Spinal injuries affect approximately 250,000 to 500,000 people around the world, according to statistics by the World Health Organization. These injuries are medical emergencies that can cause paralysis and other disabling conditions. Sadly, many patients are unable to recover from a spinal cord injury to the point where they cannot function normally in their daily lives. Along with physical ailments, those with spinal cord damage struggle with the emotional trauma of living with such a devastating injury.
If you sustained a spinal cord injury from a truck accident, you may have grounds to file a claim for monetary compensation. As someone who was injured by negligence or misconduct of another party, you need strong and skilled representation from a truck accident injury attorney.
The lawyers of Normandie are ready to fight for you and recover the payments you deserve by law. Please contact us right away to discuss the available legal options if you were harmed in a commercial truck accident.
How a Truck Accident Happens
A spinal cord injury is one of many severe, life-threatening conditions that can happen from a truck accident. The risk of such injuries is very high with accidents involving semis, dump trucks, and other huge vehicles that can easily total the average passenger car. These trucks are heavy enough on their own, but they also carry tons of cargo, and this increases the weight and potential to cause harm. Commercial trucks also take longer to come to a full stop, and there is an increase in blind spots, especially on the passenger side (right side).
The occurrence of truck accidents is not uncommon in California, and there are many reasons behind these incidents. Careless or reckless conduct by the driver is a leading cause of crashes and other events that can harm others. For example, a driver may fall asleep behind the wheel because they failed to take the required hours of rest in between each shift. They may also be distracted while driving because they are on the phone or doing something else that takes their attention off the road.
Trucking companies can also be liable in an accident involving one of their drivers. Perhaps the company failed to keep up with maintenance and repairs on the truck. Or, they did not follow cargo and load capacity regulations that are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Whatever the reason, it’s essential to determine who is responsible for the harm you suffered.
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Spinal Cord Injuries
We already mentioned that injuries to the spinal cord are medical emergencies, due to their potential to cause irreversible damage and even death. Your spine has an important role in how you function on a daily basis, and any damage to this area has a significant impact on your ability to do many of the things you take for granted.
Anatomically, the spinal cord is a structure that lies within the spinal column. The spinal cord is comprised of nerves that send signals to the brain and other areas of the body. Thus, the spinal cord serves as a communication center between your brain and every other part of your body. If there is an injury that impacts your spinal cord, you may experience the following symptoms:
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Extreme pain
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Difficulty walking
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Weakness and lack of coordination
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Limited or loss of mobility
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Incontinence (losing control of your bladder / bowels)
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Numbness and tingling in the extremities
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Decrease or loss in sensation
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Difficulty breathing
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Muscle spasms
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Paralysis below the injury site
If the injury from a truck accident is severe enough, you may end up with paralysis. Paraplegia is a form of paralysis that affects your lower body, and many of these cases involve an injury to the spinal cord. Those who are diagnosed with paraplegia from spinal cord damage have significant physical and mental health issues, and on-going medical care is essential, right from the start.
If a truck accident has left you with a spinal cord injury that resulted in paraplegia, please seek legal advice from one of our legal experts. You may be eligible for a spinal cord injury lawsuit, which we can discuss with you during a free consultation.
Your Right to Sue after a Spinal Cord Injury
If the injury you sustained is a result of negligence by a truck driver or another individual / entity, you should immediately explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit. Truck drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care, like following traffic rules and additional regulations which are specific to the operation of commercial trucks. The company that employs the driver may be responsible as well, and we find that in many of these cases, an accident could have been prevented with basic care and maintenance of the vehicle.
There are numerous possibilities that must be explored, so please don’t delay in reaching out to us and speaking to a spine injury attorney in Los Angeles.
Compensation from a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
The monetary damages from a lawsuit are meant to cover the expenses associated with your medical care, loss of income, and property damage. You may also have grounds to ask for non-economic damages that have to do with your physical and emotional suffering.
By speaking with a California truck accident attorney, you can learn about the damages that can be recovered from a spinal cord injury claim. Possible categories of compensation include:
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Cost of medical treatments and services, possibly for the rest of your life
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Lost wages and loss of future income
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Value of damaged or destroyed property
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Legal fees
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Punitive damages
Building a strong case with extensive evidence is the key to a successful claim. However, all your hard work will be for nothing if you fail to take action on a lawsuit within the statute of limitations. In California, personal injury lawsuits generally have a deadline of 2 years, which begins on the date of the accident or date of diagnosis for a specific injury.
Please keep in mind that certain factors may decrease or increase the amount of time that you have for a truck accident injury claim. For example, if the party that caused your accident is a government employee (works for a city department, for example), you must file the required paperwork within 6 months.
Don’t take the chance of losing your right to sue. Contact our law firm today and let us help you with the process of filing a spinal cord injury lawsuit.
Contact the Truck Accident Lawyers of Normandie
Here at Normandie, we know that accident victims are confused and overwhelmed by the legal process, particularly when they are dealing with a serious injury, like spinal cord damage. Our goal is to take the burden of legal action off your shoulders, thereby allowing you to focus on your recovery.
We want to ease your financial troubles as well, and that’s why we are happy to offer the Zero Fee Guarantee. This is a plan where we provide free legal services until your settlement check is released by the defendant. At that point, a percentage of the payment goes toward legal fees, but if we fail to bring you compensation, you owe us $0.
It’s really that easy, so give us a call at your earliest opportunity and meet with us for a private consultation, completely free of charge.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping all injured victims of truck accidents. If you suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in paraplegia, you must contact our law firm and request to speak with our attorneys. Our firm offers free consultations and free second opinions to all injured victims. This ensures that you can start your claim or get your claim back on the right track without having to worry about having to pay any expensive legal fees.
Our free consultations and free second opinions are a part of our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients never have to pay any upfront fees for our services. Our guarantee also establishes our strict contingency status; therefore, clients are not required to pay legal fees until our lawyers win their claims. Do not hesitate—our attorneys are ready to help you fight for your rights to sue and receive compensation.
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