Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Lakeland, Florida

According to recent statistics from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are about 17,500 new spinal cord injury cases in the United States every year. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are often severe in nature and can significantly impact the victim’s daily life. In fact, SCIs often increase the risk of developing secondary conditions, such as urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, and chronic pain — all of which can be quite debilitating and sometimes even life-threatening.

If you believe that a negligent party’s actions caused your spinal cord injury, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injury. Here at my firm, Tonya Stewart Law, I have extensive experience helping injured victims hold those responsible for their spinal cord injury accountable. As a skilled Florida personal injury attorney, I can investigate all of the surrounding facts of your case and help you explore all of your legal options to recover damages.

I will fight vigorously to protect your rights and help you pursue fair compensation that can cover any expenses related to your injuries, loss of enjoyment of life, lost income, and any additional pain and suffering. My firm — Tonya Stewart Law — proudly serves clients across Lake Wales and Lakeland, Florida, as well as the neighboring communities of Davenport, Winter Haven, and Haines City, Florida.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is an injury that affects a person’s spine or causes damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord sends messages from the brain to every part of the body. An injury to the spinal cord can cause physical trauma that can have devastating consequences all over the body. It may result in a total loss of mobility, bladder control issues, and other issues related to mobility and movement.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• A violent attack such as gunshot or stabbing
• Sports and recreational injuries
• Diving into shallow water and hitting the bottom
• Trauma during a car accident
• Falling from a high platform
• Head or neck injuries from sporting events
• Electrocution or electrical accidents

Common Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

Some of the common signs and symptoms of spinal cord injuries include:

• Loss of mobility
• Inability to move the arms and legs
• Loss or altered sensation or inability to feel touch, heat, and cold
• Loss of bowel movement or bladder control
• Inability to control your sexual functions
• Breathing difficulties
• Unconsciousness
• Coughing
• Pain or an intense stinging sensation
• Spasms or intense reflex actions
• Unnatural positioning of the head.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects of a spinal cord injury depend on where the injury occurred in the spine. Medically, the spine is divided into different sections, with each area carrying its own level of risk for long-term effects:

Sacral Area (T1-T2 Vertebrae)

This is the lowest region of the spine. It is located just directly above the tailbone. When this area is injured, the victim typically experiences issues in their thighs, hips, pelvis, and buttocks.

Lumbar Region (L1-L5 Vertebrae)

This is right above the sacral area. When this area is injured, the victim will experience issues in their hips and legs. It’s also common for injuries in the lumbar region to make it difficult to stand or walk.

Thoracic Region (T1-T12 Vertebrae)

This is the upper and middle section of the spine. When this area is injured, the victim can experience a number of different issues in their chest, abdomen, and back.

Cervical Region (C1-C7 Vertebrae)

This is the topmost part of the spinal cord. An injury to this area is generally considered the most severe, as it can lead to paralysis.

Incomplete vs. Complete Spinal Injury

The severity of the spinal cord injury is often referred to as “the completeness” of the injury. This means that the injury will typically be classified as either complete and incomplete.

• Incomplete Spinal Injury: A spinal cord injury is considered incomplete if the victim still has some motor or sensory function below the affected area.
• Complete Spinal Injury: A spinal cord injury is considered complete if the victim has totally lost all sensory and motor function below the spinal cord injury area.

Proving Negligence

Florida is considered a no-fault insurance state. This means that after an accident, your own insurance coverage can pay for medical expenses and other financial losses. However, you are also allowed to pursue a liability claim against the at-fault party if your injury qualifies as a “serious injury” under Florida law.

Since spinal cord injuries cause a “significant limitation of use of a body function or system,” your injuries may qualify under the serious injury threshold. This means that you may be allowed to pursue damages against the at-fault party.

To recover damages, you need to prove negligence by showing the following elements:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care
• The defendant breached that duty of care
• The defendant’s breach of duty of care or negligent act caused your spinal cord injury
• You suffered actual harm or bodily injuries.

Possible Compensation

The available damages that may be recovered from your spinal cord injury claim include:

• Medical fees incurred
• Physical and psychological therapy expenses
• Costs for medical and adaptive devices
• Loss of wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Court fees

Work With an Experienced
Personal Injury Attorney Today!

Spinal cord injuries are often devastating and can cause significant and long-lasting implications on your physical, financial, and mental well-being. Thankfully, you don’t have to face these challenges on your own. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney will be a critical step that you can take to protect your rights and pursue the compensation that you need and deserve.

At Tonya Stewart Law, I am dedicated to providing experienced legal guidance and compassionate representation to spinal cord injury victims and their families. As your attorney, I will:

• Fight vigorously to protect your rights and represent your best interests
• Review every surrounding detail of your case and conduct an in-depth and private investigation into the circumstances that led to your accident
• Gather and log all relevant information, pieces of evidence, and necessary documentation
• Seek to prove fault and establish liability
• Determine the full magnitude of your spinal cord injury and estimate case-value
• Help negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company
• Take additional legal action, if required

Using my extensive experience, I will work to hold the responsible parties accountable. I can help you file an injury claim and attempt to pursue fair financial compensation that can cover your medical expenses, lost income, loss of consortium, and any additional pain and suffering you have been forced to endure. Don’t face this challenge alone. Call or reach out to my office today to schedule your own free case consultation. Together, we can explore all of your legal options so you can begin pursuing the justice you deserve.