A spinal cord injury is a damage to the spinal cord that can lead to loss of function, sensation, or movement below the injury site. In Greensboro, North Carolina, these injuries often result from others’ negligence in various scenarios. For example, car accidents resulting from reckless driving, slip and fall accidents due to poorly maintained property, and workplace accidents from unsafe practices can all lead to severe spinal cord injuries. Negligence in these situations can cause trauma to the spinal cord, affecting a person’s mobility and quality of life.
If you or a person you love recently suffered an accident-related spinal cord injury in Greensboro, North Carolina, the legal team at Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers can swiftly investigate your accident circumstances, go over your legal options, and set you on course to recovering the fair compensation you deserve.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Greensboro spinal cord injury attorney, please call us at (336) 516-9066 or contact us online right away.
Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Guide
- How Much Is My Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
- Common Occurrences that Lead to Spinal Cord Injuries in Greensboro
- Successfully Proving a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case
- Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Greensboro
- Fighting the Insurance Company in a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case
- Steps to Take after Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury in Greensboro
- Call an Experienced Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
Why Choose Us?
Spinal cord injuries can lead to lifelong complications and extensive medical treatment – often at a high cost. If you or someone you care about recently suffered a spinal cord injury due to another person’s or entity’s negligence, the legal team at Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for your rights and maximize the compensation you deserve. Our Greensboro personal injury attorneys have a combined 190-plus years of experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. You can view our most recent case results and client testimonials by clicking on the following links.
Our Greensboro office is conveniently located at 717 Green Valley Road, Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27408.
How Much Is My Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
The value of a spinal cord injury case in Greensboro, North Carolina, depends on several factors, including the severity of your injury, the effects on your life, and the costs associated with your recovery. Spinal cord injuries can be severe, leading to significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Some of the most common types of recoverable compensation in spinal cord injury cases include:
- Medical Expenses – This includes the costs of emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical treatments. For spinal cord injuries, you may need specialized care and assistive devices, which can add up to substantial amounts over time.
- Lost income – If your spinal cord injury keeps you from working, you can claim compensation for the earnings you’ve lost during your recovery period. This also includes future lost earnings if your ability to work becomes permanently impaired.
- Loss of Life Enjoyment – Spinal cord injuries often affect your ability to enjoy activities and hobbies you once loved. Compensation for loss of life enjoyment aims to address these significant changes in your quality of life.
- Pain and Suffering – This type of damage compensates you for the emotional distress and physical pain associated with your spinal cord injury. It can be challenging to quantify, but it is an important part of the total compensation you may receive.
- Punitive Damages – In some cases, if your spinal cord injury resulted from extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing, you may be awarded punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior in the future.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications – If your injury requires modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate your new needs, you can seek compensation for these costs.
- Long-term Care – Spinal cord injuries may require ongoing care or assistance with daily activities. Compensation can cover the costs of hiring caregivers or other long-term care services.
Common Occurrences that Lead to Spinal Cord Injuries in Greensboro
In Greensboro, North Carolina, spinal cord injuries often result from various incidents due to others’ negligence. These injuries can be severe and life-altering. Here are some of the most common occurrences that may lead to spinal cord injuries due to negligence:
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Property owners have a responsibility to maintain safe conditions on their premises. Slippery floors, uneven sidewalks, or poorly lit areas can lead to slip and fall accidents. If these hazards are not addressed, falls can result in serious spinal cord injuries.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – Car crashes are another leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Accidents involving cars, trucks, or motorcycles can cause significant trauma to the spine. Negligent driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence, often contribute to these crashes and the resulting spinal injuries.
- Workplace Accidents – In workplaces with heavy machinery, heights, or dangerous conditions, negligence in safety protocols can lead to spinal cord injuries. Falls from heights, machinery accidents, or improper handling of heavy objects are common causes of such injuries.
- Sports and Recreational Accidents – Sports activities, both professional and recreational, can lead to spinal cord injuries, especially if proper safety measures are not followed or if child athletes are not properly supervised.
- Negligent Handling of Equipment – Improper use or maintenance of equipment, whether in a personal or public setting, can result in spinal cord injuries. This includes faulty machinery in gyms or defective playground equipment.
- Construction Site Accidents – Construction sites can be hazardous environments. Negligence in following safety regulations, such as not securing scaffolding properly or failing to provide the necessary safety gear, can lead to severe injuries, including spinal cord injuries.
Successfully Proving a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case
To successfully prove a spinal cord injury case in Greensboro, North Carolina, you need to establish several key legal elements. These elements help demonstrate that someone else’s negligence caused your injury and that you deserve compensation. Here’s how to prove each element:
- Duty of Care – First, you must show that the responsible party owed you a duty of care. This means that they had a legal obligation to act in a reasonable manner to avoid causing you harm. For instance, drivers must follow traffic laws, property owners must keep their premises safe, and employers must ensure a safe working environment.
- Breach of Duty – Next, you need to prove that the responsible party breached their legal duty of care. A breach occurs when they fail to meet the standard of care expected in that situation. For example, a driver who runs a red light is breaching their duty to follow traffic signals, or a property owner who ignores a hazardous spill is failing to maintain a safe environment.
- Causation – You must also establish that the breach of duty directly caused your spinal cord injury. This involves showing a clear link between the negligent action and your injury. Medical records and expert testimony can demonstrate that your injury was a direct result of the accident or incident that the negligent party caused.
- Damages – Finally, you need to prove that you suffered damages as a direct result of your spinal cord injury. Damages can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and any other losses related to the injury. Documentation such as medical bills, pay stubs, and personal impact statements will support your claim for damages.
Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Greensboro
In Greensboro, North Carolina, spinal cord injuries resulting from others’ negligence can vary widely in type and severity. Here are some of the most frequent categories:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries – These injuries result in a total loss of function below the level of the injury. They can lead to paralysis of both the arms and legs (quadriplegia) or just the legs (paraplegia), depending on the location of the injury on the spinal cord. Complete spinal cord injuries often require long-term medical care and assistive devices.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries – Incomplete injuries mean that some spinal cord functions remain below the injury site. This category includes conditions like central cord syndrome, where the center of the spinal cord is damaged, leading to varying degrees of loss in motor function and sensation, often affecting the arms more than the legs. Other forms include anterior cord syndrome and Brown-Séquard syndrome, each affecting different parts of the spinal cord and resulting in different types of impairments.
- Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia) – This injury affects all four limbs and the torso, resulting from damage to the cervical (neck) region of the spinal cord. It can severely affect daily activities and independence, requiring significant adjustments and long-term care.
- Paraplegia – Resulting from injury to the thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar (lower back) regions of the spinal cord, paraplegia results in paralysis of the lower body. Individuals with paraplegia typically retain function in their upper body and arms but may face challenges with mobility and require modifications to their living environment.
- Cauda Equina Syndrome – This type of injury affects the bundle of nerves at the end of the spinal cord, known as the cauda equina. It can lead to severe issues such as loss of bowel and bladder control, sexual dysfunction, and pain in the lower back and legs. It often requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent permanent damage.
Fighting the Insurance Company in a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Case
Fighting the insurance company in a Greensboro, North Carolina, spinal cord injury case can be challenging, but an experienced lawyer can help you navigate the process effectively. At Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers, here’s how we can fight the insurance company for you:
- Gather Strong Evidence – We will collect the evidence necessary to support your spinal cord injury claim. This includes medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and photographs of the scene. By presenting a thorough and detailed case, we can prove the extent of your injuries and their effect on your daily life.
- Build a Solid Case – We will work to demonstrate that the insurance company’s insured individual or entity was negligent and that their actions directly caused your spinal cord injury. This involves showing that they had a duty of care, that they breached this duty, and that their breach led to your injury and damages.
- Negotiate Effectively – Insurance companies often offer lower settlements to save themselves money. We will negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive a fair settlement that covers your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
- Consult Experts – We may bring in medical experts to explain the severity of your injuries and their long-term effects. Expert testimony can strengthen your case by providing a clear picture of how your injury affects your life and future.
- Handle Paperwork and Deadlines – The insurance claims process involves a lot of paperwork and strict deadlines. We will manage these tasks, ensuring that all forms are filled out correctly and submitted on time, reducing the risk of delays.
- Prepare for Litigation – If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to litigate your case in the North Carolina Court System. We will gather evidence, prepare legal arguments, and represent you in court to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Steps to Take after Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury in Greensboro
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in Greensboro, North Carolina, due to someone else’s negligence, taking the right steps is crucial for pursuing justice and fair compensation. Here’s what you should do:
- Complete Your Medical Treatment – Follow your doctor’s recommendations and finish all prescribed medical treatments. Consistent care is essential for your recovery and also helps document the severity and ongoing effects of your spinal cord injury.
- Gather Documentation – Collect all medical bills, records, and other relevant documents related to your injury. This includes hospital records, therapy notes, and receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses. These documents are vital for proving the extent of your damages and calculating compensation in your case.
- Speak with a knowledgeable Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Attorney. At Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers, we can handle all the claims-filing and litigation processes for you and ensure that all necessary documentation is properly prepared and submitted.
Taking these steps will help build a strong case and focus on your recovery while we work to secure the compensation and justice you deserve.
Call an Experienced Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
At Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers, our legal team can pursue the justice and compensation you deserve for your spinal cord injury, helping you become whole again to the greatest extent possible. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a Greensboro spinal injury lawyer, please call us at (336) 516-9066 or contact us online today.