A spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating injuries a person can experience, especially if it results in full or partial paralysis. SCI victims often face a lifetime of specialized care and physical therapy, resulting in high medical bills and extensive pain and suffering.
If you suffered an SCI because of someone else’s negligence, our Prattville catastrophic injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and the physical and emotional harm resulting from your injury. Contact the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown today to connect with our spinal cord injury lawyer in Prattville, AL. We have 30+ years of experience and offer free initial consultations for injury victims and their families.
Our Law Firm Can Help You Recover From a Negligence-Based Spinal Cord Injury in Prattville, AL
Your spinal cord is the primary means of communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Any damage to this crucial bundle of nerves can result in temporary or permanent loss of feeling or function in various areas of your body. Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Construction accidents
- On-the-job accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
Many of these types of accidents are rooted in negligence. If someone else caused your SCI, you may deserve compensation, and an injury lawyer from the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown can help you claim that compensation while you focus on resting and recovering.
Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim Deserves Personalized Legal Attention and Care
At the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown, we know you are going through an incredibly challenging experience right now. Our personal injury lawyer in Prattville, AL, and the rest of our legal team want to help you recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
Attorney Dwayne Brown has recovered over $100 million on behalf of our clients and is a member of Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, among other prestigious organizations. When you hire our personal injury law firm, you can expect us to:
- Always put your needs first
- Provide frequent updates on your case
- Answer your questions promptly
- Address all your needs and concerns
- Check in on your recovery regularly
- Provide you with a list of trusted doctors, specialists, or mental health professionals near you to treat your injuries
- Educate you about the legal process and help you make smart decisions
- Handle all the hard work for you, including filing your claim or lawsuit, negotiating with the liable party’s insurance company for a fair settlement, and taking your case to trial if necessary
To learn more about how our spinal cord injury attorney in Prattville can help you, please contact the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown today for a free consultation.
What Compensation Can You Recover for a Spinal Cord Injury Accident?
The amount of compensation you will receive depends on the unique losses you have experienced and will continue to experience because of the accident and your injuries. However, in general, SCI victims qualify to recover the following losses in a personal injury claim:
- Current and future medical bills, including ambulance transportation, emergency room care, diagnostic tests, medications, surgeries, rehabilitation, medical devices, and ongoing care
- Current lost wages, as well as lost future earning capacity if you cannot return to work
- Home modifications to maintain your mobility after suffering paralysis, such as wheelchair ramps, wider doorways, etc.
- The purchase of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, if applicable
- Pain and suffering and all other non-economic harm you have suffered and will suffer because of the accident and your injuries
Your Prattville SCI attorney will ensure your settlement request accounts for all your financial and non-financial losses, fighting for maximum compensation on your behalf.
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The Importance of Seeking Medical Care After an SCI Accident
According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 18,000 traumatic SCI cases occur each year in the United States. Spinal cord injuries can be either complete (resulting in loss of all feeling and function below the injury site) or incomplete (resulting in partial loss of feeling and function below the injury site), and the severity of the injury will vary depending on the specific location of the damage.
You should seek immediate medical treatment if you experience any of the following SCI symptoms after an accident:
- Extreme pain or pressure in your back, neck, or head
- Weakness, loss of coordination, or lack of balance
- Numbness or tingling
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty breathing
Calling 911 to get emergency medical help immediately after an SCI may improve the victim’s chances of recovery and decrease the risk of complications or secondary injuries. It can also protect their potential future personal injury claim by creating a paper trail connecting their injuries to the accident.
Other Important Steps to Take After Suffering an SCI
While seeking medical care is the most important thing to do after an accident, we also recommend that you:
- Report the accident to applicable authorities (such as the police for a car accident, a store manager for a slip and fall, or your employer for a work-related accident) and request a copy of any resulting accident report
- If possible, ask someone else to take photos of the accident scene and any dangerous conditions that caused it on your cell phone
- Ask eyewitnesses for their contact information so your Prattville SCI lawyer can interview them later
- Keep copies of all your medical bills and records
- Avoid speaking to the at-fault party’s insurance company before meeting with a lawyer
- Don’t post on social media about the accident or your SCI
- Contact a personal injury law firm for a free case review as soon as possible
According to AL Code § 6-2-38, victims generally only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Alabama, so it’s important to get started on your claim quickly.
Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Prattville, AL, Can Start Working on Your Claim Today
We want to learn how your accident and spinal cord injury have affected your life and explain how we can help. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t have to pay anything upfront or out of pocket to hire our spinal cord injury attorney in Prattville, AL.
Contact our legal team at the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown today for your free consultation. We are available 24/7 to take your call.
Prattville Spinal Cord Injury FAQs
Can I still recover damages if my spinal cord injury was an aggravation of a pre-existing back condition?
Yes. Under Alabama’s “Eggshell Skull” rule, a negligent party is responsible for the full extent of your injuries, even if they aggravated a pre-existing condition. An injury lawyer from the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown can help prove the accident worsened your health and secure compensation in Prattville.
What is the average “multiplier” used for pain and suffering in Alabama spinal cord injury settlements?
In Alabama, there is no fixed multiplier. While minor cases often use a 1.5x to 5x multiplier, spinal cord injuries are unique. An injury lawyer from the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown evaluates your specific life changes to pursue maximum compensation for your pain and suffering in Prattville.
Can my spouse file a “loss of consortium” claim in Alabama for the impact my injury has had on our marriage?
Yes. In Alabama, your spouse can file a loss of consortium claim to recover for the loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy caused by your injury. An injury lawyer from the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown can help document these profound marital impacts to pursue a fair settlement in Prattville.
Will my spinal cord injury settlement be taxed by the IRS or the State of Alabama?
In general, the IRS and the State of Alabama do not tax settlements for physical injuries like spinal cord damage. This includes compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. However, punitive damages and interest are taxable
