Kansas City Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in an accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Kansas City spinal cord injury lawyer. Spinal cord injuries are among the most traumatic and can severely impact your day-to-day activities as a result of paralysis. Spinal cord injuries result in years of rehabilitative care from which many people are forced to “re-learn” how to do something as simple as eating.

 

If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident which caused a spinal cord injury, please do not wait in contacting some of the best Kansas City personal injury attorneys at Dickerson Oxton, LLC. Our goal is to achieve the best financial outcome for our clients which can assist in making their lives more comfortable after such a traumatic injury. Many accident cases are barred by a limitations period, which is why it is important to contact us as soon as possible to set up your free case evaluation with our injury attorneys in Kansas City.

 

Kansas City Spinal Injury Legal Resources

 

Why Choose Us?

Each case is unique and requires a thorough understanding of the law and the facts of each case. At Dickerson Oxton, LLC, our Kansas City spinal cord injury attorneys know that each case may require a different set of analytic skills depending on the nature and cause of the accident. The end result should lead to compensation for the victim which will further assist them in any transition they need to make.

 

A spinal cord injury can turn your life upside down. A consultation with an attorney, however, can help you feel more heard, supported, and understood. A lawyer will do everything possible to explain your rights, help your family, and obtain full and fair recovery on your behalf. During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to ask any legal questions you may have, and expect an honest and transparent answer. At Dickerson Oxton, our Kansas City personal injury attorneys do not charge for first consultations, so you can speak to an attorney at no charge or obligation.

 

Before you consult with an attorney, prepare a few documents relating to your case. Bring anything you have to your meeting, including police reports and medical records. Prepare to take notes on what the attorney has to say. Ask questions about the lawyer’s practice area experience, success rate, and service fees. Listen to your lawyer’s advice as to what you should do next. Then, let your spinal cord injury lawyer handle your serious injury claim while you focus on putting your life back together.

 

How Impactful are Spinal Cord Injuries?

The average person living with a spinal cord injury will spend between $347,000 and $1 million for medical care in the first year, and from $42,000 to $184,000 annually every year after that. Costs at the lower end of the spectrum are for patients with incomplete motor function, while those at the higher end of the scale are for those with quadriplegia, or loss of function in all four limbs.

 

In addition to millions in medical care over a lifetime, an individual with a spinal injury will also have to pay for home and vehicle modifications, lost wages, and long-term expenses such as rehabilitation and wheelchair-accessible vans. Spinal cord injuries are some of the most expensive injury types. However, with help from a lawyer, it may be possible to obtain compensation for all your past, current, and future injury-related expenses through a personal injury claim.

What Is the Difference Between an Incomplete and Complete Spinal Cord Injury?

When an accident victim is diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, the doctor will state whether it is “complete” or “incomplete.” A complete spinal cord injury is one that causes permanent damage to the area of the spine that has been affected. This can refer to irreversible nerve damage, a severed spine and other permanent spine injuries. 

 

In general, a victim cannot recover from a complete spine injury. These injuries often cause paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. While it may be possible to restore some feeling and function lost due to a complete spine injury with treatments and medical care, most victims never regain the abilities that they lost.

 

An incomplete spinal cord injury does not permanently affect the victim but is still serious. These injuries can cause varying levels of neurologic damage. The victim may experience partial loss of motor and sensory function below the point of injury, for example, or symptoms such as tingling or numbness without the complete loss of feeling and/or function.

 

Incomplete spinal cord injuries generally are not permanent. A victim may be able to make a partial or full recovery from an incomplete spinal cord injury with treatments such as surgery and rehabilitation. Every patient is unique, however, and has a different prognosis and health outcome. After being diagnosed with either a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury, you may be eligible for compensation.

What Damages Can Be Recovered After a Spinal Cord Injury?

A successful insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit could result in recovery for both economic and non-economic damages. In Kansas and Missouri, these damages include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damages, lost quality of life, loss of consortium, and lost capacity to earn. It may also include punitive damages if the defendant was grossly negligent or reckless. The courts may impose a pain and suffering damage cap of $250,000 in Kansas City depending on the case.

 

Spinal cord injury claims can yield six- to seven-figure settlement awards for victims and their family members. Review our past case results to get an idea of the types of outcomes we have been able to secure for our clients. Keep in mind, every claim is unique. The amount of compensation you may be eligible to receive will depend on the severity of the spinal cord injury, its impact on the victim, the victim’s age and income, the actions of the defendant, and other factors, such as the skill of the attorney doing the negotiating. Speak to one of our lawyers today for a more accurate estimate of what your injury case could be worth.

Kansas-City-spinal-cord-accident-attorney-Missouri

What are Common Symptoms of Spinal Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating in their intensity and duration. The physical effects of spinal injuries are quite severe and can include:

 

  • Paralysis
  • Cardiovascular or heart problems
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Chronic pain
  • Psychological problems

 

Many of these injuries require long-term care and weekly rehabilitative classes to assist in achieving the best mobility for the victim. Spinal cord injuries are among the most difficult to treat and can cause not only physical injuries but take an emotional toll as well, leading to increased stress or depression. It is difficult to relearn average, everyday activities that were once so easy. As a victim of a spinal cord accident, the negligent party should be made to answer for your injuries and assist you in acclimating to your new way of life. For more information about your legal options in Missouri, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Kansas City, MO who has experience handling spinal cord injury claims.

What are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries can result from a number of accidents such as:

 

These accidents are often horrific and may have resulted in other fatalities, which only makes the healing process worse for the spinal cord injury victim. The important thing to remember is that you can receive compensation for your injuries and emotional damage with the help of a Kansas City spinal cord injury lawyer. We help you ease the financial burden from this horrific injury.

What Is the Statute of Limitations to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Missouri?

 

A statute of limitations is a law that enforces a strict deadline for filing a civil lawsuit, such as a personal injury claim. If you take too long to assert your rights and file a spinal cord injury claim in Missouri, you may find that your statute of limitations has expired. This typically means the loss of your ability to pursue compensation for your spine injury. This is why it is critical to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after being diagnosed with a spinal cord injury from a preventable accident.

 

The statute of limitations to file a spinal cord injury claim in Missouri is five years under Section 516.120 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. If a spinal cord injury was caused by medical malpractice, however, the deadline is shortened to two years. Typically, the clock on the statute of limitations starts ticking on the date that the injury takes place. If your spine injury was not immediately noticeable, however, the clock will start ticking on the date that you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury.

 

There are exceptions to the statute of limitations in every state, although you should not rely on getting an extension. If the injured party is a minor under the age of 18, for example, the clock doesn’t start ticking until the minor turns 21 years old (giving the plaintiff until age 26 to file). A wrongful death cause of action also has a unique statute of limitations in Missouri: three years from the date of the negligence that caused the death under Section 537.100.

What Is the Statute of Limitations to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Kansas?

 

Every state has unique statutes of limitations on spinal cord injury claims. In Kansas, the general statute of limitations on a spinal cord injury action is two years from the date of injury or injury discovery. The statute of repose – the maximum time limit regardless of the date of discovery – is 10 years from the date that the negligent act occurred. 

 

The two-year statute of limitations also applies to spinal cord injuries arising out of medical malpractice, but these lawsuits have a four-year statute of repose. To file a wrongful death claim, the plaintiff must act within two years of the date of the decedent’s death. Finally, injured minors in Kansas have one year from their 18th birthdays to file lawsuits, but no more than eight years after the negligent act.

Contact our Kansas City Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

After you or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury, you may not know who to turn to for advice. An experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Kansas City, MO will have your best interests at heart. Your lawyer will work for you, not for an insurance company or hospital. Contacting and consulting with an attorney from Dickerson Oxton can give you the information you need to protect your rights and pursue financial compensation for your damages. An attorney will ask you questions about your case, seek information about what happened, and then assess its merit.

Call our spinal cord injury attorneys for a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your case. 

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