
Spinal injuries can be life-altering. They can significantly impact your ability to work, study, or keep up with your family. If a negligent party has caused your spinal injury by hitting your car or motorcycle, then we can help. The law allows you to receive compensation for expenses associated with the accident, as well as for your pain and suffering.
The team at Merchant Law has handled many of these cases. We can help you fight the insurance companies and get the money you need to handle the fallout from your car or motorcycle accident.
What’s different about spinal injury cases?
Spinal injuries often require months of surgery and recovery. In some cases, they can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. In almost all cases, the medical bills associated with these cases are extremely expensive.
In addition, many spinal injury victims will not be able to return to work, or will be working at a much-reduced capacity. This means loss-of-earning capacity awards, which can in some cases cover 20 to 30 years worth of wages.
All this means the insurance companies are motivated to fight twice as hard to avoid paying them. They aren’t known for their pity or empathy towards those who have had severe spinal injuries.
How much is a spinal injury case worth?
There are no average figures for spinal injury cases. They can run the gamut from herniated discs that heal with some rest to major, traumatic injuries. They’re calculated just like any other personal injury case is calculated: by accounting for medical bills, long-term care needs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain, and suffering.
Some cases will be worth even more because they include punitive damages. This happens when the driver of the vehicle that hit you has committed a wrong that goes above and beyond negligence. For example, punitive damages might apply if the defendant driver was texting while driving.
How long does a spinal injury case take?
Most personal injury cases take 12 to 18 months to complete. Some cases settle very quickly, while others get pushed all the way into litigation. It’s important to be patient while your lawyer works the process.
Remember that some of this time accounts for the time it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement. Your medical bills and future bills can’t be calculated until you reach this state. You can file the claim the day you get into the accident though, and should, or as soon as you are able. Running the case past the statute of limitations is a common tactic for defendants, and you want to leave your lawyer as much time as possible.
Why Merchant Law?
We’ve helped hundreds of people with spinal injuries get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We have decades of experience and a responsive local team who truly cares about bringing your case to a successful conclusion.
Call (403) 237-7777 to schedule your free consultation. Our team is standing by 24/7/365.