Fort Wayne, IN Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Fort Wayne, IN Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Even though any type of injury can be painful and traumatic, spinal cord injuries are known to lead to long-term and devastating consequences. The reason for this is because the spinal cord is essential to send neurological messages to other parts of the body. If the spinal cord becomes injured, the results are often permanent and life-threatening, causing some body parts to malfunction.

You may have the right to seek compensation if your spinal cord injury happened due to another person’s careless or reckless behavior. However, it is critical that you secure a spinal cord injury lawyer in Fort Wayne, IN, to increase your chances of proving negligence and obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.

At Blackburn Romey, our team takes these cases very seriously, and we aim to relieve much of the stress of the legal process for you. Call our office today to begin reviewing your case with an attorney who will do what it takes to protect your rights and interests.

Why Is the Spinal Cord So Important?

The spinal cord consists of many different nerves connecting the brain to other parts of the body. It is a complex body part, but certain limbs must move and function properly. Here are the functions that the spinal cord involves:

  • Autonomic functions
  • Motor functions
  • Sensory functions

When the spinal cord suffers damage, the brain cannot send or receive information to and from other parts of the body. That is why spinal cord injuries are typically severe, permanent, and life-altering.

Are Spinal Cord Injuries Common?

According to the National Library of Medicine, around 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide experience spinal cord injuries annually. In the United States alone, close to 300,000 people currently live with spinal cord injuries, and about 20,000 new spinal cord injuries are reported each year. After looking at this data, spinal cord injuries seem to be more common injuries than you might imagine. These injuries happen in a wide variety of accidents and incidents and change your life in a moment.

The Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Our spinal cord injury lawyers at Blackburn Romey have extensive experience helping clients with spinal cord injury claims. We know the damaging effects and the many years it can take to recover from these types of injuries. Many people are unable to fully heal or recover from spinal cord injuries, meaning that they are often permanently disabled. However, there are treatment plans that doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists may develop and implement for individuals suffering from these injuries, such as diet management, physical therapy, counseling, occupational therapy, surgeries, medical device assistance, and more.

The following are some different types of spinal cord injuries that our firm has seen:

  • Back injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Soft tissue injuries and damage
  • Chronic and severe pain
  • Paralysis
  • Herniated or bulging discs
  • Quadriplegia
  • Paraplegia
  • Hemiparesis

Signs That May Indicate You Have a Spinal Cord Injury

Knowing and understanding that a spinal cord injury can be mild, moderate, or severe is important. Therefore, the symptoms can differ from person to person, according to the severity of their injuries. However, some common symptoms may indicate that you have a spinal cord injury, which include:

  • Paralysis
  • Inability to walk or move
  • Feeling weak
  • Numbness or tingling in your arms, hands, legs, feet, or other areas of the body
  • Inability to control your bladder or bowels
  • Severe and painful headaches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the neck, back, or head
  • Unconsciousness
  • Swelling in the back or neck
  • Sensation changes

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should get medical assistance right away. It is best to call an ambulance because moving can further injure your spinal cord, leading to permanent paralysis. If you continue to put this off, your symptoms may become worse, and you may develop severe complications.

The Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are many types of accidents that can cause spinal cord injuries. A few of the most common accidents that typically lead to these types of injuries include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Sports accidents
  • Workplace accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Violence and assault
  • Aviation accidents
  • Nursing home abuse
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Medical malpractice

Spinal cord injuries are sometimes caused by someone’s intentional acts or negligent behaviors. Therefore, almost all spinal cord injuries are completely avoidable. At Blackburn Romey, our spinal cord injury attorneys will explain your legal rights, gather the appropriate evidence to support your claim and prepare a strong argument to hold the defendant accountable for their actions.

How Much Can You Get for a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Our clients commonly wonder how much a spinal cord injury claim is worth. However, our legal team cannot give you an accurate estimate without knowing the factors surrounding your case. For example, our attorneys need to learn the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical expenses, how much income you are losing, and more. Once we find out this information, we will work with accountantseconomists, healthcare physicians, and other professionals to determine the fair and exact compensation you may be awarded for your losses.

When thinking about your losses, it is critical that you do not forget to include both economic and non-economic losses. If you leave anything out, you risk not receiving the full amount of money you truly deserve. Some of the losses that victims of spinal cord injuries often claim are:

  • Physical therapy
  • Counseling
  • Surgeries
  • Emergency room visits
  • Ambulance rides
  • Hospital stays
  • Occupational therapy
  • Prescriptions
  • Home modifications
  • Medical equipment
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental and emotional distress
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of companionship
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Determining Liability for a Spinal Cord Injury

Determining liability is a highly complicated element of a spinal cord injury case. However, the lawyers at Blackburn Romey are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to investigate and identify who is responsible for your accident and injuries. Many times, these types of accidents are caused by negligence. That said, if someone acted negligently and failed to keep you safe, they may be found liable for your injuries. Here are some of the parties our attorneys will consider when determining liability:

  • Automobile driver
  • Corporation or business owner
  • Truck driver
  • Motorcycle driver
  • Pedestrian
  • Bicyclist
  • Property owner
  • Doctor, hospital, or nurse
  • Company or product manufacturer
  • Governmental entities

The Deadline to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Indiana

If you suffer a spinal cord injury due to another party’s fault, you must not miss the deadline to file a lawsuit. In Indiana, the statute of limitations gives victims of personal injuries two years from the accident date to file a claim against those responsible in most circumstances. Therefore, if you want a chance to receive damages for your accident and injuries, it is crucial that you do not let this deadline slip by.

The Team at Blackburn Romey Is Ready to Fight for Your Rights Today

With many years handling spinal cord injury claims, Blackburn Romey has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate for you, your family, and your loved ones. Our lawyers have built a solid reputation across Indiana, and we are well known for standing up for the maximum compensation our clients deserve.

If you are ready to hire a firm committed to each of its clients, contact Blackburn Romey as soon as possible. While you focus on recovering from your injury, our team will take care of the ins and outs of your case. We look forward to speaking with you soon! You deserve to be compensated for the losses you have incurred because of someone else’s negligence. Do not wait a moment longer. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Wayne, IN, spinal cord injury lawyer.

Tom Blackburn

Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Initiating his legal career in 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association.

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