If another person’s recklessness or negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you might be permitted money damages through a personal injury lawsuit. However, you should not file alone. Your rights to compensation may be best handled by a catastrophic injury attorney who understands the system and the law. Spinal cord injuries can result in expensive, painful, and lasting harm. When this is the case, your pursuit of compensation deserves proper handling by an experienced Louisa County spinal cord injury lawyer.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a vital part of the human body that carries out multiple important functions. It relays electrical signals back and forth from the body to the brain. These signals control the ability to move, feel, and regulate internal functions such as digestive control and temperature. Significant injuries to this area of the body can result in extremely disruptive symptoms that can irrevocably alter your or your loved one’s quality of life.

Injuries that can occur to the spinal cord include, but are not limited to:

  • Electrical shock
  • Tearing and perforation
  • Twisting or crushing
  • Lesions and bruising
  • Vertebrae penetration
  • Infections

Spinal cord injuries can be incredibly painful, but they are also expensive to treat and take a great deal of time to heal–if they ever do.

Establishing Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim

A defendant is negligent when their failure to abide by the standard of care to the plaintiff results in the plaintiff’s harm. A direct or proximate causal link must be proven to establish the defendant’s liability.

Establishing the defendant’s negligence requires an in-depth investigation of the unique facts of the case. A skilled attorney in Louisa County could delve into police reports, witness testimony, plaintiff recitations of how the spinal cord injury occurred, medical records, insurance reports, and much more.

Damages and Caps in Louisa County

Under state law, most types of personal injury lawsuits are not subject to limitations on the total amount of damages, so long as the amount is properly proven in court.

The most important exception is found in Virginia Code § 8.01-581.15, which limits judgments against health care providers in medical malpractice claims. The actual limitation amount changes depending on the period during which the malpractice occurred, so it is best to consult with a local SCI attorney before moving forward under these circumstances.

Handling Medical Evidence in Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits

Spinal cord injuries are complicated and nearly always require medical evidence to prove. This may require the use of evidence such as the following:

  • X-rays
  • CAT scans or MRI scans
  • Surgical reports
  • Analysis of medical records
  • An independent medical examination
  • Expert testimony at trial

These forms of medical evidence may constitute the necessary proof to establish how the injury impacted your health. This information may also provide critical insights into how the defendant’s wrongdoing was the cause of the accident. A Louisa County lawyer with experience handling spinal cord injury cases could help you gather medical reports and other evidence to further help your claim.

Consult a Louisa County Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

While spinal cord injuries are certainly serious, they may be compensable in a personal injury lawsuit. To pursue the damages to which you might be entitled, you should speak with a knowledgeable attorney who can help guide you through the process.

Speak with a Louisa County spinal cord injury lawyer to begin your journey towards potential financial compensation. Contact The Warren Firm today to get started.