Stuart Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries often leave individuals grappling with profound changes in their daily lives. These injuries can severely impact mobility, independence, and overall quality of life, making recovery a significant challenge.

At The Schiller Kessler Group, we understand the heavy toll these injuries take. With over three decades of experience, a Stuart spinal cord injury lawyer from our firm can help you pursue the compensation you need for your recovery.

If you need a Stuart personal injury lawyer who fights tirelessly for justice, contact us today. The Schiller Kessler Group is here to support your recovery and pursue the resources you deserve.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Our Stuart catastrophic injury lawyers know that spinal cord injuries often result from sudden and life-altering events. Recognizing the common causes of these injuries can help identify potential legal claims for compensation. Below are some frequent causes of spinal cord injuries:

• Vehicle accidents: Crashes involving cars, trucks, or motorcycles often result in significant spinal cord trauma. The impact from collisions frequently leads to partial or complete paralysis.
• Falls: Accidents such as workplace falls, slips in public spaces, or falls from heights can cause severe spinal injuries, especially in older adults or construction workers.
• Sports and recreation: High-impact activities like diving, football, skiing, or horseback riding carry risks of spinal injuries during accidents.
• Violence: Incidents such as gunshot wounds, stabbings, or physical assaults can lead to unpredictable and severe spinal cord damage.
• Diseases: Conditions such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, or spinal cord inflammation can gradually weaken and injure the spine.
• Alcohol use: Alcohol consumption contributes to impaired judgment and coordination, playing a role in one out of every four spinal cord injuries.
• Work–related accidents: Jobs requiring heavy lifting, operating machinery, or working at heights pose risks of spinal cord injuries. 

Understanding these causes highlights the importance of safety and accountability in preventing spinal cord injuries. If you or a loved one has been affected, our attorneys can help you work through the legal process and pursue the compensation needed for your recovery.

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Stuart

Suffering a spinal cord injury can bring significant medical and financial challenges, and seeking the right compensation can be a major step toward rebuilding your life. Our Stuart spinal cord injury attorneys will fight to make sure you get compensation to help make that journey easier.

Compensatory damages aim to restore the victim’s financial and personal losses. These damages are divided into monetary and nonmonetary categories. Examples of economic damages include:

• Current and future medical costs
• Lost income and reduced earning potential
• Expenses for home modifications and caregiving
• Property repairs or replacements

Non-economic damages address personal losses and may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

Punitive damages may be awarded for intentional, reckless, or harmful actions to hold the defendant accountable and prevent similar conduct. In Florida, they are capped at three times the compensatory damages or $500,000.

Proving Negligence After a Spinal Cord Injury

Proving fault in a spinal cord injury claim is a critical step in pursuing the justice and resources you need. Establishing negligence in a spinal cord injury case involves demonstrating three key points:

• The defendant had a legal duty to act with care toward the victim.
• The defendant failed to uphold that duty.
• This breach directly caused harm to the victim.

Florida’s modified comparative negligence law allows injured individuals to recover damages even if they are partially at fault, as long as their share of responsibility is 50% or less. The amount recovered is reduced by the individual’s percentage of fault.

For instance, if a plaintiff is awarded $100,000 but found 30% at fault, their recovery will be reduced by $30,000, leaving them with $70,000. However, if they are over 50% at fault, they are not eligible to recover any damages.

Protecting Your Rights Within the Statute of Limitations

In Florida, individuals typically have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim, including spinal cord injury cases. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Failing to file within this time frame results in losing the right to seek damages for your injuries.

Acting quickly after an injury helps protect your rights and gather key evidence for your case. If you’re unsure about your deadline, seek guidance promptly to avoid missing the opportunity to pursue justice.

Should You Accept a Quick Settlement?

A quick settlement offer can seem tempting, especially when medical bills and other expenses start to pile up. However, initial offers are often far below what your claim may actually be worth, as insurance companies aim to minimize their payouts after serious accidents.

Accepting a low offer could leave you without enough to cover your losses. Instead, speak with a spinal cord injury lawyer in Stuart who can review the offer and advocate for the full amount you deserve for your recovery.

Trust a Stuart Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer to Fight for You

A spinal cord injury can change every aspect of your life, leaving you with physical, emotional, and financial burdens. At The Schiller Kessler Group, we understand how overwhelming this can be, and a Stuart spinal cord injury lawyer from our team is ready to help you pursue justice.

With over three decades of experience, we’ve assisted more than 30,000 Florida injury victims in recovering the resources they need. Our commitment is to fight aggressively on your behalf and help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

Contact The Schiller Kessler Group today to discuss your case. Together, we can explore your options and work toward securing the support that helps you move forward. Your recovery starts with the right legal guidance.