When a catastrophic spinal cord injury turns your world upside down, you need a tenacious legal advocate who can secure the compensation you deserve. Our Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyers understand the devastating impacts these life-altering injuries have on every aspect of your life.
We fight aggressively to hold any negligent parties fully accountable through personalized legal representation tailored to your unique situation. No amount of money can undo the catastrophic impacts of a spinal injury.
But pursuing accountability through a claim can provide the financial resources and justice to help rebuild your life. Learn how a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from Winston Law can defend your rights at every turn by scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation today.
They’ve Offered Me a Settlement Already. Should I Accept?
No. When dealing with a catastrophic injury, it is important to first understand that insurance companies and adjusters may seem sympathetic and even offer you a settlement very quickly. However, do not make the mistake of believing that the insurance company is on your side.
Accepting a settlement offer that is too low permanently bars you from taking any further steps to pursue additional compensation, even if your expenses and losses are higher than you previously thought.
Before you accept a settlement check or sign anything, it’s crucial that you reach out to our lawyers at Winston Law. Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale can evaluate your settlement offer and your case for free. We will be able to tell you if the offer is fair before you sign your rights away.
We Can Handle the Insurance Companies
While it may seem tempting to accept a quick settlement offer from an insurance company or try to negotiate with them directly, there are several important reasons why you should avoid handling such a complex claim on your own.
Insurance providers are motivated by protecting their own profits, not ensuring you receive fair and full compensation. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyers counter these tactics by gathering evidence that demonstrates the full extent of damages and losses you will endure. Their tactics include:
- Offering lowball settlements that fail to account for lifelong costs
- Delaying or denying valid claims to avoid payouts
- Questioning the severity or cause of your injury to limit liability
- Taking statements out of context to blame you for being partially at fault
Going up against their experienced team of adjusters and attorneys without legal representation puts you at a major disadvantage.
Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and litigators who understand the complex nature and high financial stakes of spinal cord injury claims. We can protect your right to collect compensation and help to ensure your claim is not undervalued or put at risk.
How We Can Help
Our experienced spinal cord injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale understand the legal challenges and stakes involved. We can:
- Investigate to uncover all sources of compensation
- Work with experts to accurately calculate future damages
- Skillfully negotiate from a position of leverage
- Prepare to take your case to trial if negotiations fail
- Ensure you receive the maximum available settlement or award
With so much at stake for your future care and financial security, having an accomplished legal advocate is essential for spinal injury victims. The guidance of a knowledgeable attorney ensures that no opportunistic tactics or simple mistakes will impair your rightful recovery.
While the prospect of quickly resolving your claim may seem appealing amidst the difficulties of this traumatic injury, a personal injury lawyer’s experience and representation are invaluable for protecting your long-term interests.
Understanding the Impacts of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries represent some of the most devastating and life-altering trauma a person can endure. The spinal cord is a crucial bundle of nerves that facilitates communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
When it becomes damaged, the resulting paralysis can affect various bodily functions depending on the location and severity of the injury:
Beyond paralysis, these injuries can impair other bodily functions like:
- Breathing and respiratory issues requiring ventilator assistance
- Loss of bowel/bladder control
- Inability to regulate blood pressure, body temperature, or sexual function
- Chronic pain, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and increased risk of blood clots
- Psychological impacts like depression and reduced quality of life
Pursuing Compensation for a Spinal Injury
If your spinal cord injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Common causes include:
- Vehicle accidents caused by impaired, distracted, or reckless drivers
- Slips, trips, and falls due to hazardous property conditions
- Medical malpractice during surgery or delayed diagnosis/treatment
- Construction/workplace accidents from safety violations or defective equipment
- Intentional acts of violence or assault
Damages Recoverable in a Spinal Injury Claim
An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer understands the catastrophic impacts these injuries have and will fight tenaciously to maximize compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. This includes:
- Medical expenses
- Costs of modifying a residence for accessibility
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Future lost income if inability to work or change occupations
- Lost earning potential and career advancement opportunities
- Lost bonus incentives, pension/retirement fund contributions
- Pain and suffering damages
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life activities
- Loss of consortium for spouses
- In egregious cases, punitive awards to punish gross negligence
Our Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorneys have the resources to consult medical experts, life care planners, and economic specialists to accurately calculate projected future costs over the individual’s lifetime. We identify all viable sources of compensation from all negligent parties, including other drivers, employers, property owners, product manufacturers, and more.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale for a Free Case Evaluation Today
Insurance companies often drastically undervalue spinal cord injury claims or argue your injury was not their fault. Our skilled Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury attorneys have encountered every defensive tactic and know how to build solid cases that maximize the value of your recovery.
While we negotiate forcefully for a just settlement, we also meticulously prepare every case for potential trial to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve. Contact Winston Law for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you today.