You suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) and have no idea how you will cover the costs of physical therapy and other rehabilitation. If your SCI is the result of someone else’s actions, we can help you seek compensation from the liable party. Do so by getting an Ashland spinal cord injury lawyer on your side who works hard to secure compensatory damages on your behalf.
MartinWren, P.C., has served hundreds of clients in spine injury cases and many other types of cases. With decades of combined experience, our team knows what to do to get compensation for our clients. Let us represent you in your spinal cord injury case. To learn more, request a free case consultation with an Ashland personal injury lawyer from our team.
Why Now is the Time to Take Legal Action Against Anyone Responsible for Your Spinal Cord Trauma
A spinal cord injury can affect you for the rest of your life. If you do not ask anyone responsible for your SCI to cover your injury-related losses, you are accountable for these. Thus, you have to pay the costs of treating your injury out of pocket.
Your Ashland spinal cord injury attorney advocates for you and puts you in a position to receive money based on the harm you have suffered. They will review your case and explain your legal options. If warranted, they can represent you as part of an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer remains at your disposal throughout your case proceedings.
The team at MartinWren, P.C. can provide insights into the average spinal cord injury settlement in Virginia and other legal topics. If you are ready to proceed with an insurance claim or lawsuit, we are here to assist. Contact us today.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call (434) 817-3100
How Much Time Do You Have to File an Ashland Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Per the Code of Virginia § 8.01-243, you may have two years from the date you suffer your spinal cord injury to pursue compensatory damages from any liable parties. It is possible to receive compensation from an at-fault party’s insurer or a personal injury lawsuit. Your claim may also be subject to even shorter notice periods.
Ideally, with an insurance claim, a liable party’s insurer offers fair compensation for your losses. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen. A responsible party’s insurance company may dispute your claim or offer a lowball settlement. It will do so in the hopes that you give up on your claim or accept far less than what your case is worth.
Your spinal cord injury lawyer in Ashland handles your insurance settlement negotiations. They can provide insights into how they negotiate a personal injury settlement and keep you updated about any proposals from an at-fault party’s insurance company. If no reasonable settlement offer is made, your attorney may recommend that you take your case to trial.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Works
When it comes to personal injury claims and lawsuits, the legal system offers no guarantees. In the same way, the insurance company of a party liable for your SCI will not necessarily provide you with a settlement that meets your expectations, filing a lawsuit does not ensure you will be compensated for your injury-related losses.
Your personal injury attorney will submit your lawsuit in alignment with Virginia law. Next, they will gather evidence to support your case. They may include accident scene photos, witness statements, medical records, and other proof in their body of evidence. If your lawyer has evidence from a variety of sources, a liable party may struggle to contest their argument.
Leading up to your trial, your lawyer remains open to settlement negotiations. If an at-fault party proposes a settlement, your attorney will notify you, and you can evaluate the offer with them. Of course, if a trial is necessary, your lawyer will make sure you enter the courtroom feeling confident about your case.
Ashland Spinal Cord Lawyer Near Me (434) 817-3100
How Much Money Can You Get in a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Your lawyer accounts for your quantifiable and subjective losses to determine how much money you can receive in your SCI case. They want you to ask for economic and non-economic damages. Reasons a judge or jury will award one or both types of damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and embarrassment
- Burial and funeral expenses
To obtain these and other damages, your attorney must prove negligence. They can craft an argument designed to show a judge or jury that an at-fault party was careless or reckless. In addition, your lawyer wants the court to see that due to this party’s actions, you suffered a spinal cord injury and are dealing with damages.
How Contributory Negligence Can Impact the Outcome of Your SCI Case
Case law from the Supreme Court of Virginia makes clear that contributory negligence applies to personal injury cases. With contributory negligence, you cannot recover damages if you are in any way responsible for your SCI. To understand how this applies to your case, consider an example.
You are involved in a car accident in which the other driver was distracted, and you were speeding. After the incident, you are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. You hire an Ashland car accident lawyer who files your lawsuit in which you allege that the other driver was not paying attention, which led to your accident and injuries.
Ultimately, the court rules that you and the other driver share the blame for your auto accident. Even if you are only 1% liable for the incident, you are barred from recovering damages. As such, you are solely responsible for your accident losses.
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Trust a Virginia Personal Injury Law Firm Focused on Providing Exceptional Legal Services
MartinWren, P.C., has a track record of success in personal injury cases. Our team is committed to helping spinal cord injury victims and their families.
We offer a 10-point pledge and promise to provide legal services of uncompromising quality. Allow us to help you with your SCI case. Schedule a free case consultation with a spinal cord injury attorney in Ashland.
Call (434) 817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
