Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

Have you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident in Orlando? Was someone else to blame? You shouldn’t have to bear the financial effects of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or deliberately dangerous behavior. You deserve compensation for the current and future consequences of what you’ve been made to suffer, and an Orlando spinal cord injury attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger can help you pursue it.

Paul Knopf Bigger is dedicated to helping people and righting wrongs, and we back that up with commitment, skill, and excellent client service. At our firm, you will never feel like just another number. Instead, we’ll get to know you and your concerns, so that we can better advocate on your behalf. Our proven record of success demonstrates our willingness to go the distance for our clients.

The effects of an injury to the spine are profound and can affect every aspect of your life. Don’t face them alone. Instead, turn to Paul Knopf Bigger for help demanding compensation and accountability from the parties who hurt you. Reach out to our law firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal options following a spinal cord injury.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

At Paul Knopf Bigger, our attorneys and staff work tirelessly on behalf of clients who have suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury because of:

What Are the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries are typed as either incomplete or complete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means the spinal cord has not been severed entirely, meaning that a patient has some feeling and function below the level of the injury. A complete spinal injury means the spinal cord has been severed entirely, cutting off all communication between the brain and the body below the level of the injury.

Doctors also classify spinal cord injuries by their location on the spinal column as follows:

  • Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury – An injury in the lower portion of the spine that affects the legs and sometimes the pelvis.
  • Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury – An injury in the middle portion of the spine, affecting the lower torso and abdomen.
  • Cervical Spinal Cord Injury – An injury in the top portion of the spine, affecting the body from the neck and shoulders down.

What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Some symptoms caused by a spinal cord injury are immediately apparent, while others take longer to develop. Common signs and symptoms of spinal cord injuries include:

  • Loss of movement/paralysis
  • Difficulty with balance or walking
  • Altered sensations or loss of the ability to feel heat, cold, or touch
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
  • Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
  • Pain or a burning or stinging sensation around the location of the injury
  • Difficulty breathing or clearing the lungs
  • Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
  • Changes to sexual function or sensitivity
  • Oddly positioned or twisted neck or back

What Are Treatment Options for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Unfortunately, current medical science cannot repair a damaged spinal cord. Instead, treatment for a spinal cord injury focuses on preventing further damage, stabilizing the injury, and preparing the patient to adapt to their new physical limitations.

Emergency treatment includes stabilizing the neck and back to avoid further injury, preventing shock, and maintaining the patient’s breathing ability. Patients may undergo surgery to remove bone fragments or foreign objects, repair fractured vertebrae or a herniated disk, and install stabilizing equipment to prevent spine deformity.

Once the injury has stabilized, treatment focuses on rehabilitation and ongoing care to manage paralysis and other complications. Patients may receive medication to manage loss of muscle tone, spasms, bowel/bladder control issues, and cardiovascular health. Rehabilitation will help patients maintain and strengthen remaining muscle function and learn adaptations to perform daily activities so they can resume as active and independent a life as possible.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury can cause permanent changes to bodily functions, leading to long-term effects such as:

  • Altered bladder or bowel control, which may increase the risk of obstructions, kidney stones, and UTIs
  • Increased risk for pressure ulcers
  • Cardiovascular issues, including low or high blood pressure
  • Respiratory issues, which may increase the risk of pneumonia or other infections
  • Loss of bone density
  • Loss of muscle tone or uncontrolled tightening of muscles
  • Challenges maintaining fitness due to a more sedentary lifestyle, which can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
  • Impotence or infertility
  • Chronic pain
  • Depression and anxiety

What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Spinal Cord Injury?

If someone else caused your spinal cord injury, you can demand they compensate you for its consequences, including:

  • Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, and physical/occupational therapy
  • Costs of long-term care for disabilities or complications, including home health services, personal assistance, medical/mobility equipment, and disability accommodations
  • Lost wages/income for the time you miss from work while treating and rehabbing your injuries
  • Lost earning capacity and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job or other work
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life caused by the inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed

What Is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?

The complexity and variability of spinal cord injury cases make it hard to discuss “average” settlement values with any specificity. Some of the factors that may influence the size of any settlement you recover include the following:

  • The type and severity of spinal cord injury you’ve suffered
  • What treatment and rehabilitation you need to recover from your injury
  • What kind of physical disabilities or health complications you suffer due to your injury
  • How much time you miss from work and whether you can return to work after your treatment and rehab
  • What kinds of long-term care and support you may need to cope with paralysis or complications
  • The number of parties responsible for your injuries and losses
  • Whether other people also suffered injuries in the accident that caused your spinal cord injury
  • Whether you share any fault for the accident
  • The extent of applicable insurance coverage
  • The relative strength of your and the opposing parties’ cases

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

Florida’s statute of limitations typically gives you two years after suffering a spine injury to file a lawsuit against those responsible. Although that may seem like plenty of time, it’s crucial that you speak with a back and spinal cord injury lawyer in Orlando as soon as possible. Lawsuits like these can be complicated, so your attorney needs to take the time to put together a compelling case. In addition, if you wait too long to file your lawsuit, you may lose the opportunity to recover compensation from those responsible for your injury.

How an Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help with Your Case

Recovering from a spinal cord injury involves intensive treatment and rehabilitation. You deserve to devote your time and energy to this recovery — but you also deserve to be compensated by the parties responsible for your suffering.

Let the spinal cord injury law firm of Paul Knopf Bigger help you by:

  • Recovering evidence from the accident to build a solid case in support of your right to compensation
  • Identifying liable parties and evaluating your options for pursuing financial recovery
  • Discussing your legal rights with you and explaining what you can expect in the claims process so you have the information you need to make decisions in your case
  • Calculating your ongoing and future estimated losses so that we pursue the full financial recovery you need
  • Handling communications and negotiations with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys for you
  • Pursuing maximum financial relief for you, whether through a settlement or by taking your case to trial to hold those at fault for your injuries and losses accountable

We’re ready to get started on your case immediately and won’t charge you a fee unless we recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. We believe someone’s ability to pay should not be a prerequisite for pursuing a spine injury case.

Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Orlando Today

Have you sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident in Orlando? If someone else caused the injury, you have the right to pursue accountability and compensation. While nothing can undo the accident, being financially compensated can provide you with the financial security you need to live the fullest, most comfortable life possible.

The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger are ready to fight for every cent you’re owed. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.