How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen
Spinal cord injuries happen in various ways. They are typically caused by blows to the spine or an object penetrating or severing the spinal cord. The ligaments, discs and vertebrae of the spine can be injured as well as the spinal cord itself.
As reported by medical experts at the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of spinal injuries include the following:
- Auto and motorcycle accidents. These account for half of new injury cases annually.
- Falls. For seniors, falls are the most common reason for spinal injuries.
- Sports-related accidents. Approximately 1 in 10 spinal injuries are due to high-impact sports and diving accidents.
- Violent acts. Knife and gunshot wounds are responsible for about 12 percent of spinal cord injuries.
Following an accident in which you injure your spine, you could be left paraplegic, with no use of your lower body. Or even worse, you could be tetraplegic (also called quadriplegic), which means that your entire body from the neck down is paralyzed. With the help of a respected and experienced Reno spinal cord injury lawyer from our law firm, you could get considerable compensation that will reduce the financial stress of your serious injuries when the accident was due to the fault of another person or an entity.
Why Choose Us for Your Case?
Over $150 Million Won for Nevadans
Spinal cord injuries are very expensive to treat. Insurance companies want to keep as much money as they can and will often resist paying appropriately for costly claims. When you work with a law firm that has extensive experience and a track record of success in getting maximum compensation for clients with catastrophic injuries, you increase your chances of getting the best outcome possible for yourself. We are pleased to say that we have recovered over $150 million for clients. Here are additional reasons to consider us for your case:
- Our attorneys have nearly 100 years of combined legal experience.
- Firm founder Gene Leverty is a former Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner in Nevada, which provides him in-depth understanding of the insurance industry. He has put this insight to work in his personal injury practice, achieving several multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements.
- Attorney Patrick Leverty is certified as a personal injury specialist by the state and is highly recognized as a trial lawyer by his legal peers.
- We are committed to client satisfaction, as you will see when you read our testimonials page.
- We provide free and confidential consultations so we can learn about your case, and you can learn about how we can help you.
Contact Leverty & Associates today to arrange a time to speak with a knowledgeable spinal cord injury lawyer in Reno. Call us at (775) 322-6636.
How We Can Help You
If you believe another party was responsible for your spinal injuries, we believe that party should be held accountable. Before accepting your case, we will review all the evidence and facts to assess the strength of your claim. If you were wronged by a negligent party, we will fight hard for your right to compensation.
Our Reno Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Will Work to Establish Fault
We will gather all the evidence to determine how your accident happened. Depending on the cause of the accident, evidence could include eyewitness statements, police reports, doctor reports, photographs and video of accident scenes, statements from expert witnesses and other materials. Then we will work to prove liability.
We Will Negotiate with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company
We will help you determine what your claim is worth and begin negotiations with the insurance company. We will handle all communications so that you can focus on your physical and mental health and not on trying to take on an insurance company. If the insurer does not provide the settlement offer you need, we will discuss with you the possibility of taking your case to trial.
We Will Represent Your Interests in a Court of Law
Most personal injury cases are settled through negotiations. But sometimes they cannot be. Our trial lawyers are highly experienced at arguing cases in front of judges and juries . . . and winning. When your rights and interests are at stake, you can count on smart and dedicated representation.
Call us for help today by dialing (775) 322-6636.
How Much Money Can I Get for My Spinal Injury?
There is no set amount of money you could get for your spinal injury. How much compensation you might get depends on your injuries and the strength of the evidence against the at-fault party. But because these types of injuries are typically very costly, our Reno spinal injury lawyer will pursue maximum compensation for you that is in line with the losses you have experienced.
Cost of Spinal Injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), it costs from $400,000 to more than $1.2 million to treat spinal injuries during the first year after they occur. Lifetime costs can range from approximately $1.3 million to nearly $5.5 million. These figures are for medical treatment and living expenses and do not account for lost wages, loss of productivity and other costs, which can add greatly to the true costs of such an injury, especially if the injured party was a wage earner.
Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Here are types of damages awarded in spinal injury cases:
- Current and future medical costs for doctor care, hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy, prescription drugs, and assistive equipment
- Payment for physical pain and mental suffering
- Lost wages and benefits
- Lost or diminished earning capacity
- In-home or nursing home care
- Compensation to pay for adding a wheelchair ramp to a home or to reconfigure a living space
- Punitive damages in cases of egregious negligence.
To learn what damages you may be able to claim and to get a value range for your case, contact us to arrange a free consultation. Call (775) 322-6636 to speak with a Reno spinal cord injury lawyer.
Northern Nevada Spinal Injury Lawyer Answers FAQs
Most people are not familiar with the process of bringing a personal injury lawsuit. The following section addresses some of the common questions that we receive from people who are considering a lawsuit.
How much we charge you will depend upon your case. However, you will not pay any upfront fees. Our Reno spinal cord injury attorneys work on a contingency agreement basis. We get paid a percentage of the compensation we win for you. Our law firm takes on cases with strong evidence that we expect to win. However, in the unusual circumstance we do not get you a settlement or award, you do not pay us anything in legal fees. We provide free consultations so you can learn about the strength of your claim.
At the free consultation, a spinal cord injury lawyer will listen carefully as you recount the circumstances of the injury accident. Our attorney will ask you follow-up questions to ensure our understanding about what happened and how the accident and your injuries have affected your life. We will review any documentation you can show us regarding the accident and your injuries. Once we understand the circumstances, we will advise you about your legal options.
The statute of limitations in Nevada for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the accident date or when you discovered you were hurt. If the deadline is missed, you may lose your right to file and hold the party who caused your injuries accountable. There are some exceptions to the filing deadline, however, so be sure to speak directly with a Reno spinal cord injury lawyer from our firm to get the specific timing for your claim. We can be reached for a free consultation by calling (775) 322-6636.
If you have tragically lost a family member to a spinal injury caused by the negligence of another party, you may be able to collect compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. You must be an eligible survivor of the person who died or the personal representative of their estate to file for wrongful death. Eligible survivors include spouses, domestic partners, and children of the deceased. If there are no such survivors among these categories, the parents of the decedent can file, followed by siblings if there are no surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, or parents. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death.
These are general answers, and every case is different. For answers to questions about your own case, call us at (775) 322-6636 to schedule a free consultation.
Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
See a Doctor First–Then Get Legal Help from Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
You should always get checked out by a doctor if you have been in an accident in which you may have sustained trauma to your back, neck, or head. Even if you feel fine, symptoms could show up later. If you experienced any of the following signs and symptoms after an accident, seek emergency treatment immediately:
- Incoordination, weakness or paralysis
- Difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Trouble breathing
- Tingling, loss of sensation or numbness in hands or feet
- Loss of control of your bowels or bladder
- Extreme pressure or pain in your back, neck or head
- Your back or neck is oddly twisted.
In addition to caring for your health, you should see a doctor to get a medical report of your injuries. Medical reports and doctor bills will be crucial evidence in your spinal injury case. Our spinal cord injury lawyers will help you collect all the evidence you will need so we can build the strongest case possible.
Turn to Our Reno Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys for Help
We Will Fight Aggressively for Your Right to Compensation
Spinal injury cases are complicated. You are going up against insurance companies who do not let go of money easily. They must be shown strong evidence that clearly proves liability by their policyholders. We have years of experience investigating evidence, building effective cases, and taking on insurance companies on behalf of clients. When you trust us with your case, you can count on receiving knowledgeable, hardworking, and responsive legal representation.
Reach out to Leverty & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our spinal cord injury lawyers. Call us at (775) 322-6636.
Attorney Patrick Leverty
With his master’s in insurance law, Patrick routinely helps individuals and businesses who are having issues with their insurance company. He also has extensive experience with personal injury actions, complex tort actions, product liability matters, and class actions. Patrick Leverty is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell (the highest rating) and has been granted membership in the Million Dollar Advocate Forum, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum. Patrick Leverty has been certified as a Personal Injury Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. [ Attorney Bio ]
