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Whether you’ve been in a fall, a car accident, or another accident, injuring your spinal cord can have devastating consequences for your life. Recovery can be a long-term process, and medical expenses can quickly pile up during treatment. Spinal cord injuries can feel incredibly isolating but know you don’t have to deal with it alone. If you want to pursue compensation for your losses, a Grand Rapids spinal cord injury lawyer can help.
Recovering compensation for your injuries and related expenses can be a complex process. One of our Grand Rapids catastrophic injury lawyers at Christensen Law can help. We’ll negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, build a strong case, offer guidance on any settlement offers you receive, any your questions and concerns along the way, and represent you at trial if needed. Call now for a free consultation.
What Losses Can You Recover After a Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury
After a spinal cord injury, you may have surgeries to help stabilize the injury, you may then also need physical and occupational therapy to regain mobility, or you may need assistive devices to do so. This type of injury may mean months off of work if you are able to return to work at all. It can also mean depression and anxiety as you face a significant change to the way you live your life. All of these are part of the considerable cost of your injury.
When looking at what losses should be recovered for full and fair compensation, our Grand Rapids spinal cord injury lawyers examine more than just your medical expenses. Our lawyers have secured record-setting outcomes in injury cases, because we know that injury victims deserve compensation for all that they have suffered.
Recoverable losses are usually divided into two categories.
Economic Losses
These are losses with a set financial price and include:
- Medical Expenses: Medical bills from emergency room visits, follow-up appointments with your primary care doctor or medical specialists, diagnostic testing such as MRIs, mobility and other assistive devices, prescriptions for pain management and symptom treatment, physical and occupational therapy costs, surgeries, and more.
- Lost Wages: Recovery from spinal cord injuries can be extensive, and it’s likely you will miss extended periods of work.
- Diminished Earning Potential: Loss of mobility after a spinal cord injury may mean that you are no longer able to perform necessary functions of your job and may have to leave the workforce.
Non-Economic Losses
These are losses that may not have a set financial price but can still be recovered with compensation. These include:
- Pain and Suffering: In addition to your physical pain, this loss includes emotional distress and anguish, like depression, anxiety, or loss of enjoyment after your accident.
- Diminished Quality of Life: You may be unable to take part in hobbies, or other acts of daily life, that you once enjoyed.
- Loss of Consortium: Your injuries can hurt your relationship with your spouse, as you may not be able to provide the same level of companionship, affection, and intimacy.
Why Choose Our Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers for Your Case?
Our lawyers take the time to listen to your story and fully understand your needs. We put those needs front and center, with a focus on individualized attention to your case. You can rest assured that we will pursue the full and fair compensation that you are entitled to.
The words of our clients speak to our compassionate approach to legal representation:
- “The team at Christensen Law is very prompt, professional, but most of all kind and caring.” –Andrew O.
- “Best law firm in town.” –Kristin B.
- “I would recommend Christensen Law company to anyone looking for an attorney.” –Patricia H.
- “Christensen Law Firm is so professional and experienced! Their entire staff and all of the attorneys are amazing at what they do. They put their clients first and are always there when you’re in need.” –Ime I.
Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Build Strong Cases to Prove Liability
In order to recover compensation for your losses, your lawyer will need to prove that someone else’s negligence was the cause of your injury. Examples of negligence include acts such as a driver who disobeyed traffic laws resulting in a crash, a business that left a spill on the floor that caused a fall, or the at-fault driver operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Depending on the type of incident that led to your spinal cord injury, there are several forms of evidence we can review to determine liability. For example, car accidents may include analysis of a crash scene while a fall may include viewing a business’ surveillance footage.
Below are some resources and types of evidence that our catastrophic injury lawyers may use to build a strong case for your claim:
- Police Reports or Incident Reports: After an accident, a police officer will fill out a report containing their narrative opinion of what happened, descriptions of any injuries or damage, descriptions of evidence gathered, witness contact information and statements, and more. If your injury was the result of slipping inside a business, there may also be an incident report detailing what happened, as well as the date and time. These are reports typically written by a manager or supervisor immediately following the incident.
- Video Footage: Surveillance footage from things like traffic or dash cams or business security cameras can often provide a clear and unbiased view of what happened during the course of the accident.
- Eyewitnesses: Those who are not directly involved in your accident may be able to offer impartial accounts, which can be beneficial when trying to prove that someone was negligent.
- Experts: Whether explaining how an accident was likely to have happened or how injuries can show the severity of a crash, expert witnesses such as an accident reconstructionist or a medical professional may be able to offer clear explanations to help support your claim.
Evidence is essential to any personal injury claim. Our Grand Rapids lawyers use these and other forms of evidence to show that the other party acted negligently in some way, and that these actions directly led to your spinal cord injuries and other losses.
How Michigan’s Laws Affect Your Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury Case
The state you’re in often has a large affect on how you can recover compensation for injuries. In Michigan, there are a few important laws to pay attention to.
Michigan’s No Fault Insurance Laws
If your injury was the result of a motor vehicle accident, such as a car accident or motorcycle accident, or if you were hit by a motor vehicle as a pedestrian, then this law will likely apply to your claim. Under Michigan law, to operate a motor vehicle you must purchase No-Fault insurance. This insurance covers medical expenses if you are in an accident, no matter who was at fault for the crash. The no-fault insurance policy includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP).
PIP pays “all reasonably necessary medical expenses” as well as up to 85% of lost wages for a maximum of three years. However, PIP may not cover the full extent of your medical costs or lost income, especially if you have a catastrophic injury like a spinal cord injury. In these cases, taking action against the at-fault party can help you recover full compensation for these losses.
Michigan’s Statute of Limitations
Under Michigan’s statute of limitations you typically have three years, from the date of the injury to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Our lawyers will ensure that your paperwork is filed correctly and within this time frame.
If the worst has happened and a loved one has died due to their spinal cord injuries, you also have three years to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party. If this has happened, one of our Grand Rapids wrongful death attorneys can help.
Helpful Resources After a Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury
While our Grand Rapids spinal cord injury lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for your losses, your road to recovery may be a long one. Both Michigan, and the U.S. more broadly, have some helpful resources for those who are disabled or who have become disabled after an injury.
Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS)
This statewide network of vocal rehabilitation professionals provides rehabilitative services and therapies to individuals with disabilities. Their goal is to help people with disabilities be able to enter (or reenter) the workforce.
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program which provides monthly payments for people who are unable to work, or limited in how they can work, due to a disability. People with a qualifying disability and limited income may also be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which pays monthly benefits.
Contact Our Grand Rapids Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers for Help With Your Case
At Christensen Law, our Grand Rapids spinal cord injury lawyers work to secure your future, so that you can focus on recovering rather than worrying about paying bills. We will be there for you every step of the way, from communicating with insurance companies to filing your paperwork and ensuring that your voice is heard.
Since 1991, we have advocated for injury victims to get the compensation that they deserve. Every new client receives a free case evaluation, so there’s no risk to you involved. Contact us today to set up your case review.
