When you have been diagnosed with a serious injury, making the liable party pay for your damages may be the only way to avoid financial ruin.
Fortunately, when you have an experienced spinal injury lawyer in Detroit at Davis Injury Lawyers on your side, you can get help maximizing the compensation you receive.
Types of Spinal Injuries
There are two primary types of spinal cord injuries you could be diagnosed with after an accident: complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Incomplete spinal cord injuries refer to spinal cord damage that does not involve the spinal cord being severed. There is no complete loss of motor or sensory function, and many people with incomplete spinal cord injuries can still complete daily living activities.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
However, complete spinal cord injuries are far worse. They often indicate a complete break or severance of the spinal cord, which could result in severe complications, including paralysis, loss of bladder function, chronic pain, and heart and respiratory issues.
Examples of specific types of spinal cord injuries include:
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome, where the spinal cord is injured on one side
- Central Cord Syndrome, where the spinal cord is injured in the center of the spine (most frequently seen in paralysis cases)
What Causes Spinal Injuries?
Spinal injuries could happen in any type of accident, including the following:
- Rear-end car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Anesthesia mistakes
- Slips, trips, and falls due to ice
- Work-related accidents
- Construction accidents
- Birth trauma
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Assault and battery
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Injury?
The symptoms of a spinal injury vary widely on a case-by-case basis. However, the type of spinal cord injury and the accident you were involved in determine the severity of your symptoms.
Some examples of common symptoms seen in spinal injuries include:
- Loss of bladder control
- Exaggerated spasms
- Loss of function or movement
- Loss of sensation or feelings
- Intense pain or stinging sensations
- Changes in sexual function
- Loss of bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
What Damages Could You Recover?
The severity of your spinal injury depends on how your spinal cord was damaged, the accident you were involved in, and other factors. Generally, the more your injury impacts your life, the more compensation you could receive.
Spinal injuries could have a permanent and lasting impact on victims’ lives. You have the right to be repaid for every loss you have suffered because of your spinal injuries.
Examples of the economic damages and non-economic damages paid out in Detroit spinal cord injury claims include:
- Pain and suffering
- Current and future medical expenses
- Costs of medical equipment
- Costs of home health care
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning potential
- Emotional distress
- mental anguish
- Personal property damages
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
You could also receive punitive damages in your spinal cord injury claim if the liable party’s conduct is deemed intolerable or grossly negligent.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Spinal Injuries?
You have limited time to file your spinal injury lawsuit in Michigan. The statute of limitations only allows a maximum of three years to pass for personal injury claims. This includes lawsuits for spinal cord injuries and wrongful deaths caused by fatal spinal cord damage.
However, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits in Michigan is two years. Unfortunately, if you don’t file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations deadline, you lose your right to have your case heard in the Detroit civil court systems.
If you are unsure how much longer you have to file your claim, do not hesitate to reach out to our office so we can get started on your case as soon as possible. The sooner we get started, the more likely we will be able to gather the evidence we need to prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence.
Reach Out to a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Detroit for Help Today
Spinal injuries impact every area of your life. If another party is responsible for causing your injuries, you should not be stuck covering the costs. Get help making them pay.
Reach out to a dedicated Detroit spinal injury lawyer at Davis Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today. You can reach us by phone at (313) 462-7979 or through our quick contact form to get started.