If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury (SCI), you could pursue a personal injury lawsuit to reimburse you for medical bills as well as your pain and suffering and economic damages. Compensation could include repayment of money you already paid as well as your projected future expenses.
What Is the Criteria for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?
New York law entitles you to bring a claim for all damages caused by the negligence of another. In your legal claim, you generally must demonstrate with evidence that someone’s negligent action caused your harm.
In spinal cord cases, that could include accidents related to:
- Construction sites
- Workplaces
- Motor vehicles
- Bicycles
- Pedestrians
- Slip and falls
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
Regardless of the circumstances of your accident, if your injuries can be tied to negligence, our spinal cord injury lawyers can fight for you to receive compensation for each and every type of physical, emotional, and financial damage you sustained and will sustain in the future.
Who Can Be Liable for Bills?
At Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP, we are focused on obtaining the best possible recovery for your spinal cord case. Part of that effort is identifying who can help pay your medical expenses.
Depending on the accident you suffered, we could pursue:
- Construction companies
- Drivers
- Trucking companies
- Rideshares
- Independent contractors
- Government entities
- Product manufacturers
- Product designers
- Healthcare professionals
Because SCIs can be so expensive, we explore all possible options to pay for medical bills following a spinal cord injury, including holding more than one party responsible. For instance, a trucking company can be held liable for their employee’s actions, and manufacturers can be held responsible if faulty vehicle parts played a role. We pursue all avenues for damages.
What Do I Need to Know About Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits?
Lawsuits can be time-consuming, and serious or catastrophic injury cases generally take many years to resolve. If you believe that your injuries resulted from the negligence of another, speak to an experienced lawyer immediately.
There are deadlines that limit the time you have to bring a claim. That time limit is called the statute of limitations. In New York, you generally have three years from the date of the incident under CVP § 214 to file a claim. In some circumstances, however, as in cases against municipalities such as The City of New York, your time is even shorter.
Your medical care following a spinal cord injury can be catastrophic. Our lawyers will fight for you to ensure that you recover maximum compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to your care.
Some of the most common medical costs associated with a spinal cord injury include:
- Emergency care
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Prescriptions
- Rehabilitation
- Equipment
- Home modifications
- At-home care
Just experiencing this treatment is traumatic enough. Leave the “how” of payment to us while you recover.
Future Costs are Included
You can receive help paying for future medical bills after a spinal cord injury. The NSCISC reports that lifetime costs range from $1.2 to $5.1 million.
We work together with your doctors and medical experts to pinpoint your lifetime costs. Your lawyer will account for:
- Prescriptions
- Follow-ups
- Re-hospitalizations
- Illnesses
- At-home care
- Replacement equipment
Wheelchairs eventually need replacing. A new house may need modifications. In a given year, about 30 percent of people with SCI are hospitalized once or more, usually for diseases. These are all long-term expenses eligible for compensation.
You Can Get Financial Support for Your Psychological Pain from Your Injury
Sustaining this injury takes its toll emotionally and psychologically. Getting support for depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief are part of your health. Therefore, mental health care is a healthcare expense.
These medical bills can be paid by a settlement or lawsuit verdict, including for:
- Cognitive therapy
- Social work or counseling
- EMDR therapy
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medication
- Alternative therapies
Moreover, you may also be entitled to recover substantial compensation for your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish.
