Biloxi Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Each year, as many as 18,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries (SCIs), per the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).

If you’re one of the recently diagnosed, you know just how life-changing of a diagnosis this can be. It can impact your ability to remain in the industry you work in and to enjoy some of the activities you once did. It and also leave you with significant medical bills that you may struggle to pay.

Unfortunately, no can go back and reverse the hand of time to prevent your injury from happening again. However, you can hold the party who caused your SCI accountable for what they did, so it discourages not only them but others from doing the same to anyone else. A Biloxi spinal cord injury lawyer at our law firm, Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, can be your advocate and assist you in doing that.

Common Ways Individuals Suffer Spinal Cord Damage

Accidents and physical violence, which include some of the following, are two of the leading examples of actions that cause SCIs:

  • Assaults like robberies where a victim is violently struck and falls
  • Gun violence, especially when a bullet penetrates the neural pathway lining the spinal column
  • Medical malpractice, such as when a surgeon has a slip of a hand
  • Uses of defective products, such as ladders that cannot support a user’s weight as advertised, leading to a fall from a height
  • Dangerous property situations, including situations that may give way to slips and falls
  • Nursing home abuse, especially if a resident attempts to get up and move about due to neglect and falls
  • Auto accidents, especially if they occur at a high rate of speed and permeate the passenger compartment

Any of the above situations and countless others may lead to someone suffering a spinal cord injury. Is one of these responsible for the harm you suffered? If so, that negligence or intentional violence may allow you to pursue a personal injury claim under Mississippi law.

A Biloxi spinal cord injury lawyer can review what happened to you and let you know what options you may have for taking legal action. At Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, we offer free consultations to injury victims like you, so get in touch with us to schedule yours today.

Biloxi, MS

Speak With a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Recovering Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury

Whether you recently received your SCI diagnosis or have spent some time living with it, you’ve probably had a chance to learn more about the costs associated with treating an injury like this.

It’s not uncommon for you to not only require immediate medical care at a trauma center in the minutes, hours, and days after your injury occurs but also to need follow-up care of varying types throughout your lifetime as long as your condition persists.

Data compiled by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation shows that the costs spinal cord injury patients incur across their lifetime can be significant. For example, someone with the following severity of SCI may have the following costs:

  • Incomplete spinal cord injury: Between $1.1 and $1.5 million for adults
  • Paraplegia: Anywhere from $1.5 to $2.3 million, depending on whether an adult is closer to age 50 or 25
  • Low tetraplegia (which affects the C-5 to C-8 vertebrae): $2.1 to $3.4 million for adults
  • High tetraplegia (C-1 to C-4 injuries): $2.5 to $4.7 million for those aged 50 versus 25 when their injuries occur

The above costs associated with SCIs are staggering. While health insurance can undoubtedly cover some of the above costs, what if it doesn’t? Also, what about other damages you have, such as lost wages, home repairs to make your residence handicap accessible, and the pain and suffering and setbacks you’ve experienced?

Fortunately, Mississippi law may allow you to recover compensation for your past and anticipated expenses that you can show receipts for and emotional turmoil and lifestyle changes you’ve had to deal with from the person or other party who caused you to suffer your injuries. But how do you go about doing that? You either file an insurance claim or lawsuit against them. A Biloxi spinal cord injury lawyer in our office can help you do that.

Proving Liability in a Biloxi Spinal Cord Injury Case

In Mississippi, the responsibility for proving that another party’s intentional actions or negligence caused you to suffer your spinal cord injury belongs to you. While you can certainly have a Biloxi spinal cord injury attorney  assist you in proving your case, whether you go at it alone or have an attorney’s help, you must prove the following to have a successful outcome in your case:

  • That the person or entity that you allege harmed owed you a duty of care (to keep you safe)
  • That the party’s breached the duty they owed you
  • That breach resulted in you suffering your spinal cord injury
  • You incurred damages because of the negligent party’s actions

The above elements may not seem challenging to prove, but they can be depending on the circumstances surrounding how you suffered your spinal cord injury. This is why we strongly encourage you to work with an attorney experienced in handling cases where victims have suffered spinal cord injuries like you. This experience can prove invaluable in helping you build a strong case that allows you to recover the maximum compensation you need to live your best possible life.

A Biloxi Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Is Only a Phone Call Away

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury the care you receive early on after the onset of your injury can easily impact the trajectory of the rest of your life. How’s that? SCI patients like you often achieve your most significant improvements (recovery of functionality) sooner after your injury occurs than later. Thus, the faster we’re able to secure compensation for you, the quicker you may gain access to the care you need that will improve your condition.

When you’re ready to meet with us to discuss your ability to hold another party liable for what happened to you, reach out to our law office to speak with a Biloxi spinal cord injury lawyer. Just be careful not to wait too long as, in most cases, there’s a three-year deadline for taking legal action. You don’t want to let your ability to pursue compensation pass you by, so call or contact us online now.

Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC