4 Things to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury
Four things to do after a spinal cord injury include seeking immediate medical care, filing a report with law enforcement and insurance, documenting how your injury has affected you financially and physically, and contacting a Richmond spinal cord injury lawyer.
1. Seek Immediate and Ongoing Medical Care After a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury is a life-altering event that can affect mobility, independence, employment, and long-term health. Seeking medical care is an essential step to protect you both physically and legally.
Evaluation Immediately After the Injury Occurs
Immediately after a spinal cord injury occurs, first responders may stabilize the spine, work to reduce swelling and secondary damage, and do their best to prevent any future complications such as infection or blood clots. The goal of immediate care is to ensure your safety and to link your injury to the accident, creating a document trail that will help with your personal injury claim.
Ongoing Treatments
Spinal cord injuries rarely go away without dedicated, ongoing treatment. This can include surgeries, inpatient rehab, physical and occupational therapies, pain management, and even mental health support. Depending on the severity of your injuries, these treatments may be temporary or permanent.
Consistent medical treatment not only improves quality of life but also creates detailed medical records that document the severity of the injury and its long-term impact. This information is essential when working with your Richmond personal injury lawyer to build your case.
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2. File a Police Report and Contact Your Insurance
Filing a police report is an essential step to take after a spinal cord injury, particularly if it was caused by someone else’s negligence. Spinal cord injuries have a multitude of causes, including car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, bicycle accidents, and more. No matter the circumstance, filing a report with law enforcement creates an essential paper trail.
While speaking to law enforcement and insurance, it is important that you stick to the facts and do not inadvertently accept guilt. A lawyer can speak to insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you do not self-incriminate unintentionally.
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3. Document the Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury on Your Life
Documenting how a spinal cord injury affects your daily life is one of the most important things you can do after a spinal cord injury. These injuries affect far more than just physical health. It can affect your ability to work, your household responsibilities, and your personal relationships. Additionally, it can affect your emotional well-being and quality of life.
Keeping detailed records of items that affect you financially, such as medical bills, assistive equipment costs, home or vehicle modification expenses, missed work, and lost income, is essential when determining your financial losses. Your attorney will utilize this information to help negotiate a fair settlement.
While documenting the financial implications of your injury is important, there are also emotional consequences that you deserve compensation for. Keeping daily journals describing pain, limitations, and emotional challenges can help your attorney fight for non-economic damages to be covered.
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4. Contact an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
After suffering from a spinal cord injury, it may be difficult to know what to do next. The legal system is complex, and victims often need support to understand their rights and what they may be legally entitled to. Working with a knowledgeable lawyer experienced in handling spinal cord injury cases can be invaluable.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Richmond Can Assist in Filing Your Claim
Your attorney will help by filing paperwork, gathering evidence, hiring expert witnesses such as accident reconstructionists and medical professionals, coordinating with law enforcement if necessary for your situation, negotiating with insurance adjusters, and representing you in court if necessary.
Benefits of Using a Local Attorney
Working with a local attorney can be even more beneficial, as they understand local laws, are familiar with the locations where injuries can occur, and often have relationships with courthouse employees such as clerks, judges, and opposing counsel. This can help expedite your case, as they are already familiar with each courthouse’s process.
Potential Damages
Following all the necessary steps after a spinal cord injury is essential to securing the highest possible settlement for your injuries. Typically, damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
It can be difficult to understand how personal injury settlements are calculated, especially when taking into consideration intangible damages like mental anguish and pain. However, our attorneys will sit down with you and work to understand the full scope of your injury and how it affects your day-to-day life.
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Taking the Right Steps After a Spinal Cord Injury Matters
Spinal cord injuries don’t just change lives, they change futures. The steps taken in the days, weeks, and months after the injury can have lasting consequences. Depending on how the injury occurred, there are multiple ways you may be able to receive compensation.
Most often, victims receive payments through insurance claims, disability benefits, workers’ compensation, or a personal injury claim if someone else’s negligence caused the injury. Understanding who is financially responsible is essential when beginning the process of recouping costs.
Virginia follows a pure contributory negligence rule (Virginia Code § 8.01-34). This means that if you are found to be even 1% at fault, you are unable to file a claim for damages. Because of this, it is vital that evidence be collected and filed appropriately to strengthen your case.
The Pendleton Law Team Is Ready to Represent You
The Pendleton Law Team understands just how detrimental a spinal cord injury can be and is dedicated to fighting for justice. We can guide you on the steps to take after a spinal cord injury. If you believe you have a case, contact us today for your free consultation to see what your case may be worth.
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