Vista Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Did you or a family member suffer a serious spinal cord injury in Vista, CA? If you were injured due to someone else’s wrongful acts, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced Vista spinal cord injury lawyer at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover compensation. Call (619) 344-0360 today for legal help.

Our lawyers have over 20 years of combined experience handling these types of personal injury cases. We’ve already recovered over $40 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients and are ready to put our skills to work for you.

Contact our law offices in Vista, California, today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Vista, CA

How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Vista, CA

A spinal cord injury can fundamentally change your life. Even if you do recover, you could experience chronic pain over a lifetime. The financial compensation you recover for your injuries can make a world of difference to your quality of life.

Still, seeking compensation can be a challenge. Insurance companies will fight you every step of the way. Accepting a quick insurance settlement can haunt you in the future if your expenses are higher than expected. An experienced Vista personal injury lawyer can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve dedicated our entire practice to fighting for accident victims like you. We can help with your personal injury claim by:

  • Handling all the details, including paperwork and administrative tasks
  • Making sure you understand your options
  • Investigating to determine who was responsible for your injuries
  • Calculating the fair value of your personal injury case, considering past and future costs
  • Hiring experts and specialists to work on your behalf
  • Handling all insurance negotiations

To learn more about how our Vista personal injury attorneys can help you maximize your settlement or verdict, call for a free case review today.

Overview of Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a column of nerves, tissue, and bone that runs from the base of the skull down to the tailbone. The nerves in the spinal cord are surrounded by individual bones called vertebrae. The nerves in the spinal cord serve to carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Because of that, when the spinal cord is damaged, the symptoms often appear in other areas of the body.

Each vertebra is labeled according to where it is located on the spine. Each vertebra is separated by a disc.

There are four primary regions of the spinal cord:

  • The cervical spine (C1-C7), which is located in the upper neck 
  • The thoracic spine (T1-T12), which is located in the upper back
  • The lumbar spine (L1-L5), which is located in the lower back
  • The sacral spine (S1-S5), located at the base of the spine

The severity of any spinal cord injury will depend on which region of the spine is damaged. Generally speaking, bodily functions located below the injury are the most likely to be impacted by a spinal cord injury. The most severe injuries occur when the upper regions of the spinal cord are damaged.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury

There are many different types of spinal cord injury. In the most severe cases, the victim will lose all motor function below the injury site. However, spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. In cases involving incomplete injuries, the victim may retain some function below the injury.

At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of spinal cord injury cases, including those involving:

  • Quadriplegia, or paralysis from the neck down
  • Paraplegia, or paralysis from the waist down
  • Triplegia, or paralysis of three limbs
  • Hemiplegia, or paralysis on one side of the body
  • Monoplegia, which is the paralysis of a single limb
  • Anterior cord syndrome injuries, which are injuries to the front of the spine
  • Posterior cord syndrome, which are injuries to the back of the spine
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome, or damage to the nerves in the sacral spine
  • Other types of nerve damage
  • Herniated discs
  • Compression fractures

Not all spinal cord damage results in paralysis. However, even if you retain some bodily function, you could be faced with a lifetime of pain. 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?

The signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury will vary depending on the type of injury involved.

Some of the most common signs of spinal cord damage include:

  • Tingling, weakness, or decreased sensation in the extremities
  • Unusual lumps along the spine
  • Loss of mobility
  • Spasms 
  • Severe pain or pressure in the back
  • Trouble breathing
  • Difficulty controlling the bowels or bladder
  • Changes in sexual function

Some of these symptoms can be subtle. It’s important to pay attention to changes in your body any time you’re involved in an accident. You may not notice the signs for hours or even days. That’s why it’s always a good idea to seek medical care quickly after an accident.

What are the Long-Term Consequences of Spinal Cord Injuries?

The long-term consequences of a spinal cord injury will depend on which area of the spine was damaged. 

When the cervical spine is severely damaged, some of the long-term consequences may include:

  • Paralysis from the neck down
  • Respiratory problems
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Loss of bladder and bowel function
  • Loss of sexual function
  • Inability to eat, drink, bathe or perform basic activities without assistance
  • A need for around-the-clock care
  • Wrongful death

Thoracic spinal cord injuries often result in:

  • Paralysis of the legs and torso
  • Loss of bladder and bowel function
  • Loss of sexual function

Injuries to the lumbar and sacral spine tend to be less severe. The vertebrae in these regions are much more sturdy than those in the upper spine. Still, lumbar spinal cord injuries can result in loss of feeling in the legs, as well as bladder and bowel problems.

Victims with serious spinal cord injuries often suffer from severe depression. These injuries have the potential to be catastrophic or even fatal. 

What Causes Most Spinal Cord Injuries?

According to the United Spinal Association, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are:

Any type of trauma can result in spinal cord damage. At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, our Vista spinal cord injury attorneys often represent clients who have sustained injuries due to:

If you were seriously injured in San Diego County, don’t hesitate to contact our attorneys in Vista to schedule a free case review today.

What is My Vista Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?

All cases are different. As with most personal injury cases, more serious injuries tend to result in higher settlements and verdicts. Still, many factors can impact your case value.

Our personal injury lawyers in Vista will carefully evaluate:

  • The nature of your injuries
  • Your prognosis–whether you’re expected to suffer a permanent disability or make a full recovery
  • The cost of your medical treatment
  • The types of medical care and rehabilitation you’ll require in the future
  • How your lifestyle will change due to the injury
  • How the injury impacts your work and earnings capacity
  • Damage to your emotional wellbeing

Treating a serious spinal cord injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars–if not more. If you suffered a severe injury at a young age, the injury could cost millions over a lifetime. Those dollar amounts don’t even begin to factor in the emotional and psychological damage you’ve suffered.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Spinal Cord Injuries in Vista, California?

Damages in California are classified based on whether they represent economic or non-economic losses.

Examples of the types of damages that may be available include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages during your recovery
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Nursing care
  • In-home assistance
  • Wheelchairs and other assistive devices
  • In-home modifications
  • Modifications to your vehicle
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Chronic pain
  • Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
  • Loss of fertility
  • Loss of consortium

Our lawyers know that every dollar counts if you are seriously injured. We’re here to fight for the full range of compensation you deserve. Call our legal team for a free case evaluation today to learn more. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in California?

A two-year statute of limitations applies in the state of California. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your injury, you lose the right to sue for damages. That’s true even if your injuries were especially severe.

Contact a Vista Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Do you have questions about your legal rights after sustaining an injury? Call an experienced Vista spinal cord injury lawyer at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers today. We always offer a free consultation so you can get the legal advice you deserve.

Our personal injury law firm in Vista, CA also provides: