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Experienced Las Vegas Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near You
Spinal cord injuries are among the most severe injuries you can sustain in an accident, as they can lead to life-changing effects such as permanent physical limitations, loss of sensation, and even full or partial paralysis.
Due to the devastating damages a spinal cord injury can cause, both physically and financially, it's crucial that you don't obtain anything but the best legal representation from our top-rated Las Vegas spinal cord injury attorneys.
With over 20 years of experience representing clients in their personal injury cases, The Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm has some of the most dedicated and experienced spinal cord injury lawyers who are ready to help you obtain the spinal cord injury settlement you are entitled to.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Las Vegas spinal cord injury attorneys today by calling (702) 566-3600 or by submitting an inquiry. Our legal team is available 24/7.
About Founding Attorney Rodney Okano
Attorney Rodney Okano is a skilled Nevada personal injury lawyer with over 20 years of experience in Nevada and personal injury law. With his expertise, he has helped thousands of people injured in accidents obtain the financial settlement they're entitled to.
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How Can a Las Vegas Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help Me?
Experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys, such as the ones at The Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm, can help you in a variety of legal and support tasks.
Determine Who's Liable for Your Spine Injury
While you may know who's liable for your spinal cord injury, knowing isn't enough to win your case, as you must have substantial evidence proving how a party was responsible for your spine injury.
Additionally, there may be multiple parties that share fault in your injury that you may not know about.
A personal injury attorney can conduct a thorough investigation into your injury and identify every at-fault party while gathering evidence proving their liability, ensuring you obtain fair compensation.
Calculate the Full Value of Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Spinal cord injuries can often lead to long-term or lifelong expenses, including medical care costs and lost wages.
Due to the financial losses a spinal cord injury can potentially cause, it's crucial that you have experienced attorneys who will analyze all of your past and future damages to ensure that any settlement offered by the insurance company is fair and will adequately compensate you for all your damages.
Handle Negotiations with the Insurance Company
For those who lack legal representation, insurance companies often employ tactics such as denying or stalling a claim, offering a low settlement, or using your own words against you in an attempt to minimize their payout to you.
However, by having an experienced spinal cord injury attorney communicate and negotiate with insurance companies, you can be assured that your legal rights are protected and that fair and timely compensation is reached.
Represent You in Court
If the insurance company refuses to offer a just settlement amount, your attorney can file a spinal cord injury lawsuit and take and prepare your case for trial, where it can be presented in front of a judge or jury.
Common Types of Spinal Cord Injury in Las Vegas
Spinal cord injuries are typically grouped into two types: incomplete spinal cord injuries and complete spinal cord injuries.
Both types of spinal cord injury are classified as catastrophic injuries and result from various accidents that occur in Las Vegas, including car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries.
Type 1: Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Incomplete spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is partially damaged.
In an incomplete spinal cord injury, motor function and sensation may remain intact below the level of the injury, although certain functions and sensations may be limited depending on the injury severity.
Common types of incomplete injury include:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome
- Central Cord Syndrome
- Brown-Séquard Syndrome
- Spinal Concussion
Type 2: Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Complete spinal cord injuries occur when the injury results in total loss of motor function and sensation below the injury.
Because of the often permanent loss of movement in the affected area, complete spinal cord injuries are considered to be the most severe form of spinal cord injury.
The two types of complete injury include:
- Paraplegia
- Teraplegia or Quadriplegia
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal injury is often a result of a severe traumatic event in which there is a significant amount of other serious injuries and damage.
Traumatic events that could result in spine injuries include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (Especially car, motorcycle, and truck accidents)
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Assault & Domestic Violence
- Workplace Accidents
- Medical Errors (Medical malpractice)
If your spinal injury occurred due to one of the causes above, schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys to start your legal claim and secure the compensation you are entitled to.
Who Can Be Liable for My Spinal Cord Injury
Determining who can be liable for your spinal cord injury depends on the type of accident the injury resulted from and what parties were involved.
Below, we cover commonly liable parties in spinal cord injury cases that the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm attorneys handle.
At-Fault Drivers
If your spinal cord injury was a result of a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, the driver who engaged in negligent actions while driving, such as speeding, being distracted, or DUI, could be held liable for your injuries.
Property Owners
Nevada premises liability laws hold property and business owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions for guests and visitors.
If a property owner fails to hold their duty of care to their guests, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries and damages, including spinal cord injuries.
Employers
If a spinal cord injury occurs in a workplace, such as a construction zone, an office building, or any other employer-managed work area, the employer may be held legally responsible, especially if they failed to provide adequate training, follow regulations, or ensure a safe working environment.
However, most work-related injuries are handled through workers' compensation.
Manufacturers
If a defective product causes a spinal cord injury, the manufacturer may be held liable under product liability laws.
Defects may include problems with design, manufacturing, or inadequate warnings and instructions.
Types of Paralysis That Spinal Cord Injuries Can Result In
Depending on the severity and the location of the injury, spinal cord injuries can result in either quadriplegia or paraplegia.
Quadriplegia is considered total paralysis as a loss of motor function occurs in all four limbs and the torso. In contrast, paraplegia occurs when paralysis affects only the lower half of the body, usually both legs.
Both quadriplegia and paraplegia significantly affect a person's life, making it hard for them to navigate life like they once did.
Financial Compensation You Can Seek for a Spine Injury in Las Vegas
If your spinal cord injury was a result of someone else's negligence, you could be entitled to numerous economic and non-economic damages, which can be used to support you through recovery, cover medical expenses, and avoid financial burden.
Understanding the types of damages you can recover in a Las Vegas spinal cord injury case is crucial to ensuring that you are fairly compensated:
- Medical Expenses (Past and future)
- Lost Wages (Past and future)
- Loss of earning capacity (Inability to work or work as you could before the injury)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages (Court-awarded compensation meant to punish the at-fault party)
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Property damage
Having the Las Vegas area's top-rated team of experienced spinal cord injury attorneys can help ensure that you obtain the maximum amount of financial compensation in your spinal cord injury case.
U.S. Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
Spinal cord injury statistics can provide valuable insight into the current state of spine injuries in the U.S.
Key spinal cord injury statistics in the U.S. include:
- Around 18,000 spinal cord injuries occur each year, equating to around 54 cases per million people.
- About 302,000 individuals in the U.S. have suffered from a spinal cord injury.
- 79% of all new spinal cord injury cases are male.
- The average age for a spinal injury has increased from 29 to 43 years in the last 54 years.
- At 37.5%, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries.
What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Knowing the symptoms of spine injuries is crucial to receiving prompt medical treatment and avoiding the worsening of your injury.
Common symptoms of spinal cord injuries are:
- Loss of movement in limbs, lower body, or one side of the body
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty breathing
- Uncontrollable spasms
- Pain in the neck, back, or head
- Issues with balance or coordination
- Loss of sexual function
Following an accident, if you experience any of these symptoms, it's highly recommended that you seek an evaluation from medical professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
What Is the Nevada Statute of Limitations for a Spinal Cord Claim?
Under the Nevada statute of limitations, you have 2 years to file a personal injury claim following a spinal cord injury.
What Is the Average Life Expectancy for Someone Who Suffers a Spine Injury?
While the average life expectancy for spinal cord injury survivors has increased over the years, it's still significantly shorter than the rest of the general population, at around 12.5 years.
Which Spinal Cord Injury Is the Most Fatal?
Spinal injuries in the high cervical area (C1-C4) are considered to be the most fatal.
How Long Is Rehab for a Spinal Cord Injury?
The average rehabilitation time for a spinal cord injury is around 30 to 35 days.
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