5% of all spinal cord injuries.
- Slip-and-fall accidents: Falls cause roughly one-third of all spinal cord injuries. Falls that are the result of dangerous premises, such as broken stairs or slippery floors, may result in liability for the owner of the dangerous property.
- Recreational sports and activities: Injuries suffered during sports or while participating in other forms of recreation, including ATV accidents, boating accidents, or jet ski accidents, account for just under 10% of all spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord injuries are life-altering, requiring extensive medical care, physical therapy, and often long-term lifestyle adjustments. Victims in Florida facing these challenges should consider contacting the experienced Florida spinal cord injury lawyers at Meldon Law. Our attorneys provide personalized guidance, helping victims understand their legal options and recover the damages needed to rebuild their lives.
What Damages Can You Seek with the Help of Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Florida Courts?
Spinal cord injuries usually result in life-altering consequences, requiring extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term adjustments. Filing a personal injury lawsuit with the help of our skilled spinal cord injury attorneys in Florida can help you recover financial compensation for these overwhelming expenses. Many accident victims rely on these funds to afford a lifetime of care and treatment that can result from spinal cord injuries. Victims of spinal cord injuries may be eligible for:
- Lost past and future wages
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- In-home care expenses
- Medical device costs
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Damages for Dependent Children
Under Florida Statute 768.0415, dependent children of a parent who has suffered a permanent spinal cord injury may seek damages for the loss of services, comfort, companionship, and guidance. Our personal injury lawyers at Meldon Law will do everything in their power to help families during this time of emotional and financial turmoil.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a spinal cord injury leads to the victim’s death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. Meldon Law’s wrongful death attorneys will fight for your rights to compensation, which might cover:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income and benefits
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- The surviving loved ones’ pain and suffering
Punitive Damages
In rare cases involving egregious negligence or intentional harm, Florida courts may award punitive damages. These damages aim to punish the defendant and deter similar misconduct in the future. Be sure that if your case goes to court, our seasoned trial attorneys at Meldon Law will pursue maximum jury awards.
Why You Should Consult a Florida Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer from Meldon Law
Spinal cord injuries can change lives in an instant, leaving victims and their families facing emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Seeking fair compensation after such an injury requires expertise, determination, and a proven track record of success. This is where the experienced attorneys at Meldon Law can make a significant difference.
Meldon Law’s attorneys have a history of delivering outstanding case results, helping clients get the settlements they need to move forward. With years of success in personal injury law, including complex spinal cord injury cases, their team has consistently demonstrated an ability to secure favorable outcomes for clients. Whether it’s negotiating substantial settlements or winning in court, Meldon Law has earned a reputation for excellence and dedication.
How Meldon Law Supports Spinal Cord Injury Victims in the Sunshine State
The attorneys at Meldon Law understand the profound toll that spinal cord injuries take on victims and their loved ones. We will fight assiduously on your behalf, ensuring every aspect of the injury is accounted for when pursuing compensation. Our approach includes:
- Comprehensive case evaluation: From gathering evidence to consulting medical and vocational experts, Meldon Law ensures your case is built on a strong foundation.
- Maximizing compensation: They leave no stone unturned when calculating damages, covering everything from medical expenses and rehabilitation costs to lost income, in-home care, and non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
- Personalized legal strategies: No two cases are the same, and Meldon Law tailors its legal strategies to address the unique circumstances of your injury and its impact on your life.
- Compassionate client support: Beyond the courtroom, Meldon Law provides compassionate guidance, keeping you informed and empowered throughout the legal process.
Why Experience Matters When You Hire a Florida Spinal Cord Injury Attorney from Meldon Law
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most troublesome in personal injury law, requiring a deep understanding of medical evidence, insurance tactics, and the long-term costs associated with catastrophic injuries.
Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Florida are adept at working with medical experts to assess the extent of your injury and its impact on your life. Additionally, our familiarity with insurance companies’ tactics and Florida’s legal system ensures we can anticipate challenges and effectively advocate for your rights, helping you secure the settlement or verdict you need to rebuild your future.
Muscle spasms
Hire a Spine Injury Lawyer in Florida Before Your Time Runs Out!
Don’t wait too long to take action after a spinal cord injury—Florida law imposes a strict deadline for filing a claim. You have two years from the date of the injury to initiate legal proceedings. Failing to meet this deadline means losing the right to seek compensation for your losses, no matter how severe the injury or the impact on your life.
To protect your rights and ensure your case is handled properly from the start, reach out to our Florida spinal cord injury attorneys as soon as possible. Our legal team can guide you, gather critical evidence, and advocate for the compensation you deserve. Don’t let time run out! Contact us today for a free consultation and get started on your claim!
Get Dedicated Legal Help From A Florida Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Talk to the compassionate and committed personal injury attorneys at Meldon Law to learn more about how a personal injury claim can help you and your family meet your needs after a spinal cord injury accident in Florida. Get a free consultation right now!
Florida Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys, Cases, and Legal Issues: Frequently Asked Questions
Dealing with a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming, especially when trying to understand your legal rights and options. Our Florida spinal cord injury attorneys are here to provide clear answers to common questions about cases, legal issues, and the steps you can take to pursue fair compensation.
What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
The physical consequences and severity of spinal cord injuries are often dictated by where on the spine the injury occurred. The higher up on the spine the injury occurs, the more severe the injury tends to be. Any paralysis that results from spinal cord damage will generally occur only beneath the level of injury. For example, if an accident victim suffers damage to their L1 vertebrae, which is in the lower back, they are unlikely to have as extensive physical limitations as someone whose C4 vertebra is damaged. The C4 is located in the cervical spine, which is near the top of the spine.
Not all spinal cord injuries cause paralysis. The spine may incur bruises, compressed or herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or lacerations. Even a relatively minor rear-end crash can cause spinal damage that can become a nagging lifelong injury for victims.
Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete.
- A complete spinal cord injury describes an injury that has eliminated all sensation and motor control for the body below the site of the injury. This is the most serious form of spinal cord injury, and the one most likely to result in paralysis, quadriplegia, or other serious health issues such as respiratory issues, problems with the digestive system or bladder, and a greater likelihood of infection.
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries allow the accident victim some sensation and motor movement below the injury site. Victims of incomplete spinal cord injuries have a much greater likelihood of recovery from their injury since there is still some connection between the sections of the spine above and below the injury. This sort of rehabilitation can be costly, however, making it urgent that spinal cord injury victims receive as much as possible through a personal injury claim after their accident.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Victims of a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury can experience a variety of symptoms and physical consequences from spinal cord damage. These can include:
- Paralysis, or a loss of movement of a limb
- Paraplegia, or a loss of movement in the lower body
- Quadriplegia, or a loss of sensation and motor control in all four limbs
- Hemiplegia, or a loss of movement on one side of the body
- Numbness or weakness in the limbs
- Tingling sensations in the limbs
- A loss of sensation, strength or mobility
- Pain due to a herniated disc pressing against the nerves of the spinal cord
- Periodic spasmodic movement of a limb that the victim cannot control
- Inability to control the bladder or bowels
- Bedsores
- Proneness to infection
- Sexual dysfunction
- Muscle spasms
How Does Florida’s Comparative Fault System Affect My Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Florida’s comparative fault system can significantly impact your spinal cord injury claim, as it requires the court to assess the actions of all parties involved and assign fault percentages accordingly. Even if your injuries are severe or permanent, you and your attorney must demonstrate that another party was responsible for the incident. However, the defense may argue that you share some responsibility for your injuries to reduce their liability.
Under Florida Statute §768.81, if the court determines that you bear a percentage of fault, they will reduce your compensation by that percentage. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, your final award will decrease by that amount.
This system makes it critical to establish that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries and that your own actions did not contribute to the accident. Our experienced Florida spinal cord injury attorneys are prepared to help you build a strong case, address any claims of shared fault, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
