What Are the Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

What are the most common types of spinal cord injuries? These include contusions, compressions, and lacerations. 

If you are dealing with these or similar health issues due to another party’s actions, consult with Rhode Island spinal cord injury lawyers, and they can determine if you have grounds for suing for compensatory damages. 

Most Common Spinal Cord Injuries Types in Rhode Island

Incomplete and complete tetraplegia and paraplegia are among the most common spinal cord injury types reported in Rhode Island and other parts of the United States. There are many reasons why these and other SCIs occur. These reasons include:

• Auto accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Medical malpractice

Gemma Law has 100 years of combined legal experience. Our team understands the challenges you can face due to a spinal cord injury. Meet with our team, and we can discuss how much your case is worth and other legal topics with you. 

Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits

Motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall incidents, and product defects are three of the most common types of spinal cord injury lawsuits. If you are considering an SCI lawsuit, consult with a Rhode Island personal injury lawyer. From here, your attorney can learn about your case. 

Your attorney can get details about your injury and how it occurred. They can provide you with a reality check and explain how your injury could impact you for the rest of your life. If you have a legitimate case, your lawyer can submit your damages request immediately. 

According to Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-14, you may have three years from the date you suffered your spinal cord injury to sue a liable party. Your lawyer can help you identify any parties responsible for your injury. Next, they can file your lawsuit and search for opportunities to strengthen your case. 

Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injury Damages

You could receive economic and non-economic damages for your quantifiable and subjective losses. In your lawsuit, your attorney will encourage you to ask for both types of damages. The most common types of spinal cord injury damages awarded in lawsuits include:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment
• Property damage

There are times when the defendant in an SCI lawsuit offers a settlement in the hopes of getting the plaintiff to accept far less than what their case is actually worth.

Your attorney can walk you through the process of how to respond to a first personal injury settlement offer in RI. If you are not fully satisfied with an offer, you can decline it without incurring any penalties. 

Tips to Help You Recover Damages in Lawsuits Involving Common Spinal Cord Injury Types

One of the best things you can do is hire a spinal cord injury attorney who prioritizes your health, well-being, and safety. Your lawyer can provide FAQs relating to your case and help you make informed legal decisions at each stage of your litigation. They may provide various tips as you move through the legal process, such as:

Gather a Wide Range of Evidence

Medical records, witness statements, and other proof can make a difference in your lawsuit. If you have plenty of evidence, it may be clear to a judge or jury why you deserve damages. Alternatively, if the defendant in your case has an abundance of proof to use against you, it may be difficult to secure damages. 

Connect with Witnesses and Medical Professionals

If anyone saw the accident in which you suffered your injury, get in touch with them. These individuals may be able to serve as witnesses who can testify on your behalf. In the same way, if medical professionals are willing to speak about the severity of your SCI, they can help you argue your case. 

Be Careful About What You Post on Social Media

Facebook, X, and other social networks make it easy to share updates about your spinal cord injury with family and friends. Yet, what you post online may be generally accessible, and the defendant, in your case, could try to use your content against you. If you want to keep family and friends updated about your injury, do so via phone and video calls, texts, and emails. 

Do Not Speak to an At-Fault Party or Their Insurer About Your Injury

A liable party or their insurance company could contact you in the hopes that you will disclose sensitive information about your SCI or speak about your injury. If this occurs, notify your lawyer. Otherwise, you risk saying something that could compromise your ability to recover damages. 

Be Open to Settlement Negotiations

You are not legally obligated to approve a settlement offer, but you should take advantage of the opportunity to assess a proposal with your lawyer.

If you and your attorney agree that a proposal offers insufficient damages, you can reject it. On the other hand, if an offer is reasonable, you can accept it and resolve your case without a trial.   

Communicate and Collaborate with Your Lawyer

There is no such thing as a “bad” question to ask your lawyer relative to your litigation. The legal process can be overwhelming, and if you have questions at any time, share them with your lawyer. Ideally, your attorney will give your questions the attention they deserve and make sure that you receive ample legal guidance and support. 

Personal injury cases involving the most common types of spinal cord injuries can be long and arduous. Regardless, it helps to have a lawyer at your side who understands what legal challenges you could face and knows how to address them. Your attorney is your legal advocate and representative, and they will focus on getting you damages that meet your expectations. 

Get Legal Help with Your Spinal Cord Injury Case

If your spinal cord injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, the Gemma Law team may be able to help you secure damages for your quantifiable and subjective losses. Give us the opportunity to evaluate your SCI case. Contact us today to get started.