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Catastrophic injuries can have devastating effects on you and your loved ones. With a spinal cord injury, it may mean that you are forced to leave the workforce or may need daily care for the rest of your life. A Sterling Heights spinal cord injury lawyer can help you recover financial compensation for your injury.
If your injury was the result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Our Sterling Heights catastrophic injury lawyers at Christensen Law will take on your case, so that you can focus on recovering and spending time with your family. Contact us today for a free case review.
Recovering Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Sterling Heights
Depending on the severity of your spinal cord injury, as well as the location on the spine where the injury occurred, you may experience a wide range of life-changing symptoms. Some spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can result in a loss of hand movement, while others may mean the patient cannot breathe on their own without medical devices.
You may be faced with years of recovery or symptom control including surgeries and physical therapy. These costs, especially when combined with loss of your income, can quickly become overwhelming. Our Sterling Heights spinal cord injury attorneys will go through your losses, both current and expected in the future, to fight for you to receive the maximum compensation that you are eligible for.
Recoverable compensation for spinal cord injuries may include:
- Medical Expenses: You may need compensation to address the costs of emergency room visits, surgeries or planned surgeries, physical or rehabilitative therapy, medications for pain management and symptom relief, and more. We make sure to address long-term medical needs, not just short-term ones.
- Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Potential: Whether you need to miss an extended period of work or you are no longer able to work, your lost income is typically a recoverable loss.
- Non-Economic Damages: These losses include physical pain stemming from your injuries, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, and more.
Our Sterling Heights Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Will Fight for You
At Christensen Law, we believe that every client deserves dedication and commitment. We will listen to your story to create a personalized case plan that fits your needs. Since 1991, we’ve advocated for injury victims throughout the state. In this time, we’ve secured record-setting outcomes for our clients.
Our compassion for injury victims is evident through our past clients’ words:
- “At Christensen law your treated like family, they stayed in contact every step of the way after my auto accident and they demand results.” —Willie F.
- “The team at Christensen Law is very prompt, professional, but most of all kind and caring. If you have been in an auto accident make sure you reach out to them for any questions you may have!” —Andrew O.
- “Christensen Law was very professional, helpful and compassionate to work with.” —Danelle V.
When we take you on as a client, we can:
- Answer any questions you have and keep you updated on your case
- File paperwork correctly and completely
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Gather evidence that builds support for your claim
- Guide you through any settlement offers
- Represent you in court, if needed
We treat every case as if it will go to trial, and we’re determined to get you fair compensation.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur in a variety of situations. Some of the more common causes include:
Spinal cord injuries may also be worsened if not treated properly following an accident. For example, swelling and inflammation around the injury area can lead to further damage when not treated promptly. After an accident where your spine is damaged, you may require immediate surgeries to stabilize your spine.
How Our Sterling Heights Lawyers Build Your Case
Every case begins with listening to our clients. Understanding how your injury occurred is essential when pursuing a personal injury claim.
We take detailed notes and ask questions to ensure that we understand the full picture of what happened. In spinal cord injury cases, we will need to prove that your injury was caused because someone else was negligent.
Potential Causes of Your Injuries
There are many scenarios caused by negligence that can result in spinal injuries. For example:
- A drunken driver hit you while you were crossing the street
- You slipped and fell in a store because the floor was wet, and no caution sign was visible
- You were in a car accident where the other driver was speeding
- You were involved in a motorcycle accident due to hazardous road conditions
Evidence That Helps Support Your Claim for Damages
There are many types of evidence that may help us build a case, including:
- Video Footage: Such as from security cameras in businesses, cellphone footage from bystanders, traffic cameras on streets, or dash cams in cars.
- Witness Statements: Eyewitness accounts of what happened may provide unbiased perspectives.
- Expert Testimony: In some cases, expert witnesses can help explain what most likely happened in an accident. These witnesses can include medical professionals, highway and safety standards experts, and accident reconstructionists.
- Police or Incident Reports: Depending on the nature of your accident, an authority may have filled out a report with information such as witness contact information and statements, descriptions of evidence and your injuries, and more. For example, police will fill out a crash report after a car accident and a store manager will fill out an incident report after an accident on their premises.
If you could not gather any evidence, don’t worry. A Sterling Heights spinal cord attorney will conduct their own investigation.
How Do Michigan Laws Affect Your Spinal Cord Injury Case in Sterling Heights?
Understanding local and state laws is essential to any case. In Michigan, there are a few laws which may affect your personal injury case.
The Statute of Limitations Determines How Long You Have to File a Suit
Under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805, you typically have three years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. This timeframe generally begins on the date of your accident.
One of our Sterling Heights catastrophic injury attorneys will ensure that your spinal cord injury case is filed within any applicable legal deadlines.
Negligence Laws Allow Victims to Seek Damages if They Are Partially At-Fault
Under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2959, if an injury victim is partially at-fault for their injury their amount of recoverable damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault. However, if the victim is considered more than 50 percent responsible, this can prevent them from getting non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Don’t assume you have a high percentage of fault—let team assess your case today.
No-Fault Laws Are Important for Auto Cases
If your injury was the result of an accident involving a car, then Michigan’s No-Fault laws will likely apply. Under these laws, drivers must carry the minimum insurance requirements, which includes a personal injury protection (PIP) policy. You may be covered by your own PIP, or the PIP of another driver in your home.
However, PIP has limits of what (and how much) it will cover. You may even have limited options if you have no PIP coverage at all. Our attorneys can help you figure out if you can pursue additional damages and help navigate complex insurance processes.
What Should You Do After a Spinal Cord Injury in Sterling Heights?
No matter the type of accident, if you believe that you have a spinal cord injury, you should seek emergency medical care. Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic, and delaying treatment may result in paralysis or other life-changing symptoms.
Additionally, contact police or other authorities. For some cases, police officers from the Sterling Heights Police Department can secure a scene and help ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will also write a narrative report of the accident scene and gather evidence that may be helpful for your personal injury claim.
Following your accident, you should also avoid doing the following:
- Taking blame for the accident
- Posting about the accident on social media
- Confronting other involved parties
If you are not sure what you should do next, our Sterling Heights SCI lawyers are here to guide you.
We Believe in Affordable Injury Representation for Our Clients
When dealing with a spinal cord injury, you are likely facing substantial financial concerns. At Christensen Law, we believe that affording a lawyer shouldn’t be one of those concerns.
We take your case on a contingency-fee basis. This means that there are no up-front costs to you. Instead, your personal injury attorney’s fees are taken as a portion of the settlement that you receive. If we don’t recover compensation, then you will owe us nothing.
Contact One of Our Sterling Heights Lawyers Today
After a spinal cord injury, your focus should be on recovering and spending time with your loved ones. It shouldn’t be on navigating the complex legal processes of pursuing compensation. At Christensen Law, we can take on your personal injury case to give you the time to heal.
Our Sterling Heights spinal cord injury lawyers can begin working on your case today, from gathering evidence to communicating with the insurance company. Call us for a free case review to discuss your legal options.
