Spinal Cord Injuries

New Hampshire and Massachusetts Attorneys Representing Accident Victims

The spinal cord is one of the primary components of the central nervous system, and a healthy spinal cord is critical to most functions and tasks that people perform throughout the day. As a result, a spinal cord injury can have a devastating impact on a person’s health, as well as the person’s ability to earn an income and live independently. If you suffered a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence, you should speak to an attorney regarding your options for protecting your interests. The New Hampshire spinal cord injury lawyers at Stephen Law Group are skilled at advocating on behalf of people suffering from spinal cord injuries, and we can gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a successful outcome.

Causes and Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can diminish a person’s bodily functions and the ability to move. Thus, any suspected spinal cord injuries should be assessed and treated as soon as possible. Spinal cord injuries are typically categorized as complete or incomplete. A complete injury generally causes paralysis below the area of the injury, and a person with a complete injury will not be able to move or feel any affected body parts. Conversely, a person with an incomplete injury may suffer some loss of function and ability to move below the area of the injury, and they may experience numbness and tingling as well, but they will not suffer paralysis. Spinal cord injuries are caused by trauma to the spinal cord, which can involve a crushed vertebrae or disc, or a tear. Usually, trauma sufficient to cause a spinal cord injury is caused by blunt force, such as an impact caused by a car accident, a construction accident, a fall, or an intentional assault.

Elements of a Lawsuit Arising Out of Spinal Cord Injuries

Most spinal cord injuries arise out of accidents caused by reckless or careless behavior. Thus, most lawsuits arising out of spinal cord injuries allege a negligence claim against the defendant. To prove a negligence claim, a spinal cord injury attorney in New Hampshire must establish that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, which is typically the duty to act as a reasonable person would under the same circumstances, but this may also be a duty imposed by law. They must also prove that the defendant acted in a way that would be considered a breach of the duty. Finally, the plaintiff’s attorney must show that the breach proximately caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In other words, the plaintiff must show that he or she would not have been injured absent the breach and that the breach was a primary factor in bringing about the injury.

A plaintiff who demonstrates that a defendant’s negligence caused his or her injuries may be able to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses that he or she suffered as a result of the injuries. Economic losses typically include the expenses related to any medical treatment that the plaintiff was required to undergo, as well as any wages or earnings that the plaintiff lost due to an inability to work because of his or her injuries. Non-economic damages that a New Hampshire spinal cord injury attorney may be able to recover for a plaintiff include the emotional and mental trauma, suffering, and pain caused by the injuries. If the plaintiff was married at the time of the accident, his or her spouse might also be able to assert a claim for damages resulting from the loss of the plaintiff’s consortium. A statute of limitations applies to personal injury claims, such as those based on spinal cord injuries, so plaintiffs should lose no time in asserting their legal rights.

Discuss Your Injuries with a Skilled Attorney in New Hampshire or Massachusetts

Spinal cord injuries typically alter every aspect of a person’s life, and people and entities that cause others to suffer such devastating injuries should be held accountable. If you sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s careless acts, it is advisable to speak to an attorney regarding your case. The skilled personal injury attorneys at Stephen Law Group will zealously advocate on your behalf to help you recover any compensation that you may be owed. Our spinal cord injury lawyers represent residents of New Hampshire and many areas of Massachusetts. We have multiple offices in each state, and you can contact us to schedule a consultation via our form online or at 877-663-1007.