Did you or someone you love suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) in Philadelphia? A spinal cord injury can have life-changing implications, forcing patients to undergo costly medical treatment, miss time at work, and radically alter their lifestyles. If another party’s negligent or intentionally harmful behavior contributed to your SCI, they could owe you compensation for your injuries and related losses.
At Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., our distinguished catastrophic injury attorneys can help you demand the money you need and hold the at-fault parties accountable for their actions. We have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of our clients. Let us put this experience and track record of success to work for you. Contact us today to speak with one of our Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyers at no cost or obligation.
Proving Fault in a Spinal Cord Case
To recover compensation for your spinal cord injury and related losses, you must demonstrate that another party is to blame and, therefore, legally liable. Your attorney can identify, gather, and preserve valuable evidence of the other party’s liability for your SCI case, such as:
- Car crash reports and other incident or injury reports
- Photos and videos of visible accident damage or injuries
- Medical records of your SCI diagnosis and treatment
- Medical bills and documentation of related expenses
- Financial statements and proof of lost wages or benefits
- Testimony from witnesses who saw the injury occur
- Testimony from medical providers and other experts
Compensation in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
With a successful spinal cord lawsuit in Philadelphia, you could secure compensation for the following types of SCI-related losses:
- Hospital bills and medical expenses associated with the SCI
- Incidental expenses, such as the costs of travel to medical appointments
- Lost wages from any time you missed work due to the SCI
- Projected losses in earning potential, if the SCI left you with a disabling impairment
- Subjective losses like SCI-related pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations on Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Under Pennsylvania law, you have only two years from the date when the SCI occurred to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation. If you try to sue after the two-year deadline has expired, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose the right to demand compensation. The knowledgeable SCI attorneys of Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C. can help you keep your case on track and avoid common missteps that could cost you money.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Philadelphia Can Help You
When you retain the services of the seasoned injury lawyers at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., you can count on us to help you by:
- Conducting an independent investigation into your injury
- Reviewing your options and explaining them to you
- Determining the potential value of your case
- Identifying all possible sources of compensation for your spinal cord injury
- Obtaining medical records, incident reports, and other evidence for your claim
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and medical experts for valuable case testimony
- Managing essentialcase documents, details, and deadlines on your behalf
- Negotiating forcefully to maximize the value of your case
- Taking your case to court and representing you at trial, if necessary
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are classified as either complete or incomplete. A complete SCI results in severe damage to the spinal cord and the total loss of movement and sensation below the injury site. An incomplete SCI results in less severe damage and only partial loss of movement or sensation.
There are four levels of spinal cord injuries, based on where the injury occurs:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries – A cervical SCI affects the part of the spinal cord located in the neck. Cervical SCIs are often the most severe because they cause partial or total loss of movement and sensation from the neck down.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries – A thoracic SCI affects the part of the spinal cord located in the mid- or upper back. Patients with thoracic SCIs typically lose function in their lower bodies but sometimes retain function in the arms.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries – A lumbar SCI affects the part of the spinal cord located in the lower back and often results in loss of function in the legs and hips.
- Sacral spinal cord injuries – A sacral SCI affects the lowest part of the spinal cord, just above the coccyx or tailbone. Patients with sacral SCIs suffer impaired function in the hips, buttocks, and legs but may retain the ability to walk.
Symptoms and Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
The signs and symptoms of a given SCI can vary dramatically depending on the location and severity of the injury. Common symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries include:
- Sharp pain or stinging sensations in the neck, head, or back
- A twisted or strangely positioned neck or back
- Difficulty breathing or coughing normally
- Weakness, loss of coordination, or paralysis
- Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, fingers, or toes
- Loss or change in sensation, including not sensing hot or cold
- Loss or change in motor function
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Exaggerated reflexes and muscle spasms
- Inability or difficulty walking or maintaining balance
- Changes in sexual function, sensitivity, or fertility
What Are the Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
Every spinal cord injury is different, but some of the most common contributing factors our spinal cord injury attorneys in Philadelphia see in SCI cases include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- ATV accidents
- Sports accidents
- Recreational accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Unsafe products
- Unsafe premises
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Domestic abuse
- Acts of violence
- Nursing home abuse
- Nursing home neglect
- Medical malpractice
Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
Modern medicine currently has no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord, but new advances are being made every day. In the meantime, healthcare providers commonly recommend the following treatments to heal and prevent further harm to SCI patients:
- Extensive rest, with or without immobilization supports, to avoid additional injury
- Traction, which stretches the limbs to realign the spine and alleviate spinal pain
- Surgeries to stabilize the spine, remove bone fragments, or repair slipped discs
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscle tone and relearn fine motor control
Contact ER Legal To Speak With a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
No matter how complicated your spinal cord injury claim is, the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C. want to help. Contact us today so we can answer your questions and evaluate your case for free in an initial consultation.
BUSINESS INFORMATION
Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg, & Jeck, P.C.
1634 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Phone: (215) 585-2814
Email: info@erlegal.com
