Suffered a spine injury in Clifton NJ? Our skilled attorney will help you gain a fair settlement!
Have you or a loved one ever suffered a spine injury in an accident in Clifton, NJ, and been left dealing with medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering? If the answer is ‘yes’, then you need the help of a Clifton NJ Spine Injury Attorney.
This article discusses the importance of seeking assistance from a Clifton NJ Spine Injury Attorney in the event of a spine injury resulting from accidents in Clifton, NJ.
Key takeaways include:
- Spine injuries can have severe consequences, ranging from herniated disks to paralysis and even death.
- Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete, leading to varying degrees of loss of function.
- Spinal cord injuries can result from various accidents, such as automobile accidents, slips and falls, and medical negligence.
- Spine injuries can impact daily life, including the ability to work, perform daily tasks, and incur significant medical expenses.
- Compensation for spine injuries in New Jersey may include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
- It’s crucial to pursue compensation promptly, considering the statute of limitations, the severity of the injury, negligence of the other party, and evidence gathering.
Need an experienced Clifton NJ Spine Injury attorney? Our skilled attorney at Jaloudi Law can guide you through this daunting process, ensuring that you are rightfully compensated for your suffering and losses. Your wellbeing is our top priority.
What Constitutes A Spine Injury?
A spine injury is any damage to the spinal cord or the vertebrae that surround it. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the brain down the back, and it is responsible for carrying messages between the brain and the rest of the body. The vertebrae are the bones that make up the spine, and they protect the spinal cord.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries come in two distinct types: 1) Complete and 2) Incomplete.
- Complete: This type of spinal cord injury leads to a complete loss of function beneath the injury point, generally affecting both sides of the body. The aftermath can sometimes be complete paralysis, which could immobilize all four limbs (known as quadriplegia) or cause paralysis from waist down (known as paraplegia).
- Incomplete: An incomplete spinal cord injury, on the other hand, results in a less severe but still significant loss of function. Individuals suffering from an incomplete spinal cord injury might have the capacity to mobilize one limb more effectively than another or might have more sensation on one side of their body compared to the other. Such injuries can bring about substantial changes to one’s life.
Common Accidents Leading to Spinal Cord Injuries
A victim’s life might be greatly affected by spinal cord damage from various accidents. Here are some typical spinal cord injury accidents.
Automobile Accidents
Spinal cord injuries are mostly caused by car accidents. Crash forces can injure or compress the spinal cord, causing temporary and permanent injury.
Slips and Falls
Height falls, slick surfaces, and tripping can cause spinal cord injury. Landing hard, especially on one’s back or neck, can cause spine fractures or dislocations.
Motorcycle Crash Incidents
Motorcyclists have less protection than car occupants, hence motorcycle accidents typically cause serious injuries. Motorcycle riders can be flung from high-speed crashes, causing spinal cord injuries.
Bicycle Mishaps
Bicycle accidents can cause spinal cord injuries owing to environmental exposure and high-impact crashes with cars. Obstacles, potholes, and other riders can cause traumatic spinal cord injuries.
Cases of Medical Negligence
Surgical operations or misdiagnosis or treatment of back disorders can cause spinal cord damage. Birth mismanagement can cause spinal cord damage in babies, leading permanent disability.
Construction Site Accidents
Construction sites pose many risks, including scaffolding collapses, falling debris, and automobile accidents. These occurrences can cause serious spinal cord injury in construction workers and bystanders.
Large Vehicle (Truck) Collisions
Large truck or commercial vehicle collisions can cause devastating spinal cord damage. Truck accidents are disastrous for passenger car occupants due to their size and weight.
Public Transport (Bus) Accidents
Bus accidents can cause spinal cord injuries to passengers, pedestrians, and other vehicle occupants. Many buses lack seatbelts and restraints, which can worsen bus accident injuries.
Even if your accident isn’t listed, please contact us. If the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, our lawyers can help.
What Effects Can SpineInjuries Have On My Life?
Spine injuries can lead to pain and suffering, making everyday tasks challenging. In some cases, they can have a profound impact on your life. Here’s how:
A spine injury may prevent you from enjoying an active lifestyle and participating in certain kinds of exercises or recreational activities.
They can make it painful, difficult, or even impossible to perform basic daily tasks such as:
- Showering
- Driving
- Carrying groceries
- Walking moderate distances
These difficulties can reduce one’s quality of life, possibly resulting in:
- Lost jobs and income
- Increased transportation costs
- Home renovation expenses
Additionally, spine injury victims often face significant medical bills for:
- Initial medical treatment
- Ongoing care
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Potential surgeries to treat resulting conditions and damage
Compensation Types for Spine Injuries in New Jersey
Following a spine injury in New Jersey, you can claim compensation under different categories. These amounts are generally classified into three groups: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
1. Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the tangible financial losses experienced as a result of the injury. They typically include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers the cost of medical treatment and therapy, including hospital stays, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation expenses related to the spine injury.
- Lost Wages: If the spine injury impacts your ability to work, either temporarily or permanently, you may claim compensation for the lost income.
- Lost Earning Capacity: In case the injury has a long-term effect on your ability to earn, you may claim compensation for the decrease in your earning capacity.
- Property Damage: If the accident results in damage to your property (e.g., vehicle damage in a car accident), this can also be claimed.
2. Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the intangible and subjective losses incurred due to the injury. They usually consist of:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress caused by the spine injury.
- Loss of Consortium: If the injury affects your relationship with your spouse or impacts your ability to perform day-to-day activities, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of companionship or other familial roles.
- Emotional Distress: Compensation for psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by the spine injury.
3. Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not as common as economic and non-economic damages, but they may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s behavior was especially reckless or malicious. These damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
It’s essential to consult a personal injury attorney to help you determine the appropriate compensation categories for your spine injury claim in New Jersey.
When Should I Pursue Compensation For My Spine Injury?
It is essential to pursue compensation for your spine injury as soon as possible to protect your rights and maximize your chances of securing a favorable outcome. Here are some crucial points to consider:
- Statute of limitations: Keep in mind that there is a time limit, known as a statute of limitations, within which you must file a personal injury claim. This time frame varies depending on your jurisdiction, so consult with a local attorney to understand the deadline applicable to your case.
- Severity of the injury: If your spine injury is causing significant pain, impacting your daily activities, or resulting in lost income and mounting medical bills, pursuing compensation becomes vital.
- Negligence of the other party: If you believe that another party’s negligence or recklessness contributed to your spine injury, you may have a strong case for compensation.
- Evidence gathering: Starting the process early can help with gathering crucial evidence, such as medical records, witness statements, and photographs, which may be harder to obtain as time passes.
- Legal assessment: Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They can evaluate your case, determine its merits, and guide you through the process of pursuing compensation.
Remember, the sooner you take action, the better your chances of achieving a favorable resolution and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is the lawsuit filing deadline. After this time, lawsuits will likely be rejected without an opportunity to recover damages, but the statute of limitations may be extended.
Personal injury statutes of limitations begin on the day of injury. In New Jersey, cases brought beyond two years are dismissed by the court.
Extending the Statute of Limitations
New Jersey tightly enforces its two-year personal injury statute of limitations, unlike many states that extend it if the defendant departs town.
Injured minors are the only exception. Such individuals have two years after their eighteenth birthday to file a compensation claim. The two-year deadline begins on the accident date for all other cases.
Spinal Damage Cases A Typical Lawyer Handle
Spinal cord injuries are often synonymous with the complete loss of limb function or paralysis. However, a skilled lawyers assist with a broad scope of spinal damage cases, including:
- Paralysis: Inability to move a part or most of the body.
- Hemiplegia: Difficulty or inability to move the left or right side of the body.
- Paraplegia: Inability to move the lower half of the body.
- Monoplegia: Inability to move one specific limb or body area.
- Quadriplegia: Complete loss of function in all four limbs.
- Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: Issues resulting from damage to the upper spine, including the neck and region below.
- Thoracic Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the middle spine section, potentially affecting a side or both sides of the body.
- Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries to the spine area between the thoracic and sacral regions, typically non-life threatening but often resulting in treatable weakness.
- Sacral Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries to the spine’s end affecting the lower half of the body, among the most severe spinal cord injuries.
- Ruptured and Herniated Discs: Displacement of the disc separating the spine from other backbones leading to potential permanent nerve damage if not treated.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: A condition causing the loss of cushioning, fragmentation, and herniation in the discs between vertebras, often resulting from severe spinal trauma and making patients highly susceptible to significant spinal cord injuries.
Regardless of how severe your injury is, an experienced New Jersey spinal cord injury attorney can boost your chances of getting the necessary assistance. As experienced personal injury lawyers, Jaloudi Law excel in managing accident claims involving serious injuries like spinal cord damage.
Why Do I Need a Clifton NJ Spine Injury Attorney?
Choosing an attorney for a spine injury case is crucial, due to the complexity of these cases. Here are three key qualities to look for in a great lawyer:
Knowledge and Skill
The attorney should know spine injury law well. They must know case-specific legal and medical terms.
Strong Negotiation Ability
An attorney who can negotiate on your side is essential since insurance companies often underpay. This competence can determine whether you get a fair settlement or lose money.
Courtroom Experience
Having a skilled trial lawyer is crucial, even though most personal injury cases never go to trial. An attorney’s skill to persuade a judge or jury can greatly impact your case.
Our team at Jaloudi Law embodies all these qualities:
- Our attorneys are well-equipped with the required knowledge and skills in spine injury cases.
- We have demonstrated strong negotiation skills, leading to numerous successful settlements.
- Our attorneys have courtroom experience and are prepared to take your case to trial if it’s in your best interest.
Overall, Jaloudi Law is committed to fighting for your rights and helping you achieve optimal results in your case.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Reach out by calling, filling out a contact form, or by using the chat box in the lower right corner of our website. We’re here to support you throughout your journey to recovery.
Call Our Experienced Clifton NJ Spine Injury Attorney Now!
Facing a spine injury is overwhelming, presenting a myriad of personal, legal, and financial complexities. Jaloudi Law understands. Our experience encompass not only spine injury cases but also extend to other related practice areas such as:
With years of rigorous practice and a thorough understanding of the legal landscape, we are well-positioned to fight for your rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait, your rights and potential compensation are at stake. Embrace a future where you’re not burdened by the aftermath of your accident.
Call our experienced Clifton NJ Spine Injury Attorney today and let’s discuss how we can support your journey to recovery.
