Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Our Law Firm Helps Spinal Cord Injury Victims

Are you facing spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury inflicted on you by someone else’s negligent act? Are you permanently paralyzed because of a car or truck accident that was not your fault or a slip or fall on someone’s poorly maintained premises?

If you suffer spinal cord injuries in an accident that another person caused, you may wonder how you will manage your life. That’s where our spinal cord injury attorneys come in. Our legal team will work to recover compensation for you so you can move forward.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can result from various accidents and incidents. Understanding these common causes can help in prevention and in determining liability in legal cases. Here are the primary causes of spinal cord injuries:

1. Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for nearly half of new spinal cord injuries each year. These include:

• Car crashes
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck collisions
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving vehicles

The sudden impact and force in these accidents can cause severe trauma to the spinal cord, especially in high-speed collisions or rollover incidents.

2. Falls

Falls are the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries, particularly among older adults. These can include:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Falls from heights (e.g., ladders, roofs, or stairs)
• Work-related falls in construction or other industries
• Falls due to unsafe property conditions

Even a seemingly minor fall can result in serious spinal cord damage, especially if the person lands awkwardly or on a hard surface.

3. Sports and Recreation Injuries

Active sports and recreational activities can sometimes lead to spinal cord injuries. High-risk activities include:

• Diving into shallow water
• Contact sports like football or rugby
• Extreme sports (e.g., skiing, snowboarding, or mountain biking)
• Gymnastics or cheerleading

These injuries often occur due to direct impact, awkward landings, or overextension of the spine.

4. Acts of Violence

Unfortunately, violence is another significant cause of spinal cord injuries. This category includes:

• Gunshot wounds
• Knife injuries
• Physical assaults

The trauma from these violent acts can directly damage the spinal cord or surrounding tissues.

5. Medical and Surgical Complications

While less common, some spinal cord injuries result from medical procedures or complications:

• Errors during spinal surgery
• Complications from other surgical procedures near the spine
• Certain medical conditions that affect the spine (e.g., severe osteoporosis)

6. Work-Related Accidents

Certain occupations carry a higher risk of spinal cord injuries:

• Construction work (falls from heights, being struck by objects)
• Heavy industry and manufacturing (accidents with machinery)
• Agriculture (tractor rollovers, falls)

7. Recreational Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving recreational vehicles can lead to spinal cord injuries:

• ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) accidents
• Boating accidents
• Snowmobile crashes

Understanding these common causes is important for legal proceedings. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to any of these causes, especially if it resulted from someone else’s negligence, it’s important to consult with a qualified spinal cord injury attorney to understand your rights and potential for compensation.

Seeking Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries

According to a report by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), spinal cord injuries are caused most often by motor vehicle accidents followed by falls, acts of violence, and sports accidents. In fact, about 12,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States every year.

Despite a lot of research being conducted on spinal cord damage, at the present, there is no cure and no way to give you the feeling back or to give you the ability to walk. Your life will be entirely different from now on, and you’re forced to make the best of it. What can you do?

You can begin by signing on with a knowledgeable Philadelphia personal injury lawyer with extensive experience handling spinal cord injury cases and who can help you hold the person who caused your accident accountable for the harm done, and at the same time demand a large enough settlement to take care of your lifetime disability-related needs.

At Hill & Associates, you will find the skilled legal representation you need to recover fair compensation for your injury.

Potential Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Spinal cord injuries can have devastating, life-altering consequences. As a result, the compensation sought in these cases is often substantial, reflecting the severe impact on the victim’s life. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the types of damages that may be recoverable in a spinal cord injury case:

1. Medical Expenses

• Immediate medical care and emergency services
• Surgeries and follow-up procedures
• Hospital stays
• Medications
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Psychological counseling
• Adaptive equipment (wheelchairs, hospital beds, vehicle modifications)
• Home modifications (ramps, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms)
• Ongoing medical care and future medical expenses

2. Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

• Income lost during recovery and treatment
• Future lost wages if unable to return to previous employment
• Diminished earning capacity if forced to take a lower-paying job
• Lost business opportunities
• Lost benefits, including retirement contributions

3. Pain and Suffering

• Physical pain from the injury and ongoing complications
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Depression, anxiety, and other psychological impacts

4. Loss of Consortium

• Compensation for the impact on the victim’s relationship with their spouse
• Loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy

5. Life Care Expenses

• Cost of long-term personal care assistance
• Expenses for household services the victim can no longer perform
• Projected lifetime costs of medical care and assistance

6. Punitive Damages

• In cases of gross negligence or intentional harm, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct

7. Loss of Quality of Life

• Compensation for the overall diminishment in the victim’s ability to enjoy life’s pleasures and activities

8. Vocational Rehabilitation

• Costs associated with job retraining if the victim cannot return to their previous career

9. Travel Expenses

• Costs incurred for traveling to medical appointments and treatments

10. Property Damage

• In cases involving vehicle accidents, compensation for damaged property

It’s important to note that the specific damages available and their amounts can vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney will work to ensure that all applicable damages are thoroughly documented and pursued to maximize your compensation.

The Impact of Spinal Injuries

Most trauma to the spinal cord causes paralysis of the body below the point of injury. If your cervical spine is affected, the result is usually tetraplegia (quadriplegia), which is paralysis of all four limbs. The diaphragm may be paralyzed also, so you are likely to require a respirator to help you breathe.

If the injury is to your thoracic or lumbar spine, your lower body is paralyzed, which is called paraplegia. If you have paraplegia, you will require a great deal of assistance with the tasks of daily life. With tetraplegia, you may need full-time in-home nursing assistance for life.

These catastrophic injuries are high-value cases and insurance companies don’t pay these large claims easily. Make sure you have a dedicated spinal cord injury attorney who practices personal injury law and knows everything there is to know about this specific type of claim. The attorneys at Hill & Associates are a top choice to represent you in a Pennsylvania spinal cord injury claim.

Why Choose Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers?

Leonard K. Hill is a seasoned Philadelphia spinal cord injury attorney with a long history of successfully representing accident victims in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, getting them enough money to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move forward.

His legal team conducts a thorough investigation and hires experts to assist in proving liability whenever necessary. On top of that, they document all expenditures for medical treatment, drugs, supplies, mobility devices, equipment, personal care, and therapy, as well as your lost earnings and future earning potential.

They will also present a case to recover for non-economic damages that affect your quality of life, including pain, suffering, depression, and diminished quality of life.

Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

These cases can be quite complex and the time to file is limited by law, so the sooner you bring Hill & Associates on board, the more time we will have to put together a detailed case that will have a high likelihood of winning you a substantial settlement or jury verdict.

Call us at (215) 567-7600 or contact us online today to arrange a meeting with one of our committed Philadelphia spinal injury attorneys in our offices.

There is no charge for the initial consultation and no charge at all unless we secure financial compensation for you.

Philadelphia Office Location

1700 Market St Suite 3150,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-567-7600