Melbourne Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can change every aspect of your life, leaving you with challenges that require significant support. At The Schiller Kessler Group, our Melbourne spinal cord injury lawyers are here to fight for your rights and help you pursue the resources needed to rebuild and recover.

With over three decades of experience, our Melbourne personal injury lawyers work to hold negligent parties accountable and pursue fair compensation for your losses.

Let The Schiller Kessler Group stand by your side and take on the fight for you. Contact us today to learn more.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

Your spine does more than keep you upright—it protects your spinal cord, which connects your brain to the rest of your body. This critical system controls movement, organ function, and sensation below the neck.

When the spinal cord is injured, the impact can be life-changing. If you’re dealing with a spinal injury, a Melbourne catastrophic injury lawyer can help you explore your options and fight for the support you need.

Spinal cord injuries come in different forms, each with its challenges:

• Complete injuries: Total damage to the spinal cord, leaving no feeling or movement below the injury.
• Incomplete injuries: Partial damage, where some sensation or movement remains.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis that affects the legs and lower body.
• Tetraplegia (quadriplegia): Paralysis that affects all four limbs.

These injuries often require ongoing medical care and adjustments to daily life. Our attorneys are here to fight for the resources you need to move forward. Contact us today to get started.

Common Causes of Spinal Injuries in Melbourne

Spinal cord injuries often happen when the back is subjected to a sudden impact or unnatural force. In Melbourne, several types of accidents frequently lead to these injuries:

• Car accidents: Melbourne’s busy roads and highways, such as Interstate 95, see their share of crashes. Sudden impacts in car accidents can cause the spine to bend or compress unnaturally, leading to fractures or herniated discs.
• Motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents: Melbourne’s warm weather encourages riding and walking, but accidents can leave victims unprotected, causing serious spinal injuries.
• Workplace accidents and construction sites: Industries in Florida, including construction, expose workers to risks like falling objects, equipment mishaps, and falls from heights, all of which can cause significant spinal injuries.
• Slip and falls: Unintentional falls are common in areas like shopping centers, local parks, or along uneven sidewalks. The sudden impact of a fall can compress or twist the spine, leading to serious injuries.

These accidents can disrupt every aspect of life, often requiring extensive treatment and recovery. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, Melbourne spinal cord injury attorneys can help you understand your legal options and fight for the support and resources you need to move forward.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Spinal Injury?

If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to seek damages. In Florida, there are no caps on damages for personal injury cases, except in specific claims against the state. Compensation for a spinal injury can include the following:

Economic Damages

These damages address the financial impact of your injury, such as:

• Medical expenses for current and future treatments, including therapy and medication
• Lost wages due to time away from work
• Reduced earning ability if you’re unable to return to your previous job or must stop working entirely

Attorneys calculate economic damages using records like medical bills, pay stubs, and employment documentation.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages compensate for the personal toll of your injury, including:

• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Permanent disfigurement
• Loss of ability to perform everyday tasks, like driving or household chores
• Overall reduction in quality of life

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, punitive damages may apply if the responsible party acted recklessly or with gross negligence. A lawyer can assess whether this type of compensation is relevant to your situation.

Understanding the types of damages available can help you pursue fair compensation for your spinal cord injury. Our spinal cord injury attorneys in Melbourne will explain which damages are applicable to your claim.

Determining Liability for a Spinal Cord Injury Accident

Multiple parties may share responsibility for an accident that caused your spinal cord injury. These can include:

• Drivers involved in negligent or reckless behavior
• Trucking companies that fail to maintain safe practices
• Manufacturers of defective products that contributed to the injury
• Property owners who neglect to address hazardous conditions

Proving Negligence

To hold someone accountable for your injury, you must demonstrate negligence through four key elements:

• Duty: The responsible party owed you a duty of care. For instance, property owners must ensure safe conditions for lawful visitors but may not owe the same duty to trespassers.
• Breach: The duty was violated through unreasonable actions or inaction, such as failing to repair a dangerous condition or breaking traffic laws. Evidence, such as witness statements or photos, can establish this.
• Causation: The breach must have directly led to your injury. Medical records and expert testimony can connect the accident to your spinal cord injury.
• Damages: You must show measurable harm, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or reduced quality of life resulting from the injury.

Shared Fault and Recovery

Your ability to recover damages can depend on your role in the accident. In Florida, under Florida Statutes § 768.81, your damages may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. However, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, you may still pursue compensation.

Trusted Support from a Melbourne Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Recovering from a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming, and having the right legal support can bring a lot of relief. At The Schiller Kessler Group, a Melbourne spinal cord injury lawyer from our team can help you pursue justice and the resources needed to rebuild your life.

With over three decades of experience, we’ve successfully helped secure compensation for more than 30,000 Florida injury victims. We understand the challenges you’re facing and are ready to fight for your rights every step of the way.

Let us help you move forward. Contact The Schiller Kessler Group is ready to stand by your side. Call us today.