Orange County Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Experienced California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries are profound traumas that can irrevocably alter a person’s life, resulting in lasting effects on strength, sensation, and mobility. When these injuries are caused, even partially, by the negligence of others or when insurance companies fail to provide sufficient compensation for your losses, Neale & Fhima’s spinal cord injury attorneys will hold them accountable. We ensure that responsible parties fulfill their obligations for your financial recovery and long-term health.

Spinal cord injuries are more common than people think. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, as many as 450,000 people in the United States have spinal cord injuries (SCI).

Car and motorcycle accidents are common causes, resulting in long-lasting and devastating impacts on the spinal cord, including paralysis and neurological difficulties such as depression and anxiety. Victims may face mobility challenges, respiratory issues, and nervous system problems. Seeking legal advice is crucial to protect your rights.

If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury, seeking legal advice from a spinal cord injury lawyer is vital. At Neale & Fhima, our experienced attorneys have a record of recovering over $50 million in rightful compensation for spinal cord injury victims in Orange County and Southern California.

Why Choose Us?

Spinal cord injuries are severe and result in intense damage. Seeking compensation for these injuries can be complex, making hiring a personal injury attorney beneficial.

Neale & Fhima, experienced spinal cord injury lawyers, have a proven track record of success, representing numerous clients in personal injury cases. Our satisfied clients can attest to the quality of our legal services. With over 40 years of combined experience, our Orange County spinal injury lawyers serve clients throughout Southern California.

Here is how we will help you;

• Explain your legal rights and your options for compensation
• Gather evidence
• Review police reports
• Interview witnesses
• Conduct an accident scene investigation
• Use medical tests and treatment plans to prove your injuries
• Hire expert witnesses, if needed
• Construct a powerful and convincing lawsuit and file all motions and documents with the court
• Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies on your behalf
• Argue your case in front of a judge and jury, if required.

What Compensation Is Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in California?

If you are injured in a California scooter rental accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages.  These include:

Economic

• Medical and hospital bills
• Lost wages
• Cost of future medical care and rehabilitation
• Loss of future earnings potential
• Property damage
• Wrongful death

Non-Economic

• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• PTSD and emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

In some cases, where a defendant’s disregard for the safety of others is particularly egregious, a judge can also award punitive damages designed to punish the defendant and send a warning to other would-be offenders.

How a Spinal Injury Lawyer in Orange County, CA, Proves Negligence

Negligence claims must prove four elements.  These are:

• Duty
• Breach
• Causation
• Damages/Harm

What this means is that your attorney must show that the defendant

1. Owed you a duty of care,
2. breached that duty,
3. caused you harm, and
4. the harm you suffered can be measured and compensated by awarding damages.

Statute Of Limitations For Filing A Spinal Cord Injury Claim In Orange County

In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including spinal cord injuries, is two years from the day of the injury. If the injury is discovered later, the deadline is one year from the date of discovery. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the person’s death, which may occur weeks or months after the injury. Filing your claim before the deadline is crucial to avoid a judge’s dismissal and to secure financial damages.

Spinal Cord Injuries from Traumatic Accidents

The spinal cord is fragile and not designed to withstand the extreme forces of traumatic accidents. These injuries can be categorized as either “complete” or “incomplete.” Complete injuries result in total loss of sensation and mobility below the injury level, equally affecting both sides of the body. Incomplete injuries are less severe, with some retained functionality below the injury level but still requiring significant adjustments. Neale & Fhima offers legal representation for spinal injury victims affected by various traumatic incidents such as:

• Vehicle collisions
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slips and falls
• Sports injuries
• Trampoline and other recreational accidents
• Train accidents
• Boating accidents
• Dog attacks
• Violent assaults.

Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Orange County

Spinal cord injuries are devastating and can greatly impact your quality of life. You shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone, especially if someone else’s negligence caused the injury. To protect your rights, contact Neale & Fhima spinal cord injury lawyer. We will fight for the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers will be your strongest advocates, working tirelessly to secure financial damages. For more information about our legal services, contact us at 888-568-6983 for a free initial consultation.

Spinal Cord Injury FAQs

What if my loved one died after a spinal cord injury accident?

If your loved one died in a spinal cord injury accident, their estate could file a wrongful death claim.  Doing so can entitle survivors to recover economic and non-economic damages and funeral and burial expenses.

Can my spouse sue for loss of companionship if I’m injured?

Yes, in some cases, a spouse can sue for “loss of consortium” if your spinal cord injury prevents you from engaging in everyday spousal activities such as going places together, helping with tasks around the house, raising children, and enjoying sexual relations.  If successful, your spouse would be awarded damages of their own.

What are common secondary health complications after a spinal cord injury?

Depression is common in the spinal cord injury population, affecting up to 37% of injured people.  Chronic pain, a negative secondary effect of spinal cord injuries, significantly reduces the quality of life.  Pressure injuries are secondary health complications that occur when underlying tissue is damaged due to loss of blood flow, eventually breaching the skin.  Up to 80% of spinal cord injury victims will have a pressure sore during their lifetime, and many will have multiple sores.

Do people with spinal cord injuries have lower life expectancies?

Unfortunately, yes.  People who experience traumatic spinal cord injuries tend to have significantly reduced life expectancies. For example, a 40-year-old who has low tetraplegia (inability to move upper and lower parts of the body) at the time of injury is expected to live another 24 years after the first year of injury. If that person did not have a spinal cord injury, their life expectancy would be another 41 years.  The top causes of death for patients surviving a spinal cord injury are pneumonia and septicemia (blood poisoning).