Did you suffer a spinal cord injury in St. Charles, Illinois? These injuries can be completely disabling and affect your ability to work and enjoy life. If another party caused your injury, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for your medical bills and other losses. The St. Charles injury lawyers at Feagans Law Group can help you seek accountability.
We have decades of experience handling catastrophic personal injury claims in Illinois. No matter how complex the injury is, we’re here to help you seek the money you need to rebuild your life. Call us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and legal options.
Why Feagans Law Group is a Top Choice for Spinal Cord Injury Claims?
Spinal cord injury cases are complex and require legal representation that knows how to prove the extent of these tragic injuries and how extensively they impact a person who has suffered one.
Clients in St. Charles, IL, choose Feagans Law Group because:
- Our St. Charles personal injury lawyers have decades of legal experience handling spinal cord injury cases.
- We’ve recovered more than $44 million for clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries.
- We’re available 24/7 and can assist you with your legal needs whenever you have them.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay attorney fees if we win.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a St. Charles spinal cord injury attorney.
Why You Need a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for Your Personal Injury Claim
Spinal cord injury claims in St. Charles often involve substantial damages because the effects of the injury can last a lifetime. Insurance companies know this and frequently dispute the extent of the injury or attempt to reduce the value of the claim.
An experienced attorney can help level the playing field by gathering the evidence necessary to prove both liability and damages. Your attorney will:
- Conduct a detailed investigation into how the accident occurred
- Identify all parties who may be legally responsible
- Gather medical records and expert opinions regarding the injury
- Document the full financial impact of the injury, including future medical care
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Prepare your case for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Your legal team will also work with medical specialists, rehabilitation experts, and life care planners who can estimate the long-term costs associated with your injury. Without experienced legal representation, you risk settling for less compensation than you truly deserve.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in Illinois?
Spinal cord trauma can occur in any type of accident. However, they appear most regularly in the following incidents:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls
- Construction accidents
- Workplace and construction accidents
- Sports accidents
The one thing these accidents have in common is that they are mostly preventable. Often, these injuries are connected to a party’s failure to exercise reasonable care when driving or maintaining a safe property or work site. Fortunately, injured victims can seek compensation to address the harm that these accidents cause.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can vary significantly depending on the location and severity of the damage. In general, these injuries are commonly described based on the level of the spine affected:
- Cervical injuries affect the neck region
- Thoracic injuries affect the upper or mid-back
- Lumbar injuries affect the lower back
- Sacral injuries affect the pelvic area
These injuries are also categorized as either complete or incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury occurs when communication between the brain and the body below the injury site is completely disrupted. This often results in permanent loss of movement and sensation.
An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when some nerve signals can still travel past the injured area. While these injuries may allow partial movement or sensation, they can still lead to significant physical limitations.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries?
For many victims, spinal cord injuries create lifelong physical and emotional challenges. They can affect work, hobbies, and even routine daily life tasks related to self-care.
These injuries can cause:
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Chronic pain
- Nerve damage
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Respiratory or circulatory complications
- Reduced mobility
- Sexual dysfunction
- Mood disorders
In many cases, a person with a spinal cord injury cannot return to work, or at least is unable to return in the same capacity. These injuries can also affect one’s relationship with and ability to care for their family in the same way they did before the accident.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Spinal Cord Injury in St. Charles?
Victims of spinal cord injuries often face overwhelming financial and personal losses, sometimes into the hundreds of thousands or millions. Fortunately, Illinois law allows such individuals to pursue compensation for the damages they’ve suffered due to another party’s negligence.
A successful personal injury claim may provide money for your:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Long-term care or in-home assistance
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium/companionship
Calculating the full value of these damages is a critical part of the legal process. These losses are so complex that they often require detailed financial projections of future losses and expert medical testimony to show how spinal cord trauma has affected a person’s life.
An experienced spinal cord injury attorney in St. Charles can help you establish the value of your claim and demand money for your immediate needs and those you’ll face in the future.
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Illinois?
Illinois law limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit after a spinal cord injury. In most cases, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury (or two years from the date of death if the injury was fatal).
If you fail to file your lawsuit within the time limit, you may lose the right to pursue compensation in court. There are limited exceptions. That’s why you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a serious accident to avoid issues with the deadlines.
Contact a St. Charles Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today for Help
Spinal cord injuries can create lifelong challenges. If your injury was caused by another person’s negligence, you should not have to carry that burden alone. The St. Charles spinal cord injury attorneys at Feagans Law Group are ready to help you obtain financial and legal accountability.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how our legal team can help you protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.