Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

Complete spinal cord injuries may be life-changing, not only physically but also emotionally and financially. As earning potentials decrease and medical costs mount, victims of devastating accidents often feel helpless, especially if the harm was due to someone else’s negligent act. The Miami attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can assist victims of spinal cord injuries in pursuing the compensation to which they may be entitled from any responsible parties. Our firm is dedicated to helping our clients focus on their adjustment to a new way of life without shouldering an additional financial burden.

Spinal cord injuries are divided into two kinds. People who suffer an incomplete spinal cord injury maintain some functionality below the point of impact. Those who sustain a complete spinal cord injury are left with no sensation or functionality in the area affected. Complete spinal cord injuries often are further divided into two types: quadriplegia, which is a complete upper spinal cord injury whereby a victim loses the functionality of his or her torso and limbs, and paraplegia, which is a complete lower spinal cord injury affecting the victim from the waist down. These severe injuries can be caused by a variety of situations involving the negligence of another party. Motorcycle accidents, as well as car or truck crashes, pedestrian accidents, and even a serious slip and fall, may all lead to a complete spinal cord injury.

Victims who sustain complete spinal cord injuries due to another person’s negligence can potentially recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit. The victim, or plaintiff, must prove negligence by showing:

• The defendant owed him or her a duty of reasonable care;
• That duty was breached;
• The breach was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries; and
• Damages resulted.

When people are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, for example, they owe others around them a duty of care to act as a reasonable and prudent person would behave under similar circumstances. A driver who is under the influence of alcohol, distracted by a mobile device behind the wheel, or engaging in another type of careless behavior may be held liable for an accident that occurs as a result.

In Florida, personal injury lawsuits must be filed within four years of the date of an accident. Once liability is established, a victim may recover damages in the form of past and future medical costs, lost income, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

If you have suffered harm to your spinal cord caused by a careless individual in the Miami area, the experienced injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you protect your legal rights. Whether you are a victim of a drunk driving accident, an incident of medical malpractice, or a slip and fall, our firm can zealously advocate on your behalf and try to make sure that those responsible are held liable. We also handle cases in Miami and other cities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.