Spinal Injury Lawyers Serving Phoenix & All of Arizona
A spinal cord injury can permanently alter the course of your life. You may be left with chronic pain, lose feeling or function in certain parts of the body, or suffer total paralysis in severe cases. A Phoenix spinal cord injury attorney can fight for the full compensation you deserve if you were harmed due to the negligence of another.
Whether it is due to a car or truck accident, a slip and fall, or medical malpractice, you should not have to bear the consequences by yourself. Burg Simpson has decades of experience advocating for people who have been seriously injured through no fault of their own.
Our team has recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. As Good Lawyers. Changing Lives.®, we prepare your case based on your unique situation. This enables us to pursue recompense for medical expenses, lost income, and any other damages you are due.
For a FREE case evaluation, call Burg Simpson at 602-777-7000 today. Our spinal injury lawyers serve clients in Phoenix and other areas of Arizona.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries have many potential causes. These range from physical trauma to the spinal cord to infections and diseases that damage the nerves in the spine.
Identifying the cause of the injury is critical for determining what legal rights you have. Some of the most common incidents that give rise to spinal cord injury lawsuits include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: The force of the impact from a car accident can fracture the vertebrae in the neck and back or even sever the spinal cord. Motorcyclists also have a high risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
- Dangerous Premises: Visitors to a property may sustain spinal injuries in falls, violent attacks, and other incidents stemming from dangerous conditions. A premises liability claim may be brought against the owner for failing to clean, maintain, or secure the property.
- Medical Negligence: Errors during surgery on the neck or back can cause damage to the spinal cord and nearby nerves. Doctors may also fail to diagnose a staph infection, meningitis, or another condition that, without timely treatment, can cause irreparable damage to the spinal cord.
- Workplace Accidents: Some occupations have a high risk for back, neck, and spinal injuries. These may occur as a result of falls from ladders or scaffolding, objects falling from heights, contact with heavy machinery, and more. Our lawyers represent workers injured on construction sites and at other workplaces throughout metro Phoenix.
- Defective Products: From faulty automotive components to defective medical devices, certain types of product defects may cause or increase the risk of a spinal cord injury. Burg Simpson has extensive experience with product liability claims, representing both individual plaintiffs and large classes of people.
Unlike many firms, Burg Simpson focuses principally on trial law. We prepare every case as though it will end up going to trial. This requires in-depth investigation and evidence gathering. It also involves learning how the spinal injury affects you and your family.
We combine local clout and national strength. This means you can expect the skill and resources of a large national firm with the personalized service and care of a local Phoenix attorney. A spinal cord injury lawyer can investigate to determine the cause of the incident and who is responsible.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Medical professionals classify spinal cord injuries by the level of injury along the spine. They also assess whether the injury is complete (no sensation or movement below the injury) or incomplete (some sensation and/or movement is retained).
The levels of spinal cord injury are:
- Cervical spine injury: The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae and 8 spinal nerves. Injury to the C1–C8 is often devastating, potentially resulting in complete paralysis from the neck down (known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia). Injury to the high cervical spine (C1 or C2) may prove fatal.
- Thoracic spine injury: The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae and 12 pairs of nerves. Injury to the upper or middle back may result in paraplegia (paralysis below the waist). The chest and abdomen may also be affected, though victims usually retain the use of their arms.
- Lumbar spine injury: Comprising the lower back, the lumbar spine is made up of 5 vertebrae and 5 pairs of nerves. Damage to the lumbar spine may result in paraplegia and potentially interfere with bladder and bowel control.
- Sacral spine injury: Located at the very bottom of the spine, the sacrum is made up of 5 fused vertebrae and 5 pairs of spinal nerves. Sacral spine injuries can lead to weakness and loss of feeling in the legs, sexual dysfunction, pain in the lower back and buttocks, and incontinence of the bladder and bowels.
Understanding the type of spinal injury and its severity is essential for calculating the damages in your claim. A Phoenix spinal cord injury attorney will evaluate your medical records and consult expert witnesses to quantify your current and future medical bills, the impact on your ability to work, and other losses.
What Is the Lifetime Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury?
People who live with a spinal injury may incur a number of different expenses. The first year is particularly expensive due to the cost of emergency medical treatment, stabilizing the injury, and rehabilitation, followed by the cost of assistive devices and ongoing medical care.
A study published in the journal PharmacoEconomics found that the cost of a spinal cord injury over a lifetime ranges from $700,000 to $2.5 million. The higher the injury is on the spine, the greater the lifetime expense.
Dealing with Spinal Cord Injuries: The First 90 Days
Age is another vital consideration. Figures from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center show how age at the time of the injury can affect lifetime cost:
- The estimated lifetime cost of high tetraplegia (C1–C4 injury) at age 25 is $5.8 million.
- Meanwhile, the cost of the same injury at age 50 is estimated at $3.2 million.
- For paraplegia, the lifetime cost is estimated at $2.8 million for a 25-year-old victim.
- At 50 years old, paraplegia has an estimated cost of $1.8 million.
The cost of a spinal cord injury over the course of a lifetime is not limited to monetary expenses. It is also important to account for your pain, loss of mobility, inability to engage in favorite activities, and adverse effects on relationships with your family. A spinal cord injury attorney in Phoenix will strive to obtain maximum compensation for these losses, as well as the lifetime of costs you are expected to face.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Just as the lifetime cost of spinal cord injuries can vary dramatically, there is no one-size-fits-all settlement value. Multiple factors can affect how much your case is worth, including:
- Your age
- Whether the injury is complete or incomplete
- The level at which the spinal cord is damaged
- Life expectancy
- The defendant’s insurance limits
- Medical expenses to date
- Future medical needs
- Income prior to the accident
- The strength of the evidence in your case
- Your attorney’s experience, knowledge, and skill
Sometimes a settlement can be reached that covers your expenses and provides your family with sufficient financial resources for years to come. Often, this is only accomplished through extensive negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company.
Alternatively, the insurer may not agree to compensate you fairly. In this case, a Phoenix spinal cord injury lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf. The case may not ultimately go to trial, but having an attorney well-versed in all aspects of litigation is crucial for obtaining the ideal outcome.
How Much Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury?
Clients often ask us how much money they can expect as part of a settlement or trial award. You can count on Burg Simpson to collect critical evidence and identify every dollar in damages.
You may be entitled to compensation for the following in a spinal cord injury claim:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Assistive devices
- Household services
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
As dedicated catastrophic injury lawyers, we understand the life-altering effects of spinal cord injuries. The financial costs of such an injury are enormous, but that is only part of the equation. Our Phoenix spinal cord injury attorneys also account for how your quality of life is impacted, from the ability to care for yourself and live independently to your relationships with family.
We may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the defendant engaged in egregious conduct or was intentionally trying to harm you. Punitive damages awards are rare, but our in-depth knowledge of Arizona case law and focus on trial preparation enables us to make a compelling case.
Phoenix Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Personal injury claims in Arizona are subject to a time limit known as the statute of limitations. Most claims need to be brought within 2 years of the date of the injury, with the following exceptions:
- For claims against government entities, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 180 days (Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 12-12-821.01) and lawsuits must be brought within 1 year (A.R.S. § 12-821).
- If the victim was a minor at the time of the injury, the statute of limitations does not begin until the victim reaches the age of 18 (A.R.S. § 12-502).
There is no time to lose after a spinal injury. We urge you to contact Burg Simpson ASAP to ensure that your claim is filed before the statute of limitations expires, depriving you of legal recourse.
What If I Was Partly At Fault for the Accident?
Arizona uses a pure comparative negligence standard in personal injury matters. If you are found to be partly responsible for the incident that led to a spinal injury, your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505).
Insurance companies often try to place blame on the plaintiff to avoid substantial payouts, especially in catastrophic injury cases. The good news is that Arizona does not bar recovery at 50% or over, unlike many other states.
Do not accept the insurer’s version of events at face value. Spinal cord injuries are costly, and you should not have to settle for less than you deserve. A Phoenix spinal cord injury attorney can review the facts and determine what effect (if any) comparative negligence may have on your claim.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury symptoms can vary widely depending on the level and severity of the injury. Potential signs of an injury to the spinal cord after an accident include:
- Inability to move the legs or arms
- Loss of sensation or feeling
- Numbness or weakness in the extremities
- Reduced reflexes
- Difficulty breathing (usually associated with high cervical injuries)
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Muscle spasms
In addition to these symptoms, it is important to be aware of pain in the neck or back following an accident. You should seek medical attention immediately, as well as consider contacting a spinal cord injury lawyer in Phoenix if you believe you were injured due to someone else’s negligence.
How Is a Spinal Cord Injury Diagnosed?
Spinal cord injuries are diagnosed through a combination of physical exam and diagnostic imaging. This may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Doctors use the ASIA Impairment Scale to rate the severity of spinal injuries. There are 5 different classifications:
- A: No sensation or function below the level of the injury (i.e., complete spinal cord injury).
- B: Incomplete injury with some sensation but no motor function.
- C: Sensation and some motor function are preserved, but most muscles below the point of injury are not strong enough to move against gravity.
- D: Feeling is intact and most muscles are functional.
- E: No loss of sensation or motor function.
Prompt medical treatment is essential for improving the outcome from a spinal cord injury. Going to the emergency room should be your first priority after a motor vehicle accident, a bad fall, etc.
How Is a Spinal Cord Injury Treated?
Treatment for a spinal cord injury starts with immobilizing the spine to prevent further damage. Surgery may be needed to provide further stability, remove bone fragments, and take pressure off the spinal cord. Further treatment may be necessary at a medical center specializing in spinal injuries, such as the Mayo Clinic or Spine Program at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Recovery from a spinal cord injury can be extremely challenging. The initial prognosis may be grim (“you will never walk again”), and many patients are unable to regain full mobility or function even with extensive physical and occupational therapy.
Burg Simpson is committed to your well-being. Our attorneys and staff offer personalized guidance and compassionate support for you and your family. We also take the lead in preparing your spinal injury case so you can focus on recovery.
Contact a Phoenix Spinal Cord Injury Attorney at Burg Simpson
Few injuries over the course of a lifetime are as costly as a spinal injury. Attorneys at Burg Simpson take into account not only your current medical bills and financial losses but the damages you will face in the future. Our goal is to obtain the compensation you need to overcome all of the burdens associated with spinal cord injuries, as well as ensure that justice is done.
Burg Simpson is an award-winning trial law firm with decades of experience representing clients in complex personal injury cases. We are celebrated by clients and our peers in the legal profession for the results we achieve and the high level of service we provide.
Have you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident? Call Burg Simpson at 602-777-7000 today for a FREE and confidential case evaluation. Our Phoenix spinal cord injury lawyers serve clients in Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, and other communities in Arizona.
