Fort Lauderdale
Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

spinal cord injury

Did you suffer a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by somebody else? If so, you could be dealing with lasting and potentially permanent injuries, costly medical expenses, and more. A Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer from Phillips | Tadros, P.A., could help you hold the at-fault party accountable and seek the compensation you need and deserve.

Our legal team has nearly 40 years of combined legal experience representing clients with complex injury cases. We provide top-notch legal representation and personalized service to clients in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and Southeastern Florida. Other lawyers across the state and country turn to us to help with complex cases. Our attorneys have decades of courtroom experience, so insurance companies know we have what it takes to pursue your case to trial. We limit the number of cases we handle so that we can provide your case with the attention and effort you deserve.

If you sustained a spine injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, let a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorney from our firm help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. Reach out to Phillips | Tadros, P.A., for a free initial claim review to discuss your legal options with our attorneys.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Common causes of a spinal cord, neck, or back injury that we can help clients seek financial recovery for include:

What Are the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries are categorized into one of two types:

  • Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, where the spinal cord has not been fully severed. In incomplete spinal cord injuries, people generally retain some degree of sensation and function below the location of the injury.
  • Complete Spinal Cord Injury, where the spinal cord has been nearly or entirely severed, causing a loss of all function and sensation below the level of the injury.

Spinal cord injuries may also be categorized by their location on the spinal column:

  • Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries – These are located in the base of the spine. These injuries tend to affect the legs and the pelvis, although in many cases, injured persons retain some degree of mobility.
  • Thoracic Spinal Cord Injuries – These are located in the thoracic region in the middle part of the spinal column. Depending on the exact location of the injury, affected parts of the body can include the legs, pelvis, abdomen, and chest.
  • Cervical Injuries – These are located in the cervical spine in the shoulders and neck region. These injuries tend to affect the entire body from the neck and shoulders down.

Paralysis that results from spinal cord injuries also comes in one of three types:

  • Paraplegia – Paralysis limited to the legs and trunk of the body
  • Quadriplegia or Tetraplegia – Paralysis that affects the legs, arms, abdomen, and chest
  • Hemiplegia – Paralysis limited to one side of the body

What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Some of the initial symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

  • Feeling severe pain or pressure in the back, neck, or head, including an intense stinging sensation around the spinal column.
  • Weakness, lack of coordination, or paralysis in any part of the body.
  • Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in hands or feet..
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Difficulty walking or maintaining balance.
  • An oddly positioned head or neck.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Exaggerated reflexes or muscle spasms.

What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Spinal Cord Injury?

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for losses that you have incurred due to your injury. Financial recovery in a spinal cord injury claim may include money for:

Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries

as well as long-term care such as home health services or personal services if you suffer permanent disabilities that make it difficult for you to complete daily tasks

Loss of wages or income

if you miss work during your recovery period

Loss of earning capacity and job benefits

if you are permanently disabled from gainful employment

Physical pain and emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment or quality of life

due to a disability, scarring/disfigurement, or reduced life expectancy after suffering a spinal cord injury

What Are Treatment Options for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Because a spinal cord injury cannot be repaired, treatment options focus on preventing further damage to tissues and helping patients resume as active and independent a life as possible. Immediately after suffering a spinal cord injury, treatment options can include:

  • Immobilization of the head, neck, and back to prevent further injury to the spinal cord.
  • Surgery to repair fractured vertebrae, remove bone fragments or other debris, repair herniated disks, and install hardware to stabilize the spinal column to prevent pain or deformity.

Once a patient’s condition is stabilized, treatment focuses on rehabilitation and ongoing care to help patients regain or maintain function and skills, learn new adaptations to cope with physical limitations, and manage secondary complications of paralysis. Treatment typically involves:

  • Rehabilitation – This includes physical and occupational therapy to rebuild functions and learn new ways of performing daily tasks to accommodate a physical disability.
  • Mental Health Therapy – This includes psychotherapy, recreational therapy, or vocational counseling to help patients rebuild their lives after a devastating spinal injury.
  • Medications – These manage complications of a spinal cord injury. They include pain medications, muscle relaxants, drugs to improve bladder and bowel control, or medications to restore sexual functioning.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury?

In most cases, spinal cord injuries cause permanent damage that can lead to long-term effects. Some of the complications that may arise from a spinal cord injury include:

  • Impairment of bladder and bowel control, which can increase the risk of constipation or diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and kidney stones
  • Pressure ulcers, which are caused by not changing positions frequently, with spinal cord injury patients also losing pain sensations that would warn them when a pressure ulcer is forming
  • Circulatory problems, including low blood pressure, sudden spikes of high blood pressure, and the development of blood clots
  • Respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing and clearing the lungs or throat, which can lead to an increased risk of respiratory diseases like pneumonia
  • Increased risk of osteoporosis and broken bones
  • Loss of muscle tone
  • Increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes due to a more sedentary lifestyle
  • Changes to sexual function, sensitivity, or fertility
  • Decreased mental health wellness from depression or anxiety

What’s the Time Limit for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes §95.11, you typically have only four years from the date you were hurt in an accident by someone’s negligence to file a lawsuit against the party or parties at fault for your injury and liable for your losses.

If you file suit after the time limit on your spinal cord injury claim runs out, you risk that your case will end up being dismissed by the court, and you could lose your opportunity to recover compensation for your injuries. When you retain our spinal injury law firm, we’ll make sure to meet all timelines for a claim so that your spinal injury lawsuit doesn’t slip through any administrative cracks.

Personal Injury attorneys Phillips and Tadros about to enter the Broward county courthouse

How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help with Your Case

If you have a spinal cord or back injury claim, let a lawyer from Phillips | Tadros, P.A., help you pursue the full financial recovery you need by:

  • Conducting a thorough investigation into the accident that caused your spinal cord injury, recovering all available evidence to determine who may be held liable for your injuries and losses.
  • Calculate your past, ongoing, and future anticipated losses to ensure that we recover your full compensation.
  • Going over your legal options and the claims process with you. This way, you know what to expect and are informed to make the best decisions for your interests.
  • Filing claims on your behalf with liable parties and insurers to begin pursuing maximum compensation.
  • Aggressively negotiating to try to reach a maximum settlement for you, or taking your case to trial if necessary to fight for the results you deserve.
  • Providing you with the qualified legal representation you need to demand accountability and compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?

An “average” settlement for spinal injury claims does not exist because each claim has a unique set of facts and circumstances. Various factors can impact the value of a settlement, including:

  • The severity of your back injury
  • The extent of your resulting paralysis or disability
  • The expenses and losses that you incur
  • Your future anticipated losses

However, because spinal cord injuries tend to leave accident victims with permanent impairments that can require long-term care and lead to loss of earning ability, many spinal cord injury settlements reach six and seven figures. Your best advice is to contact a spinal cord injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale for specifics on your case.