Have You Injured Your Spine In A Florida Accident?

Spinal cord and vertebrae injuries are some of the most frightening that can happen to a person, because the spinal cord manages so many different functions of the body. However, these injuries can occur out of nowhere, and can cause massive life changes if they do not heal properly of it they are too serious. If you have experienced a spinal cord injury, filing suit against the alleged defendant may be the best way to ensure that your family is taken care of and your medical bills are paid.

Why Do Spinal Injuries Happen?

Spinal cord injuries happen most often as a result of quick, sharp trauma to the area, breaking vertebrae or damaging the spinal cord itself. The most common immediate causes of this kind of trauma are motor vehicle accidents (almost half of all new spinal cord injuries each year are due to car crashes), acts of violence or other crime, athletic accidents, and falls, especially for those over the age of 65. Falls in particular cause a disproportionate amount of spinal injuries, simply because older people tend to be more medically fragile, and they fall more often than younger generations.

Because so much is regulated in the spinal cord, any injury to the area can be life-changing. Long-term effects of spinal injuries can include respiratory problems, pain in one’s limbs (if not a long-term loss of function resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia), loss of sense of smell or taste, and sexual dysfunction, among others – and if you have experienced any of these, you have experienced a demonstrable loss that may be compensable under Florida law.

Filing Suit

If you believe that another person’s negligence was directly responsible for the injuries you have suffered, you can file suit against them for many different kinds of damages. You may seek to have your medical bills paid, but Florida law also allows you to seek redress for emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and other intangible (but very real) harms. It can be confusing to determine what might be applicable in your case, but a dedicated attorney can help you determine how best to proceed.

Keep in mind, however, that if you were injured in a vehicle accident, you may not immediately file suit against a negligent driver unless your injuries are permanent and severe. If your injuries are relatively minor, you will be expected to file a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurer instead – Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means that instead of filing suit in most auto accident cases, most minor crashes will be handled by insurers instead of courts. In other accident cases not involving motor vehicles, however, you should be able to file suit as you might accept.

Contact A Tampa Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered a spinal injury, you need a dedicated attorney on your side to handle the legal aspect of things while you focus on your recovery. The Tampa spine injury attorneys at the Rinaldo Law Group are happy to try and assist you with your case, and to try and get all of your questions about the process answered. Call our offices today for a free consultation.

Resource:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890

https://www.tampainjuryaccidentlaw.com/what-is-florida-premises-liability/