Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
- Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or full paralysis, lifelong medical care, and additional health complications such as breathing problems and pneumonia.
- There are two main injury types: incomplete (cord not fully severed, some function may remain) and complete (cord fully severed, total loss of sensation and movement below the injury).
- Colorado's filing deadline for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. Motor vehicle injury claims carry a three-year window (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Missing either deadline can bar your case entirely.
Dealing with the physical and emotional fallout of a spinal cord injury can be unbearable at times. A spinal cord injury can result in lifelong trauma, debilitating injuries, and ongoing medical care, all of which can be overwhelming to deal with on your own. A Denver spinal cord injury lawyer can help you receive compensation for your injury and ensure that you are not taken advantage of throughout the legal process. You may want to learn about your options.
Denver Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Pursuing damages for a spinal cord injury can be fairly straightforward, but you should keep the Colorado statute of limitations for personal injury claims in mind. In Colorado, the statute of limitations for a general personal injury claim is two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)). If your injury arose from a car accident or other motor vehicle incident, Colorado gives you three years from the date of the accident (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)).
That means you will have a limited window from the date of your initial accident to start building a case, gather the necessary evidence, consult with a Denver personal injury lawyer, and file a claim. If you miss that window, your case may be thrown out. Contact a catastrophic injury attorney early to protect your right to recover.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord's primary function is to send messages to and from the brain. The spinal cord then sends those messages throughout the body, assisting in essential bodily functions. If the spinal cord is injured or severed, the resulting internal strife can be detrimental to your health. A spinal cord injury can result in partial or full paralysis that is often permanent. Spinal cord injuries are often catastrophic due to the severity of the physical consequences.
The effects that your spinal cord injury will have on your body depend largely on the severity of your injury and the type of injury you have sustained. There are two main kinds of spinal cord injury you could be diagnosed with:
- Incomplete Injury: An incomplete spinal cord injury will happen if the spinal cord has not been entirely severed. It is still a severe injury that can result in lifelong health problems, but the cord is still able to send and receive some messages from the brain. In addition, you may still have some degree of feeling in your body below the injured area.
- Complete Injury: A complete spinal cord injury is the worst-case scenario. In this type of injury, the spinal cord has been completely severed and is no longer able to send or receive messages from the brain. Below the injury, there is absolutely no feeling in your body. A complete spinal cord injury will result in total paralysis beneath the injured area.
Additional Health Problems
In the event of a spinal cord injury in Denver, CO, you will likely be dealing with a number of additional health problems brought on by the injury. It is important to recognize these potential afflictions in the event that they happen to you. Here are some of the various health problems that a spinal cord injury can bring about:
- Breathing Issues: Some people dealing with a spinal cord injury may also be dealing with breathing issues. This can occur if the injury is in a specific area of the spine in which the nerves contribute to helping expand the lungs and move the diaphragm. These breathing issues may be permanent, and you may receive special training to help you learn a different way to breathe and swallow.
- Pneumonia: An injury to the spinal cord can cause irreparable damage to your respiratory system, which can make you more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia. Spinal cord injury victims who have to use a ventilator to assist with breathing may be at an increased risk of developing pneumonia. If symptoms start to appear, it is important to take precautions.
Given the severity and lifelong nature of these complications, working with an experienced catastrophic injury team familiar with both medical evidence and Colorado damages law is critical to building a full-value claim. For injuries arising from another person's negligence, Colorado's personal injury framework allows recovery of medical costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Reach Out to a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
It can be frustrating and exhausting to deal with the fallout from a spinal cord injury. An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer can help you determine a path towards financial compensation for your case. It is vital that you take the proper steps to protect yourself and your claim by retaining the services of a skilled lawyer, documenting your injury, and gathering as much evidence as you can.
At Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, we can help you develop your case, ensure your interests are protected, and keep you from being taken advantage of at any point. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost to Treat a Spinal Cord Injury?
There is no telling how much it may cost to treat a spinal cord injury. Every spinal cord injury case is different. The cost to treat a spinal cord injury will be dependent on several important factors, primarily the severity of your injury, your health insurance, whether or not the injury was due to negligence, and your lawyer's negotiation skills.
What Is the Life Expectancy for a Spinal Cord Injury?
The life expectancy for a spinal cord injury is dependent entirely on the individual dealing with the injury, as well as their overall health and pre-existing conditions. The severity of the injury itself will come into play as well. The older the individual, the more a spinal cord injury may affect their life expectancy, thanks to the addition of multiple health problems that tend to come with the injury.
What Should I Do After a Spinal Cord Injury?
In the immediate aftermath of a possible spinal cord injury, the very first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Regrettably, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury, whether complete or incomplete, you likely will not be able to move without assistance. If you are able to call 911 on your own, do so. If not, try to get somebody else's attention and have them call 911.
What Is Medical Negligence for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Medical negligence for a spinal cord injury is often centered around a case of misdiagnosis or surgical error. Failing to properly diagnose a patient's condition can lead to a multitude of health problems down the line which is why you should know the difference between medical malpractice and medical negligence. It can delay a proper diagnosis to the point that it may be too late to treat. A surgical error can also result in a spinal cord injury, such as accidentally severing the spine during surgery.
This article is general information for Colorado injury readers. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not promise that any rule, deadline, or remedy applies to your situation. Spinal cord injury claims, statute-of-limitations questions, and damages calculations require case-specific legal review.
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