Spinal cord injuries can be caused by falls, sports injuries, gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, or assault, and approximately 30 percent of spinal cord injuries are the result of automobile accidents. Regardless of their specific cause, spinal cord injuries can be life-altering and devastating, especially when they are caused by the negligence of another person.
If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s actions, a knowledgeable Glastonbury spinal cord injury lawyer may be able to help. Contact an experienced catastrophic injury attorney and schedule an appointment to begin assessing your legal options.
What is the Time Limit for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries may benefit from recognizing the limited amount of time they have to file a lawsuit under the statute of limitations. Connecticut General Statutes §52-584 gives injured persons two years to file their lawsuit. Furthermore, a person generally needs to submit proper notice to a tortfeasor within 90 days of the incurred injury.
The proverbial clock on this period generally starts when the injury occurs or is discovered, or should have reasonably been discovered. However, if the defendant left the state for any period of time after the injury occurred but before the lawsuit is filed, the statute of limitations may be extended for that time.
As per Connecticut General Statutes §52-590, though, the statute of limitations may not be extended beyond seven years under any circumstances. If a potential plaintiff or their Glastonbury spinal cord injury attorney fails to file the legal complaint within the given statute of limitations, the plaintiff typically would be barred from recovery of their damages.
Economic Damages Spinal Cord Plaintiffs Could Claim
Spinal cord injuries have a profound impact on an injured person’s way of life. These types of injuries can change relationships, make victims unable to continue to work or continue in their current career, and result in significant financial expenses.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, spinal cord injuries can cause as much as one million dollars in expenses in the first year alone and approximately $185,000 each year after. Compensatory damages that a spinal cord injury attorney in Glastonbury could help a plaintiff pursue recovery for include medical costs, lost income, home renovations, and various non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.
Medical Costs
Victims of spinal cord injuries generally will be eligible to claim compensation for medical expenses related to their condition, which may include costs associated with:
- Necessary assistive devices
- Doctor bills
- Prescriptions
- Ambulance expenses
- Physical and occupation therapy
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation
- Hospital bills
In addition to past medical expenses, a seasoned spinal cord injury attorney serving Glastonbury could help civil plaintiffs recover for expenses they are certain to incur in the future.
Lost Income
Damages for lost or reduced income will also usually apply to the past and future. Depending on their job and the extent of their injuries, some spinal cord injury victims will never be able to return to work at all or may need to switch jobs, while others will be able to return eventually in a limited capacity.
Could Someone Be Compensated for Home Help and Renovations?
People dealing with spinal cord injuries may need assistance at home with daily self-care tasks, such as bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Wide doorways, wheelchair ramps, and other renovations may be needed to make their home livable for them, and can be sought as damages.
How a Glastonbury Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Could Help
After a spinal cord injury, your health and healing are paramount to anything else. You should not have to worry about how your bills will get paid when you are attempting to recover. Call a Glastonbury spinal cord injury lawyer for a case consultation and find out what damages you may be able to claim through civil litigation.
