Seattle Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal injuries are some of the most grave injuries that one can experience. Extremely painful and potentially life-threatening, a spinal cord injury can leave someone with disabilities or disfigurements that alters their life forever. The following days and weeks of an accident like this one can be hard, both mentally and physically for the victims and their families. Luckily, Elk & Elk is willing to lend a helping hand in these times of anguish.

Offering experienced Seattle spinal cord injury attorneys, our firm can help you seek compensation to better put the victim’s mind at ease as they undergo these hardships. Contact our firm if you or a loved one is experiencing hardships with a spinal cord injury.

What Sets Elk & Elk Apart from Other Law Firms?

Elk & Elk Attorneys

Our firm has been successfully handling personal injury claims for decades. Our main goal is to secure compensation for people suffering from injuries across the state, and we want to help you do the same.

  • You do not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket fees until we have won your case.
  • Our Seattle personal injury attorneys at Elk & Elk has successfully recuperated a total of over $1 billion in combined personal injury compensation for victims and their families.
  • Our attorneys have gained the confidence of their clients because of their broad experience and their arsenal of resources.
  • A Seattle spinal cord injury attorney will consult with medical professionals to ensure that your case is as well-constructed as possible before filing it.

The Importance of Hiring a Seattle Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

There are many benefits a spinal cord injury lawyer can provide, allowing you to be confident in the future of your claims. One of the most frustrating realities is that insurance companies will attempt to deny you your claims. They are famous for underpaying and not providing adequate compensation, sparking the need for a lawyer. Additionally, there are numerous ways a person can sustain a spinal cord injury, muddying the waters when considering which avenues to pursue.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the nerves in the spinal cord. This may include any part of those nerves, including the cauda equina, which is the very end of the spinal cord. These injuries cause damage to the communication pathway between the various areas, organs, muscles, and other areas of the body to the brain. Spinal cord injuries often result in:

  • Loss of strength
  • Loss of feeling
  • Restrictive function of one or more body part
  • Mental and emotional effects

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Here are some of the many ways a spinal cord injury could happen to you or a loved one:

Common Injuries Resulting From a Spinal Cord Injury

It is additionally worth considering the potential long-lasting or permanent symptoms of such an injury, as they can be excruciating to the wellbeing of an individual:

  • Nerve issues and lack of feeling in the extremities
  • Difficulty breathing and respiration
  • Loss or disruption of sexual function
  • Consistent burning pains
  • Complete disability
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Paralysis
  • Need for movement assistive devices like walkers or wheelchairs

Over 1 Billion Recovered For Our Clients

Potential Recoverable Damages in Seattle

Victims of a spinal cord injury may seek financial compensation from the at-fault party if they can prove negligence occurred. Recoverable damages are both economic and non-economic losses you suffered because of your accident.

Some examples of economic damages include:

  • Immediate medical expenses from emergency care
  • Ongoing medical treatment costs, such as rehabilitation and medical treatments
  • Future medical losses, including for any long-term care you need
  • Loss of income, including for time you already missed and time you will miss at work
  • Future lost income if you are unable to go back to work
  • Modifications to your home due to your injuries
  • Attorney’s fees
  • Transportation costs to appointments
  • Property damage

Non-economic damages are also possible, though they are less tangible in terms of determining value. Examples include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment in life
  • Emotional distress and mental anguish

Is There a Deadline for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

In Washington, the statute of limitations related to physical injuries in a personal injury case is three years. Victims have a full three years from the date the accident took place to file a claim in a court of law for their losses. Note that this does not mean the insurance company allows you to wait three years before alerting them to the injury.

It is critical that if you cannot come to a settlement agreement with the insurance company, you take action within that three-year period to file a lawsuit. If you wait outside of this timeframe for most reasons, you will be unable to take your case to court. A judge will not hear your case, and the insurance company has no obligation to pay you for your losses at that time.

If you are hurt in any type of accident with spinal cord injuries, do not wait to contact a spinal cord injury attorney in Seattle to discuss your case. Your attorney will help you meet these deadlines whenever possible.

What Happens If I Was Partially At Fault? 

Comparative negligence is a rule that may apply in situations where you are partially at fault for the accident that causes your injuries. Under Washington’s comparative negligence rule, you may still receive compensation for your losses if you are partially at fault. However, the compensation received is reduced by the percentage of fault you maintain.

If the court finds you to be 30% at fault, the damages from the accident are reduced by 30%, and the other party pays 70% of those losses. Because of this, your Seattle spinal cord injury attorney will help you reduce any speculation that you could be responsible for the accident or, if that is not the case, work to reduce the percentage of fault you are facing. 

Allow Our Seattle Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer to Help You

Whether due to negligence, accident, or any other cause, Elk & Elk’s focus is to help gain compensation for those who have suffered spinal injuries while maintaining empathy for the struggles they are enduring. A Seattle spinal cord injury attorney will be able to use all the resources available to them to better your chances for a successful claims procedure.

To contact legal representation from Elk & Elk, please call 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) for service over the phone or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.