Statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 250,000 Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries in accidents every year. Some of these accidents can require the need for extensive medical treatment. It is believed that more than 50,000 of these victims are left to deal with permanent impairments from their injuries. These catastrophic injuries are not only painful, but they impact nearly every aspect of a victim’s life. Brain and spinal cord injuries prevent people from engaging in activities they love and enjoy. Many victims are forced to remain hospitalized or in nursing home facilities for months or even years following their accidents.
In addition to the physical problems victims of brain and spinal cord injuries are forced to endure, the financial and emotional obstacles victims face are often substantial. Victims who are harmed in accidents often require physical and occupational therapy. Many people have to undergo multiple surgeries and spend months or even years recovering. Not only do victims suffer, but their families are often forced to endure negative impacts as well. When victims sustain catastrophic brain or spinal cord injuries, due to the actions of others, it is crucial that they reach out to a personal injury attorney in Jacksonville as soon as possible to protect their legal rights.
At The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates, we strive to help victims obtain the maximum amount of compensation available for their legal claims. Our team of Jacksonville catastrophic injury attorneys understands the overwhelming impacts these painful and debilitating injuries can have on victims and their families. For this reason, we believe victims should obtain the maximum amount of compensation available to cover the costs of medical treatment and other financial burdens. Contact our law firm in Jacksonville at your earliest convenience to meet with our team to discuss the legal options available for you.
Causes of Catastrophic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can happen for a variety of reasons. In numerous cases, victims sustain these life-altering injuries as a result of another person’s negligence. Some of the most common causes of catastrophic brain and spinal cord injuries are:
Automobile Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of catastrophic injuries in Florida. Accidents involving motorcycles, pedestrians, and semi-trucks place victims at an even higher risk of suffering catastrophic injuries. The exposed state of victims and the large size and weight of semi-trucks mean those involved in these collisions are far more vulnerable. Automobile collisions account for roughly 46 percent of all catastrophic injury accidents in Florida.
Slip and Fall Accidents: When property owners are negligent in ensuring their premise is safe to visit, guests are at a heightened risk of suffering debilitating injuries in slip and fall accidents. Catastrophic brain and spinal cord injuries are more likely in cases where victims strike their heads against the ground or other hard objects, which results in traumatic injuries to the head, neck, and spine. Slip and fall accounts account for roughly 22 percent of catastrophic injuries in our state each year.
Being Victimized: Acts of violence are the cause of roughly 16 percent of all catastrophic spinal cord injuries in our state each year. Shootings, stabbings, and assault are the leading causes of violence-induced catastrophic injuries. Negligent security measures at businesses, residential complexes, and places of employment can result in unfortunate injuries.
Sporting Activities: Sporting activities or roughly 12 percent of all catastrophic spinal cord and brain injuries in Florida and across the United States. Football, baseball, basketball, and other contact sports place those involved at risk of suffering injuries. The impact players of these sports sustain can cause devastating head or back injuries.
Workplace Accidents: Although serious accidents can happen at any time and in any industry, construction accidents are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries. Working with heavy equipment and large objects in unstable conditions increase the likelihood of accidents.
Suffering a catastrophic brain or spinal cord injury can have a detrimental impact on a person’s life. When victims sustain these injuries in accidents, due to the reckless actions of others, it is imperative that they reach out to a serious injury attorney in Jacksonville as soon as possible.
Legal Help After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury in Jacksonville
Catastrophic brain and spinal cord injuries are types of injuries that have long-lasting impacts on suffers. The mental, emotional, physical, and financial consequences of these incidents are often devastating. It is important for victims to reach out to an aggressive attorney at their earliest convenience for legal guidance.
Victims who are overwhelmed by the physical pain and suffering from their injuries need to be able to focus on recovering while knowing their legal rights are protected. Retaining the legal guidance of a skilled catastrophic injury attorney in Jacksonville from The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates allows those harmed to rest assured knowing both their best interests and legal rights are protected. Given the strict statute of limitations in Florida, it is crucial that victims seek competent and reliable legal representation as soon as possible.
Working with our team will ensure those harmed are able to present adequate evidence in support of their accidents to maximize their recoveries. Our catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury attorneys in Jacksonville will investigate the scene of the accident, speak with witnesses to gather testimony and information, take photos, gather surveillance footage, and collect medical records as well as other information to ensure victims have solid legal claims.
Life-Changing Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are oftentimes life-changing. These injuries can result in long-term or permanent disabilities that adversely impact the lives of those injured. For this reason, victims who suffer from these injuries deserve far more compensation to cover the costs of medical treatment and various other damages.
Traumatic brain injuries are often associated with severe blows to the head. These injuries cause bruising, bleeding, and permanent damages to the brain. Victims who sustain traumatic brain injuries often deal with an array of long-term issues including:
- Decreased mental capacity
- Impaired balance
- Speech impairments
- Visual impairments
- Problems concentrating
- Amnesia
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain conditions
- Headaches
- Emotional instability
- Extreme anxiety or depression
- Decreased coordination
There are two types of traumatic brain injuries that victims can sustain. Each type presents its own set of challenges for victims. The first type is referred to as a closed-head injury. Closed head injuries occur when trauma causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. These injuries can result in contusions, hematomas, headaches, nausea, seizures, amnesia, and a loss of mental function.
The second type of traumatic brain injury is referred to as an open head injury. These occur when something penetrates through the skull and contacts the brain matter directly. Open head injuries are most commonly associated with extreme blows to the head and gunshot wounds. These injuries are extremely life-threatening.
Spinal cord injuries affect victims in different ways but should not be considered better by any means. Spinal cord injuries are often life-changing and can result in permanent impairments. Victims who suffer spinal cord injuries often lose the inability to care for themselves for several months or indefinitely. In many cases, spinal cord injuries can result in overwhelming pain and suffering.
Like brain injuries, there are two types of spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries can either be considered as complete injuries or incomplete injuries. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are those which result in damage to the spinal cord and nerve cells but do not result in complete separation of the brain and the extremities. Victims with incomplete spinal cord injuries can have some motor function below the area of the injury. Those who suffer incomplete spinal cord injuries often stand the best chances of recovering.
The second type of spinal cord injury, complete spinal cord injuries, are those which result in a complete loss of motor and sensory function at and below the level of the injury. In addition to suffering paralysis, victims with complete spinal cord injuries can be forced to deal with an array of negative consequences. Some of the most common issues those with complete spinal cord injuries face are:
- Loss of bowel control
- Pressure sores
- Respiratory problems
- Heart problems
Victims with complete spinal cord injuries will endure some level of paralysis. There are two main types of paralysis victims may endure. The first type is known as paraplegia. Paraplegia occurs in cases where there is damage to the lumbar, sacral, or thoracic region of the spine. In some cases, victims endure partial paralysis, which means they are still able to control the upper extremities. These people do not have control over their legs. In some cases, bladders and other organs in the lower torso can become separated from the central nervous system. Some people who suffer paraplegia are able to go through extensive rehabilitation and continue living independently.
In other cases, victims suffer quadriplegia. Quadriplegia describes the complete paralysis of all four limbs on a victim. These injuries occur when the upper vertebrae of the spine, known as the cervical bones, sustain damage. The extent of damages, as well as the location of the injuries, will determine the severity of the injury. Generally, the higher the location of the injury, the more severe the injury will be. For example, an injury to the C1 vertebrae can result in the complete paralysis of both voluntary and involuntary functions, like breathing.
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic brain or spinal cord injury, it is imperative that you reach out to an aggressive serious injury attorney in Jacksonville at your earliest convenience. Victims who are harmed by others can collect compensation to help alleviate an array of damages they face from their injuries. Some types of damages victims can collect compensation for include:
- Medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
Contact the team at The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates to schedule a free case evaluation with our team to discuss legal options available for you.
The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates Can Help You
The unfortunate truth is that, no matter how careful and considerate you are to your surroundings, you are never completely out of harm’s way. This is especially true when engaging in activities with others. Whether you are working at your place of employment, driving, or performing other activities, you can be victimized by the careless and reckless actions of others instantly. If you sustained catastrophic injuries, or your loved one lost their life due to an injury accident, it is crucial that you reach out to an injury accident attorney in Florida as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens you face.
The team at The Law Offices of Sheftall & Associates represents clients with both catastrophic and personal injury cases. We understand the challenges victims face after devastating accidents. Our catastrophic injury accident attorneys in Florida provide strategic and cost-effective litigation solutions to ensure victims are able to move forward from their accidents and receive the medical treatment they need. Contact our catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury attorneys in Jacksonville at (904) 647-2296 to see how our team can help you.