An injury to the spinal cord can be life-changing. In some cases such an injury will result in paralysis. In other cases, such an injury will result in a lifetime of pain and discomfort. It is not uncommon for a motorcyclist to suffer a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident. Even when a helmet is worn, motorcyclists sometimes experience serious trauma to the head, back or neck leading to a spinal cord injury or brain injury. Spinal cord injuries often cause the victim to lose a significant amount of independence so that they have to depend on others to help with daily activities of living. In addition, spinal cord injuries can leave the victim with a lifetime medical costs. If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident, car accident, truck accident or SUV accident due to the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim. Contact an experienced Brooklyn Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer who will explain to you your legal rights and who will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled under New York law. In addition, if while treating you for your injuries the medical professional makes a mistake, resulting in a medical malpractice claim, the person responsible for your original injury may be legally required to compensate you for that as well.
Types of Motorcycle Spinal Cord InjuriesDepending on the specific part of the spinal cord that is injured and the severity of the injury, there are a several possible types of spinal cord injuries that could result from a motorcycle accident.
Depending on the type of injury, the victim may suffer paralysis while in other cases the victim may suffer pain and discomfort.
Pursuing Compensation for a Spinal Cord InjuryA severe spinal injury requires a long, painful course of treatment and period of recovery. Victims face significant medical expenses including fees associated with emergency room treatment, the hospital stay, treatment by doctors, physical therapy, assistive equipment, and medication. To make matters worse, while you are recovering you will not be able to work and earn an income to pay for your medical expenses and support your family.
Fortunately, if your spinal cord injury was due to the accidental or intentional act of another person, under New York law you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. You may be able to recover both past and future medical expenses including hospital bills, expenses for surgery, rehabilitation fees, and fees for prescription medication. You may also be able to recover the cost of assistive equipment such as a wheelchair as well as modifications to your home to make it accessible. Furthermore, you may be able to recover both lost wages, loss of future earning capacity and pain and suffering.
Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim for a personal injury. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.
Brooklyn Motorcycle Accidents LawyerIf you were injured in a motorcycle accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases and motorcycle accident cases as well as the medical issues associated with injuries to the spine. The staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC is experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from car, truck, SUV and motorcycle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.