Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

If you sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident, you need a Pittsburgh spinal cord injury lawyer to take the reins. Spinal cord injuries quickly manifest themselves, leaving no doubt that something is wrong. Many times, the symptoms lessen or disappear as proper medical treatment encourages the body to heal. Often, however, spinal cord injuries result in permanent damage, leaving the victim with painful back and neck disk/vertebrae problems or even paralysis.

There is no set treatment plan for victims of spinal cord injuries caused by workplace accidents, car crashes, or unexpected falls. Rather, treatment is customized to meet each person’s needs. But with any treatment for injuries such as herniated disks in the cervical or lumbar regions or paraplegia, there is one common factor: significant medical costs.

Experienced Pennsylvania Back and Neck Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one suffered a serious back, neck, or spinal cord injury in an accident in Western or Central Pennsylvania, call Ainsman Levine, LLC, in Pittsburgh, to arrange a free consultation about the circumstances of your accident.

As experienced personal injury litigation attorneys, we have seen how expensive treatment and rehabilitation can be. The cost can cripple a family’s finances and potentially lead to bankruptcy. By hiring an aggressive lawyer, such as a member of our legal team, however, you can protect your right to compensation from the insurance company and from the party responsible for causing the injury.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury, and How Does One Differ From Back and Neck Injuries?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) involves direct damage to the spinal cord, which can disrupt communication signals between the brain and the rest of the body. While back or neck injuries can cause pain, strain, or temporary immobility, spinal cord injuries are often permanent, and they can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, and even the reduction of organ function.

With a single SCI case estimated to have a $2 to $4 billion dollar impact for an injured person, understanding the distinction is critical when filing a spinal cord injury claim or seeking compensation under Pennsylvania’s spinal cord injury laws. Some of the key differences include:

• The injury’s severity. Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis, while back and neck injuries rarely lead to a loss of mobility.
• The medical care that’s required. Spinal cord injury victims require extensive medical treatment that could include surgeries, physical therapy, and sometimes lifelong care.
• Legal implications. Claims that involve a spinal cord injury are classified as a catastrophic injury, as opposed to a personal injury. Because of this, these cases typically result in higher compensation so that the victim has the support they need to adjust to their new normal.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, our Pittsburgh spinal cord injury attorneys can help you understand your rights while also pursuing a claim that takes both your immediate and future needs into account. At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our team is ready to guide you through this complex situation with the compassion, diligence, and respect you deserve.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can happen to anyone, often in sudden and completely unexpected ways. Understanding the most frequent causes can help both victims and their families recognize the potential source of liability so that they can then take the right legal steps. Identifying the cause of your injury is essential when you decide to file a spinal cord injury claim, and some common causes include:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are the leading causes of spinal cord injuries.
• Falls. Falls from a height, or even slip-and-fall accidents, can lead to severe spinal damage.
• Sports injuries. High-impact sports like football, skiing, or gymnastics carry a significant risk of sustaining a spinal cord injury.
• Violence. Gunshot wounds, assaults, and other acts of violence can cause severe damage to the spinal cord.
• Medical negligence. Mistakes during surgery or misdiagnoses during medical treatment can also result in a spinal cord injury.

Recognizing the cause of your spinal cord injury is the first step toward protecting your rights and securing the compensation you’re entitled to. At Ainsman Levine, LLC, we work closely with our clients to investigate every aspect of their injury so we can pursue a spinal cord injury claim that fully addresses the immediate and long-term consequences.

Damages You Could Be Entitled To

You could be entitled to significant compensation for your spinal cord injury, and it’s important that your Pittsburgh spinal cord attorney leaves no stone unturned as they investigate all potential avenues of recovery. Depending on the circumstances of the case, you could be entitled to damages for:

• Emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments.
• Long-term care, assistive devices, and home or vehicle modifications to accommodate your new disability.
• Compensation for the income you lost while out of work, and also for the potential future income you lost because of your permanent disability.
• Physical discomfort, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other mental health struggles.
• Damages can also be awarded to family members who experience a major change in their relationship and support system because of your new disability.

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our team is committed to helping clients secure the compensation they deserve by providing guidance throughout every stage of the process.

FAQs

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury in Pennsylvania?

A: In Pennsylvania, the statute that limits action in a personal injury case, including spinal cord injuries, is generally two years from the date that the accident happened. However, there are exceptions to this timeframe, so it’s important that you reach out to the team at Ainsman Levine, LLC, as soon as possible. We can analyze your case and make sure your claim is filed on time. Not filing by the deadline for your specific circumstances means forfeiting your legal right to pursue compensation.

Q: Can I Still File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim if I Was Partly to Blame in the Accident?

A: Yes, you can still file a spinal cord injury claim even if you were partly to blame in the accident. Because Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence system, you can be assigned a percentage of responsibility for your part in the accident and your resulting injury. After our team has negotiated this percentage to minimize it, any compensation you’re rewarded is then reduced by the total percentage that was assigned to you.

Q: How Much Time Will It Take to Settle a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

A: There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the length of time it will take to settle a spinal cord injury case. The duration often depends on factors that are specific to your particular circumstances, like how serious your injury is, how complicated it is to prove who’s liable, and how willing the insurance company is when it comes to negotiations. Some cases could settle in a few months, but others could take years, especially if they need to go into litigation.

Q: What Kinds of Evidence Are Most Important in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

A: The kinds of evidence that are most important in a spinal cord injury case include medical records, imaging scans, accident reports, witness statements, professional testimony, and documentation of your losses. To prove liability, important evidence includes accident reports, witness statements, photographs, and videos of the scene, dashcam footage, surveillance footage, and any evidence associated with defects found in products or equipment for cases where faulty equipment caused the injury.

Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer: The Right Resource to Recover the Money You’re Entitled To

Working together with medical professionals, including neurologists and neuropsychiatrists, we can build a solid case for compensation for you. And working with consulting engineers, we can construct accident scenes to analyze evidence and serve as a strong advocate for you.

When you hire a spinal cord injury lawyer from Ainsman Levine, LLC, you gain experienced and personalized legal services tailored to meet your short and long-term needs and goals. We are Pittsburgh’s straight-talking personal injury lawyers.

Free Consultation — Personal Injury Cases Handled on a Contingency Fee Basis

As a local law firm, our team regularly appears before the Pittsburgh Municipal Court, the Beaver County Courthouse, and the Allegheny County Courthouse, giving us the advantage of understanding the preferences and procedures that can determine the outcome of your case.

Our offices are just off the Parkway, next to the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Contact us online or call us at 412-338-9030 to discuss your questions and concerns during a free consultation with one of our experienced Pittsburgh spinal cord injury lawyers today. As long as this law firm represents you, there are no attorneys’ fees or costs if you do not recover money damages in a settlement or jury verdict.

We understand that your injuries or other circumstances may make it difficult for you to come to our offices in downtown Pittsburgh. Our lawyers can arrange to make home, office, and hospital visits throughout Western and Central Pennsylvania.