Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico

CALL (800) 863-5312 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A ZINDA INJURY ATTORNEY

Injuries to the head, neck, or spinal cord are often troublesome in more ways than one.  For instance, this class of injury typically requires rehabilitation, thereby extending the recovery period.  A prolonged recovery period, in turn, means less money in your pocket due to missed time from work and medical costs.  If your injury was caused by a third party, legal remedies may be available to you.

If you have suffered an injury to your head, neck, or spinal cord and are interested in learning more about potential rights and remedies, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Albuquerque spinal cord injury lawyers.

RECOGNIZING A SPINAL CORD INJURY

A spinal cord injury is characterized as damage to the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal.  Victims of spinal cord injuries often experience temporary or permanent changes in strength and sensation in the affected area.

The symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries depend largely on the site of injury.  However, general symptoms of spinal cord injuries may include:

• Loss of movement
• Loss or altered sensation
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Muscle spasms
• Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility
• Radiating pain to lower body, including buttocks, legs, and feet
• Difficulty breathing

In extreme cases, the victim may experience one or all of the following:

• Intolerable pain in the head, back, or neck area
• Incoordination or paralysis to any part of the body
• Difficulty breathing or concentrating
• Oddly positioned neck or back
• Severe headache
• Loss of sensation in hand, fingers, feet, or toes

Those who are suspected of having sustained a spinal cord injury should seek immediate medical attention.  Prompt medical treatment is encouraged even in cases where there are no immediate signs or symptoms of a spinal cord injury.  This is because such injuries may take hours or even days to manifest.

COMMON CAUSES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Spinal cord injuries can arise in numerous ways.  For example, victims of slip and fall accidents commonly suffer some form of spinal cord injury, such as a herniated disc.  Generally, the extent of a spinal cord injury depends on several factors, including the nature of the injury and the force of impact.  Listed below are several common causes.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents are one of the foremost causes of spinal cord injuries.  Fender benders, T-bone crashes, motorcycle crashes, and head-on collisions all have the potential to result in a spinal cord injury.

Read More: Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Slip and Fall Accidents

Because slip and fall accidents typically result in the victim landing on his or her back or buttocks, this type of accident is another common cause of spinal cord injuries.  Spinal cord injuries are even more prevalent amongst elderly persons and those with a pre-existing back injury.

Athletic Accidents

Contact sports such as football, rugby, and hockey, by their very nature, have the potential to result in spinal cord injuries.  However, even non-contact sports can injure the spinal cord.  For instance, golf and diving have also been known to inflict back and spinal cord injuries.

Intentional Violence

Physical altercations between persons, such as fights or brawls, can also result in spinal cord injuries.  This is especially so for altercations involving gunshot wounds or knife wounds.

Disease

Underlying diseases such as some forms of cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and inflammation of the spinal cord also can cause injuries.

THE CLAIM FILING PROCESS 

1. Contact an Attorney

The first step towards filing a claim is to contact an Albuquerque spinal cord injury attorney.  As part of an initial consultation, a personal injury attorney may ask to meet with the spinal cord injury victim in person or over the phone to discuss important facts about the case.  For example, the attorney may ask how the accident occurred and what types of injuries you sustained.  After the initial consultation, the attorney may be able to provide legal advice regarding legal options moving forward.

Learn More: Why Hiring a Lawyer Will Help Your Case

2. Investigation

The second step of the claim filing process is generally referred to as the investigation phase.  During this part of the process, the attorney may gather critical information regarding the accident and resulting injuries.  For instance, the attorney may interview witnesses, obtain surveillance footage, review medical records, and gather any additional evidence that may be used to strengthen your claim.

3. Settlement and Lawsuit

Before a case is litigated in court, a spinal injury victim may receive a settlement offer from the at-fault party or the at-fault party’s insurance company.  Settlement negotiations may occur, with the attorney negotiating on your behalf.  If it is not in your best interests to accept a settlement offer, your case may proceed to trial.  In this case, an attorney may advocate on your behalf in front of a judge and jury to establish fault on the part of the other party.

SPINAL CORD INJURY COMPENSATION

If a victim sustained the injury as a result of someone else’s negligent or intentional actions, the at-fault party may have to reimburse the victim for costs incurred as a result of the injury.  The type and amount of damages that may be awarded to a spinal cord injury victim vary depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.  Generally, such damages can be separated into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are damages that can be accounted for and quantified.  In spinal cord injury cases, the primary forms of economic damages may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity

Medical expenses may encompass costs related to hospital stays, doctors’ appointments, pharmacy costs, and physical therapy.  Lost wages may include the compensation lost by the victim due to missed time from work.  If the injury prevents or impairs the victim’s ability to work in the future, lost income may also include the victim’s loss in earning capacity.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages refer to intangible costs that cannot be easily quantified.  Rather, it is up to a jury to evaluate the value of a victim’s non-economic damages.  Types of non-economic damages may include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement and disability
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium

LEGAL TIME LIMITS

Spinal cord injury victims who wish to file a lawsuit must do so in a timely manner.  A “statute of limitations” is a legal time limit by which a person must initiate a lawsuit.  If a victim fails to initiate a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations, that person is effectively barred from having his or her day in court.

New Mexico has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.  This means that a victim has three years from the date of injury to file a claim.  For example, if a person was injured in a car accident on June 1, 2020, that person must initiate a lawsuit against the at-fault party by June 1, 2023.

Filing a lawsuit on time is critical to the outcome of a case, and certain circumstances may extend, or “toll,” a statute of limitations.  Personal injury victims should consider consulting with an attorney to ensure their claim is timely filed.

CONTACT ZINDA LAW GROUP TODAY

Zinda Law Group’s Albuquerque injury attorneys may help protect your legal rights after an injury.  Our team of personal injury attorneys has years of experience handling and settling spinal cord injury cases.  Furthermore, we have the resources necessary to help build your claim.

Our firm also believes that an injury victim should never have to worry about being able to afford high-quality legal representation.  That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you pay nothing unless we win your case.  That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

If you would like to discuss the details of your case with an experienced Albuquerque spinal cord lawyer, or if you want to learn more about your rights following an accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free case evaluation.

Meetings with attorneys are by appointment only.