Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Bakersfield

Spinal Cord Injuries in Bakersfield

Spinal cord injuries are classified as catastrophic injuries due to their severe and often life-altering nature. As one of California’s most populous cities, Bakersfield experiences a higher incidence of accidents, which increases the risk of sustaining such injuries. Whether it’s a car crash, bus collision, pedestrian accident, train derailment, or slip and fall incident, the likelihood of spinal cord injuries rises with the number of accidents.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Car Accidents: With Bakersfield’s bustling roads and highways, car accidents are a frequent occurrence. These collisions can result in significant spinal injuries, which may lead to long-term disability.

Bus and Train Accidents: Public transportation accidents, including those involving buses and trains, can also cause serious spinal injuries. The impact of a collision or sudden stop can severely affect the spinal cord.

Pedestrian and Slip-and-Fall Incidents: Pedestrians are at risk of spinal injuries from vehicle strikes or falls on uneven surfaces. Slip-and-fall accidents, particularly in hazardous conditions, can lead to severe back and spinal cord damage.

What to Do If You Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury

If you or someone you know has sustained a spinal cord injury due to an accident, it’s crucial to seek professional legal advice. Our experienced attorneys specialize in handling spinal cord injury cases and can provide personalized guidance through a one-on-one consultation.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Securing the right legal representation can make a significant difference in your case. Experienced attorneys will help you understand your rights, gather evidence, and navigate the complexities of personal injury law.

Our dedicated team of Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorneys is available around the clock to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your potential claim. Spinal cord injuries are not just severe—they can lead to long-term, permanent damage that significantly impacts your quality of life.

Why Immediate Legal Representation Matters

If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury, having a knowledgeable attorney by your side from the outset is crucial. In the aftermath of an accident, insurance companies often reach out to victims with low settlement offers. These offers can fall far short of what victims rightfully deserve. An experienced attorney will ensure that you are not pressured into accepting an inadequate settlement and will advocate for the full compensation you are entitled to.

Understanding Your Needs for Compensation

Spinal cord injury victims face not only immediate medical expenses but also ongoing costs for future treatments and rehabilitation. It’s essential to secure comprehensive compensation that covers both current and future needs. This often involves negotiating with insurance companies and potentially pursuing legal action to ensure all necessary expenses are accounted for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do immediately after a spinal cord injury?

A: Seek medical attention right away and consult with a spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will help you navigate the legal complexities and ensure your rights are protected.

Q: How can an attorney help with my spinal cord injury claim?

A: An attorney will work to ensure you receive fair compensation by handling negotiations with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and representing you in court if necessary.

At our firm, we have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of spinal cord injuries. Our extensive experience and dedication to justice have earned us a reputation as one of the top-rated personal injury firms in Bakersfield. We specialize in holding negligent parties accountable for their actions, ensuring that our clients receive the compensation they deserve.

Why Choose Us for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case?

Our legal team is committed to providing comprehensive care and support for individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries. We understand the complexities of these cases and work tirelessly to hold responsible parties accountable for the damages our clients have endured. Our track record speaks for itself, reflecting our success in securing substantial settlements and verdicts.

What Sets Us Apart?

Our firm’s success is built on a foundation of relentless advocacy and a deep understanding of personal injury law. We are dedicated to not only securing financial compensation but also ensuring that our clients receive the medical care and support they need for their recovery.

FAQs

What types of compensation can I expect for a spinal cord injury?

Victims of spinal cord injuries may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Each case is unique, and our team will work with you to determine the full extent of your potential compensation.

How do I start a personal injury claim?

Contacting a qualified personal injury attorney is the first step. Our team will review the details of your case, provide legal advice, and guide you through the process of filing a claim.

What are the different types of spinal cord injuries?

Spinal cord injuries can arise from a variety of causes, including traumatic events like accidents, falls, or sports injuries. They can also result from non-traumatic issues such as infections or degenerative diseases. Understanding the specific section of the spinal cord that is injured helps in diagnosing the extent of the damage and planning appropriate treatment.

Symptoms and Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries

The symptoms and long-term effects of a spinal cord injury (SCI) depend heavily on the location of the injury and its severity.

Cervical spinal cord injuries — which occur in the neck region — can disrupt movement and sensation in the arms, legs, and trunk. Severe cervical damage often leads to quadriplegia (tetraplegia), a condition involving partial or complete loss of function in all four limbs.

Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord injuries, located in the mid-back and lower back, typically affect the torso and legs. These injuries may result in paraplegia, which involves loss of movement and sensation in the lower body while leaving arm function intact.

The degree of disability also depends on whether the injury is complete (total loss of function below the injury site) or incomplete (some preserved movement or sensation).

Q: What should I do if I suspect a spinal cord injury?

A: If you or someone else is experiencing symptoms of a spinal cord injury, such as loss of movement or sensation below the injury site, seek immediate medical attention. Early intervention is critical for the best possible outcome.

There are four different sections of the spinal cord. If any of these four sections have suffered any damage, then you most likely have a spinal cord injury. These types of injuries are categorized as:

• Cervical spinal cord: The cervical spinal cord is located at the top of the spinal cord. This is close to the neck and shoulder area. If any injury occurs to the cervical spinal cord, it may result in nerve damage and paralysis, such as paraplegia. Symptoms of a cervical spinal cord may include difficulty breathing or difficulty speaking. Many medical providers may try to treat a cervical spinal cord injury with rehab or anti-inflammatory and pain medication.
• Thoracic spinal cord: The thoracic spinal cord is the area that is located just under the cervical area. This is near the rib cage area, and any damage to the thoracic spinal cord could lead to loss of bladder control. Many medical providers may treat this injury with physical therapy, or at-home medical services or equipment.
• Lumbar spinal cord: The lumbar spinal cord is just below the thoracic spinal cord. The lumbar spinal cord is located near the hips and could cause loss of bladder control or inability to walk and get around. Fortunately, the lumbar spinal cord injury is considered to be a less serious injury compared to the other areas of the spinal cord.
• Sacral spinal: The sacral spinal cord is located at the bottom of the spinal cord near the legs. The sacral spinal cord injury could lead to loss of bladder control. This is possibly one of the easiest spinal cord injuries to treat, and could usually resolve by moving around.

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek justice and hold the responsible party accountable. However, before pursuing any legal action, it’s crucial to first consult with a qualified medical provider.

Why You Need a Medical Evaluation

A thorough medical evaluation is essential for several reasons. First, a medical provider can accurately diagnose the type and extent of your spinal cord injury. This diagnosis is vital in understanding your specific condition and the potential impact on your life. Additionally, your medical provider will recommend the best course of treatment tailored to your needs.

The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment

An accurate diagnosis will not only inform your treatment plan but also help in determining the compensation you might need for future medical expenses. This includes both immediate and long-term care costs. Understanding the full scope of your injury and its treatment needs will ensure that you receive adequate compensation to cover all potential future costs.

Seeking Legal Advice

Once you have a clear understanding of your injury and treatment requirements, you can better assess your legal options. Consulting with a personal injury attorney who specializes in spinal cord injuries can help you navigate the legal process and advocate for your rights. They can assist in gathering necessary evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and ensuring that you receive fair compensation.

Why should you hire our Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorneys?

• Our Heidari law attorneys will investigate all the circumstances regarding your spinal cord injury. We know how difficult it could be to prove a spinal cord injury in court and prove the responsible party is liable. But, our attorneys have been doing this for the last several decades, and understand and have the work experience to hold the negligent parties accountable.
• Our attorneys understand how devastating it could be to have to go through a spinal cord injury, not only for you but for your family members as well. We take into account any future compensation that you may need.
• We will handle all negotiations and settlements with the responsible party, along with any legal hurdles that may come up.
• Our attorneys will work through a contingency agreement, meaning that you are attorneys nothing unless we win compensation for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
• Our top-rated attorneys provide free case evaluations to discuss your potential spinal cord accident injuries. We know that spinal cord injuries can vary depending on the person, which is why we recommend that you speak to our attorneys as soon as possible.

What kind of compensation could I receive for my spinal cord injury accident in Bakersfield?

The compensation you could receive varies depending on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the spinal cord injuries that you have suffered. For example, different types of compensation could include:

• Past lost wages
• Future loss of income
• Future loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Future medical expenses
• Future at-home nursing care
• Past medical expenses
• Surgeries to the spinal cord
• Injections to the spinal cord
• Physical therapy treatments
• Prescription medication for pain
• Prescription medication for inflammation

There are several other types of compensation that you could recover, but it depends on a case-by-case basis.

Who can be held responsible for a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Bakersfield?

For any spinal cord injury filed in Bakersfield, California, several different parties could be held liable, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the injuries that the victims suffered. For example, the different parties could include:

• Property owners: A property owner or a property manager in Bakersfield must make sure that their property is safe from any dangerous conditions. If they had a hazard like a slippery floor which led to a slip and fall accident and spinal cord injuries, they could be held responsible.
• Business owners: Business owners also have a responsibility to make sure that their business is free from any dangerous conditions. If you have experienced any spinal cord injuries from a negligent business owner, you could hold them responsible under a premises liability lawsuit.
• Government entity: Government entities themselves could be held responsible for spinal cord injuries. For example, if a trip and fall accident on a sidewalk led to a spinal cord injury, the injured victim could file a lawsuit against the government entity. 
• Product manufacturers: Product manufacturers have a duty to make sure that the products they produce do not have any defects. For more information, contact our product liability attorneys today.

Bakersfield Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Near Me

Our Bakersfield spinal cord injury attorneys are available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your potential spinal cord injury lawsuit.