Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating injuries a person can experience. The spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself like the rest of the body, so any damage is permanent. Victims of spinal cord injuries often experience long-term or permanent effects that can drastically change their lives. When an individual suffers a spinal cord injury due to another party’s negligence, he or she should know the available options for legal recourse.

How do I receive compensation after a Spinal Injury?

A lawsuit for a spinal cord injury can be very complicated, with many parties involved. The plaintiff’s attorney will need to contact expert witnesses to weigh in on the case, and there are many types of compensation potentially on the table. If you or a loved one recently suffered a spinal cord injury in New York, a Long Island spinal cord injury attorney at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP can help you determine your best options for recovery.

Why Hire Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP for Your Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP is a leading law firm in the Long Island area. If you’re thinking about hiring a Long Island injury lawyer to represent your spinal injury case, there are a few reasons to consider the legal team at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP:

• Our firm leverages the power of technology for our clients’ benefit. We have access to state-of-the-art software and many more progressive resources to help our clients secure the compensation they need to recover after serious injuries.
• We network with experts in a variety of disciplines all over the country to offer our clients the best representation possible in every case, including medical specialists, private investigators, safety experts, engineers, financial experts, and many more.
• Michael Gluck and Ted Rosenberg have been practicing law in New York since the early 1980s and put this incredible amount of experience at the disposal of every new client.
• Our firm believes in aggressive representation for every client in every case, meaning we explore every available avenue of compensation for each client and stay informed on the latest changes to relevant laws that may impact our clients’ cases.
• We offer free consultations to potential clients. A consultation with one of our attorneys is a great way for an injured person to understand his or her options for recovery. A lawsuit is only one possible option, and some cases may offer multiple channels of recovery.

A spinal cord injury is not only devastating, but it can also be incredibly expensive in many ways. Anyone who experiences such an injury needs to be able to maximize recovery, and have reliable and experienced legal counsel to navigate the complex legal system. Call (631) 451-7900 today to schedule a free consultation.

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries on Long Island

There are several types of potential compensation available in a spinal cord injury case. The damages a plaintiff could secure in a successful lawsuit typically fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.

What Types Of Losses Can You Recover Compensation For After A Spinal Cord Injury In Long Island?

1. Medical expenses
2. Lost income
3. Property damage

Economic damages are fairly straightforward – any compensation a plaintiff receives for his or her financial losses resulting from a defendant’s negligence. Economic damages in a spinal cord injury case can include:

• Medical expenses. A plaintiff can claim compensation for all his or her medical expenses resulting from the defendant’s negligence. A spinal injury will likely require immediate emergency medical care which can incur significant hospital bills, emergency transportation, and intensive care. Such an injury will also require rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other long-term medical treatments.
• Lost income. When an injury prevents a victim from working for an extended time, he or she can claim compensation for the wages lost in that time. A spinal cord injury has a very high chance of resulting in permanent injury, so a victim may be unable to return to his or her previous job or work at all in the future. In such a case, the plaintiff’s Long Island spinal cord injury attorney will likely call on an expert witness with a financial background to help the court understand the full scope of the plaintiff’s lost future income and claim those lost earnings as compensation.
• Property damage. If a defendant’s negligence also resulted in any damage to the plaintiff’s personal property, such as a home or vehicle, the plaintiff can claim the costs of repairing or replacing that property as damages in the lawsuit.

The economic damages in a spinal cord injury case can be significant, and the amount of economic damages a plaintiff claims may influence his or her non-economic damages. The justice system typically defines “non-economic” damages as things like physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological suffering resulting from an injury. A spinal cord injury is not just physically severe, it can also cause a host of social and psychological problems for the rest of a victim’s life.

Different courts use different systems for awarding pain and suffering damages. In some cases, the jury will find it appropriate to award the plaintiff a lump sum based on his or her medical expenses. For example, an extreme spinal cord injury leads to a lawsuit in which the plaintiff claims $50,000 in medical expenses for treating his spinal injury, which entailed a great deal of pain during the initial incident and immediate recovery. The jury multiplies this number by five to reflect the severity of the injury, resulting in $250,000 in pain and suffering damages. In other cases, a jury may elect to use a “per diem” system that compensates a plaintiff for each day he or she spends in recovery after an injury. To learn more about the specific damages available in your case, consult a knowledgeable Long Island spinal cord injury lawyer.

Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injuries in New York

New York’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims resulting from negligence or intentional torts is three years. This time limit begins on the date an injury occurs, but it some cases it may begin later. For example, if a plaintiff suffered a spinal cord injury but did not experience immediate symptoms, he or she could start noticing neurological symptoms after a few weeks. In these situations, the statute of limitations begins on the date the plaintiff discovers the effects of the defendant’s negligence.

When spinal cord injuries happen in car accidents, victims may wonder if the state’s no-fault law for car accidents could impede their ability to sue. This law does not prevent victims from suing for catastrophic injuries that result in exorbitant damages, and most spinal cord injuries will likely qualify for legal action. If you are unsure whether your damages after a car accident qualify you to take legal action, a skilled Long Island spinal cord injury attorney can review the details of your situation and let you know your options.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Medical professionals diagnose spinal cord injuries based on two main factors: the location of the injury on the spine and the completeness of the injury. An injury higher on the spine will affect more of the rest of the body while a wound lower on the spine would affect less. For example, an injury to the lower lumbar region of the spine may affect the victim’s ability to walk and control bowel functions while a wound closer to the base of the skull could result in total paralysis.

An “incomplete” spinal cord injury is one in which the injury does not completely sever the spinal cord. The victim may still retain some function and sensation in the affected areas. A “complete” injury totally severs the spinal cord, preventing the brain from sending signals to the nerves below the injury site.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

The National Spinal Cord Injuries Association (NSCIA) reports that:

• 250,000 – 400,000 individuals in the United States have spinal cord injuries
• Approximately 11,000 people sustain new spinal cord injuries each year
• 60 percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries are 30 years old or younger
• The majority of people who sustain spinal cord injuries are men

According to NSCIA statistics, most spinal cord injuries are a result of car accidents, sports accidents, falls, and industrial mishaps.

Victims of spinal cord injuries suffer dramatic life-changing effects not only physically, but also emotionally and socially. While certain degrees of recovery are possible in some cases, a serious spinal cord injury often results in paralysis. Medical costs can be astronomical for therapy, which may be required for a lifetime, as well as medical treatment and rehabilitation. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by the negligence of another, retaining a Long Islan spinal cord injury attorney is essential to recover compensation to cover the harm you suffered.

Spinal Cord Injury Resources

National Spinal Cord Injury Association is devoted to maximizing the quality of life and opportunities for people with spinal cord injuries.

Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center helps to explain basic anatomy, physiology, and the complications resulting from a spinal cord injury.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) promotes the health and well-being of people living with paralysis and their families by providing comprehensive information resources and referral services.

Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP | Local Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

At the law firm of Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, our personal injury attorneys have decades of experience assisting accident victims with spinal cord injuries. When you seek our help, we carefully evaluate the circumstances surrounding the cause of your injury. A critical part of your case preparation includes complex calculations to determine the costs you will face for current and future medical and assistive care and rehabilitation. When you have sustained a spinal cord injury, expenses you face typically include structural changes in your home and provisions for transportation to accommodate a wheelchair and other equipment. As your Long Island spinal cord injury attorneys, we ensure that all damages and expenses are included in the final cost projections for long-term care.

Our lawyers not only have the knowledge and experience to recover damages, but we also have an extensive network of doctors to assist our injured clients. We are dedicated to helping our clients get the treatment they need and encourage them to seek methods to stabilize their spinal cord injuries, explore rehabilitation and look for state-of-the-art cures. If you are a spinal cord injury victim, arrange a free initial consultation with an attorney at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP and learn how we can help. Call our office today at (631) 451-7900 or contact us online.