Have you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury after an accident in Chicago, Illinois? Contact Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers at (312) 635-5400. With over three decades of experience, our attorneys have helped clients recover more than $250 million in compensation. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, we’re here to help you pursue compensation.
Call us to speak to an experienced Chicago spinal cord injury lawyer. We offer a free consultation to get started.
Why Choose Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case in Chicago?
When you’re recovering from something serious–like a spinal cord injury–you need Chicago personal injury lawyers who understand the medical challenges, the financial burdens, and the emotional toll. They become your advocates, navigating the legal maze while you focus on healing and rebuilding your life.
Here’s why Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers in Chicago, IL, is the right choice:
- Decades of combined experience – We have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex spinal cord injury cases in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
- Over $250 million recovered for clients – Including 75 settlements and verdicts of at least $1 million.
- Personalize legal strategy – We treat every case with the attention it deserves. Our attorneys will take the time to understand the details of your case.
- Aggressive legal representation – We are unafraid to take on large corporations, insurance companies, or other powerful entities. Whether through negotiation or litigation, we will fight for your rights every step of the way.
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, our attorneys can help you navigate the legal process and make informed decisions about your case.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord–the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that sends and receives signals from the brain–is damaged. The severity of a spinal cord injury depends on the location and extent of the damage to the spinal cord.
An injury to the spinal cord can damage a few, many, or almost all the nerves that cross the site of injury. It can cause temporary or permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other bodily functions below the injury site.
If the injury causes little or no nerve cell death, a person can recover completely. Other times, spinal cord injuries can result in life-changing, permanent damage.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by a variety of accidents, including:
- Car accidents – Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. A high-impact crash (like from a speeding vehicle) can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Slip and fall accidents – A fall, especially from a significant height.
- Workplace accidents – Construction sites, factories, and warehouses often have hazardous conditions.
- Medical malpractice – Errors during surgery or other medical procedures.
- Sports Accidents – Falls or collisions in high-contact sports–like football, hockey, or diving
The damage can vary depending on the location of the injury. Injuries to the cervical (neck) spine can result in quadriplegia, or paralysis of all four limbs. Other injuries to the thoracic or lumbar spine may cause paraplegia, affecting the lower part of the body.
What Damages Are Available to Spinal Cord Injury Victims?
The value of a spinal cord injury case depends on various factors, including the circumstances of the accident, the severity of the injury, the costs of medical treatment, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life.
Victims of spinal cord injuries in Illinois may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These are tangible, measurable financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses – This includes immediate and long-term medical care costs, such as surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and home modifications.
- Lost wages – If the injury prevents you from working or reduces your earning capacity, you may be entitled to past and future lost income.
- Property damage – If personal property was damaged in the accident, such as a vehicle in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation to repair or replace the damaged property.
Besides financial losses, victims of spinal cord injuries often endure significant personal and emotional hardships, which may be covered by non-economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
These are intangible losses that cannot be easily quantified, such as:
- Pain and suffering – Physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury
- Trauma and emotional distress – Spinal cord injury victims often experience anxiety, depression, and PTSD, which can have a long-lasting impact on their mental well-being.
- Loss of quality of life – If the injury prevents you from engaging in activities you once enjoyed, such as sports, hobbies, or traveling.
While economic and non-economic damages aim to make the victim whole, the law also allows for punitive damages in exceptional cases involving particularly egregious conduct.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant’s actions were especially reckless or malicious. These are meant to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior in the future.
What if Both Parties Are Partly Responsible?
Illinois has adopted modified comparative negligence as the standard for recovery of damages. Under this rule, an injured party may recover damages only if they are less than 51% at fault for the injury or damages. However, the recovered amount may be reduced in proportion to the degree that the injured party was at fault.
At Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, we fiercely advocate for our clients. We will diligently pursue the maximum compensation while navigating the intricacies of Illinois law. We understand the nuances of determining fault and build cases to protect our clients’ rights.
Contact a Chicago Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury, you have a long road ahead of you. At Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping victims of spinal cord injuries recover the financial support they need to cope with the long-term effects of their injuries.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have decades of combined experience and a proven track record of securing compensation for personal injury cases. Let us guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Chicago spinal cord injury attorney.