Traumatic injury to the spinal cord alters your life’s trajectory. Beyond the catastrophic physical changes, you’re suddenly faced with hefty medical bills and, for many, a loss of income that affects even your most basic expenses.
At Nadrich & Cohen, we understand the stress and pain that may come with a traumatic injury. As your legal team, our Santa Rosa spinal cord injury lawyers are part of your family. Our 30-plus years in personal injury law securing hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients is now focused on you. Whatever the extent of your injury, we’ll work with you toward a financial resolution.
What Our Santa Rosa Law Firm Does
As your spinal cord injury attorney, our job is to provide legal representation and seek compensation for you and your family to ease your burdens.
Your case requires actions specific to your incident and injury, but in general, our work on your behalf might include these tasks.
Summary of Rights
Our spinal cord injury attorney explains your legal rights to you. Those rights may be particular to your injury and California law. Knowing your legal rights gives you the freedom and confidence to move forward and allows us to protect you from those who may try to subvert your way forward to compensation.
We’ll walk you through the sometimes-confusing legal jargon. Instead, we’ll break down your options in simple language and drill down to necessary and important steps in each phase of the process, ensuring you are always clear on what to expect as we move forward.
Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers
(707) 525-1188
Investigation
Our Santa Rosa law firm will take many steps to help you move toward a legal and financial resolution of your accident. Each action helps us solidify the facts, discover additional information, and spot legal inconsistencies—generally strengthening your case and helping you secure fair compensation. Such steps may include:
- Gathering accident reports from authoritative agencies, such as the police
- Interviewing witnesses and documenting their testimonies
- Reviewing your medical history and injury-specific medical records
- Attending to legal issues associated with the incident causing your injury
- Identifying liable parties
Negotiation
Numerous companies and agencies become involved after a catastrophic event such as a spinal cord injury. At times, it’s necessary to communicate and then negotiate with, most notably, insurance companies.
Our Santa Rosa attorneys will negotiate with the various insurance companies involved and work toward fair and just compensation for your injury that covers not only your primary medical bills but your future care, lost income, and the incredible pain and suffering you’ve experienced.
Representation at Trial
Most injury cases settle without going to trial. However, should your spinal cord injury case require going to trial, our attorneys will prepare for court and represent you.
The Cost of Representation in Santa Rosa
At Nadrich & Cohen, our personal injury lawyers offer a preliminary consultation free of charge. You do not pay for our legal services up front. If we successfully recover compensation for you in a settlement or award, a percentage of that amount will cover our fees.
Statute of Limitations
In California, you have limited time to file a lawsuit for a personal injury. Therefore, you may wish to consult an attorney about the time limit on your case. The amount of time depends on several factors, such as:
- If you intend to file a claim against a government agency, you have just a few months to do so, but a bit more to file a lawsuit under certain circumstances.
- Typically, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are two broad types of spinal cord injuries:
- A complete spinal cord injury means the brain can’t send signals past the point of impact, leaving you paralyzed below the point of injury.
- An incomplete spinal cord injury means the trauma didn’t inflict quite as much damage, leaving you able to feel and move (to a certain degree) below the point of injury.
No matter the extent of your injury, your spinal cord injury attorney will be by your side, working toward compensation that fully addresses the physical and financial pain you suffer.
Average Lifetime Costs of Spinal Cord Injuries
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) provides a range of estimated lifetime costs, depending on your age at the time of injury, what type of work you did prior to your injury, your educational level, and other factors.
The estimated lifetime costs run from $1.2 million to $5.1 million. The costs include medical care and living expenses but do not account for lost income, benefits, or other indirect costs.
As we negotiate on your behalf, we work toward compensation that fully covers your lost income and benefits, medical expenses, and other related and unexpected costs. In addition, we’ll seek financial support that accounts for your current and future pain and suffering.
Side Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Unfortunately, fewer than one percent of spinal cord injury patients experience a complete recovery. Thus, the emotional and mental toll of your injury can be astronomical. Where once you were independent, you may suddenly be dependent. Perhaps you’ve gone from breadwinner to worrying about your family’s day-to-day needs.
The University of Washington says that depression and anxiety are typical side effects of a spinal cord injury. However, besides the emotional upheaval, your body may experience:
- Pressure sores
- Respiratory complications
- Pain
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular problems
- Difficulties with bowel movement
- Urinary tract infections
- Tight or strongly reflexive muscles
When reviewing possible compensation, your attorneys at Nadrich & Cohen look to your primary spinal cord injury. In addition, we look at current and potential future side effects from your initial injury. Your final settlement should include compensation for these side effects to allow you to prepare thoroughly for whatever your future holds.
Contact Your Santa Rosa Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers at Nadrich & Cohen
The spinal cord injury attorneys at Nadrich & Cohen are here to fight for you. We understand the devastation this injury has caused you and your family. We have recovered more than $350 million for our clients since 1990. Our mission is to work with you toward recovering the compensation you and your family need and deserve.
We’re here for you. Contact us today.
