Your Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Grand Rapids, MI
If you have suffered a serious spinal cord injury in a car collision or traumatic accident, take action as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and future medical care. You should not have to pay a dime until the liable parties accept responsibility for what happened. That’s why our attorneys don’t charge you anything unless we recover compensation.
Contact us today to speak to an experienced spinal cord injury attorney in Grand Rapids. We’ll help you make the most of your case to protect your future.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is a type of severe back injury that damages the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. If the communication system between the body and the brain is damaged, it can cause partial or total loss of sensation, paralysis, and diminished bodily function.
The effects vary depending on the location and severity of the injury. Nerve damage is generally irreparable, which means that patients may be left with chronic pain, loss of organ function, and other life-changing consequences. Patients often need ongoing physical therapy, assistive devices, and medical supervision during and after their recovery.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 18,400 Americans experience spinal cord injuries every year. While these injuries can happen in an instant, they often have lifelong consequences. Learn more about some of the most common causes:
Motor Vehicle Accidents: Collisions involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs cause nearly 40% of spinal cord injuries due to the impact.
Falls: Slip or trip and falls, workplace injuries, and falls from elevated surfaces cause approximately 32% of spinal cord injuries.
Violence: Gunshots and other acts of violence cause about 15% of spinal cord injuries. These crimes can result in both criminal charges and civil lawsuits.
Sports Injuries: Sports and recreational activities, ranging from football to skiing and boating, can cause traumatic injuries to the head, brain, and spine. Nearly 8% of spinal cord injuries are linked to sports and recreation.
Medical Errors: In rare cases, medical, surgical, or obstetric errors can cause irreparable spine damage or paralysis. Just under 4% of spinal cord injuries are caused by medical errors.
What Compensation Is Available?
If someone else caused or contributed to your spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to compensation. According to the NSCISC, lifetime care, excluding lost wages and benefits, can easily exceed several million dollars, especially since the average spinal cord injury patient is just 44 years old at the time of the accident. Our Grand Rapids spinal cord injury attorney can help you file a personal injury lawsuit and negotiate a settlement that covers the following economic and non-economic damages.
Medical Expenses
Filing a personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for past and future medical care, including surgery, medications, and rehabilitation.
Lost Wages
A spinal cord injury may limit your ability to work now and in the future. We’ll help you seek compensation for lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
Home Modifications
If you experienced a complete spinal cord injury, you can seek compensation for home modifications, assistive technology, and wheelchair ramps or lifts to support your mobility.
Pain and Suffering
You may deserve non-economic damages for the physical and emotional pain and suffering that you endured due to your injury, treatment, and recovery.
Loss of Consortium
Paralysis and loss of sensation can affect your ability to enjoy time with your partner. Your spouse may be entitled to damages for loss of companionship, comfort, and affection.
Domestic Services
You and your family may be awarded compensation for household services, such as cooking, cleaning, and child care, as well as help with activities of daily living.
To learn more about the types of compensation available and to see what your claim could be worth, schedule a free case review.
How Can a Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help?
Recovering from a spinal cord injury may seem like an insurmountable challenge. Fortunately, you don’t have to face the defendant and their insurance companies alone. At Barrix Law Firm, we have over 30 years of experience helping injured individuals recover the compensation that they need to heal and support their families. We understand the lifelong impact of spinal cord injuries. Our mission is to protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
See how a Grand Rapids spinal cord injury attorney at Barrix Law Firm can help.
- We’ll investigate the cause of your injuries to determine who is responsible.
- Our team includes medical experts and long-term care planners who can accurately value your claim.
- Once we’ve assessed the damages, we’ll draft a demand letter and send it to the defendant and their insurance company.
- We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to secure fair settlements on a reasonable timeline.
- With decades of legal experience, we’re familiar with the tactics that insurance companies use to undervalue claims and delay settlements.
- If needed, we’ll take your case to court to fight for just compensation. You have a right to have your case heard before a jury of peers to ensure a fair decision.
We have successfully recovered substantial settlements for local clients who have experienced traumatic spinal cord injuries due to car accidents, falls, and other common causes. Schedule a free initial consultation to see what your spinal cord injury case is worth.
Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury FAQs
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from your brain through the center of the spine. It serves as the body’s main communication system by sending signals to and from the brain and the extremities to control movement, touch, and certain organ functions. Damage to the spinal cord can cause serious and painful consequences, including pain, paralysis, and loss of bodily function.
If your spinal cord injury was caused by a medical error, such as a surgical mistake or lack of informed consent, we may be able to file a malpractice claim. Per MCL 600.5805, patients have just 2 years from the date of the injury to file a claim for medical malpractice. This is shorter than the 3-year deadline that applies to most personal injury cases.
Paraplegia is a medical term for partial or complete paralysis affecting the lower half of the body. Spinal cord damage due to falls, medical errors, or trauma is one of the most common causes.
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Emergency care typically involves surgery to stabilize the area and take pressure off the spinal column. Patients often need ongoing services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, assistive devices, and pain management. Researchers are currently experimenting with new treatments, such as stem cells, neuroprosthetics, and electrical devices that may help to restore nerve function.
Timelines for spinal cord injury cases vary widely depending on the complexity of the case and whether liability is disputed. Straightforward cases with clear liability often settle out of court fairly quickly. If multiple parties are involved and the entities cannot agree who’s at fault, the case will often proceed to litigation and take longer to resolve. We will fight to recover fair compensation no matter how long your case takes.
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means that drivers must normally file a claim through their own insurance following an auto accident or pedestrian injury. However, spinal cord injuries typically meet the severe injury threshold as defined in MCL Section 500.3135(5). This means that you can file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver. For more specifics, speak to a local spinal cord injury lawyer.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury, it’s time to seek justice. Contact Jason Barrix at the Barrix Law Firm in Grand Rapids today for a free, no-obligation case review.
If you work with me, I will personally fight to ensure that you have access to the compensation and medical care you need. Our experienced local team is here to guide you through every step of your case. Call us today, or complete our contact form to take the first step toward rebuilding your future.
