Utah Spinal Injury Lawyer

When the spine is injured, it is generally considered serious because of major possible side effects. Because the spine acts as the main nerve conduit and carries so much responsibility for the body’s proper functioning ability, any injury can leave a person with symptoms that impact their day-to-day life.

When another party’s negligence causes a spinal accident, the injured person can fight to recover the costs from incurred damages through litigation. Doing so is more manageable with skilled representation on your side, and a Utah spinal injury lawyer can be the advocate you need.

At Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers, our experienced legal team passionately commits to every client we serve. Over the years, we have opened our doors and offered our services to countless members of the community who experienced a serious accident in Utah. Representation is right around the corner when you call (801) 810-9999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

How Can a Utah Spinal Injury Lawyer Help Your Case?

Because spinal injuries are so serious, following the doctor’s orders and enabling a rapid recovery can be enough to put on your plate. The legal process comes with its own set of complexities and detailed steps that must be handled with thorough care.

In most cases, you’ll want a professional to do the job if you want it done right. If you’re the DIY type, you have probably noticed that projects often don’t turn out how you planned or they take up an exhausting amount of time and effort. With the injury claims process, this is especially true: you’ll want to work with a trusted professional because managing the ins and outs on your own can leave you confused and drained. An attorney can watch your back and will be there to shed some light on any gray areas revolving around your case so you never feel like you’re journeying through the process alone.

Working with a trusted Utah spinal injury attorney means that you will gain:

• An open line of communication with professionals in the field: If you find yourself with pressing questions or concerns during the litigation process, where can you go to find an answer? Relying on outside resources like the internet can leave a person at risk of false or unhelpful information, jeopardizing their financial recovery. An attorney is a trusted resource that can provide accurate and objective information, guiding your case towards the strategies that have the highest chances of successful recovery.
• Case management, from big steps to fine details: It can be difficult to manage an ongoing claim or lawsuit, especially if you are recovering from an injury. An attorney can ensure that no steps are being overlooked and all the fine details are organized throughout the duration of litigation.
• Protection from common insurance traps: When an injury victim works through an insurance claim without an attorney, they may be at a higher risk of falling victim to tactics from the defendant’s insurer. Many personal injury claims are resolved through the negligent party’s insurer, and these entities are known for using tactics to undervalue the full capacity of your claim, especially when you are unrepresented.

It’s natural for the litigation process to feel overwhelming in some aspects, but an attorney can take many of the draining aspects of the legal process off of your shoulders, including :

• Conversations with the defendant and their representation: At certain points of the litigation process, you may need to speak with the negligent party or their representation. A lawyer can speak on your behalf, relaying important information back to you at a later time so that you can avoid these tense and tedious situations.
• Analyzing complex documents: Injury claims and litigation comes with endless documents that can be straining to push yourself through. The intense legal jargon can make the documents impossible to understand even after thoroughly assessing each page.
• Settlement negotiations: Arguably, one of the most challenging parts of litigation is negotiating the final settlement value. Gathering evidence and formulating an argument about the true damages caused by your injury can be difficult because you are likely to undervalue your experience or forget small expenses that should be accounted for. An attorney can help you build a comprehensive claim that accurately represents the losses and hardships you have endured.

Common Types of Spinal Injuries

The spine is an intricate body part that a person relies on for basic functions every day. The spinal cord contains the central nerve conduit the body uses to control all organs and appendages. It sits within the spinal column and is considered one of the most vital and sensitive parts of the human body. This interconnection of nerves is responsible for transmitting sensory information, commanding motor skills, and coordinating reflexes.

An injury to the spine can actually be one of many different, specific types of medical conditions. The spinal cord itself can have different types of strain and discomfort depending on the region affected: cerevocal, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Spinal injuries are generally serious, so identifying the specifics behind your injury can help achieve a more rapid and personalized recovery.

Below are some of the common categories of spinal injuries, such as:

• Central cord syndrome: This type of injury penetrates deep into the spinal cord, affecting some of the body’s most-crucial nerves. Central cord injuries can cause effects like paralysis and loss of control over fine motor skills.
• Anterior cord syndrome: This category refers to injuries that affect the exterior of the spinal cord, specifically the front of the spine.
• Brown-Sequard syndrome: This refers to an injury that impacts the side of the spine, leading to effects like paralysis on one side of the body, or weakened senses.

What Commonly Causes Spinal Injuries

The spine is an incredibly sensitive area of the body. Enough impact to a given area can have life-changing effects.

To properly heal from a spinal trauma, your recovery process will be tailored to the exact kind of injury you endured. There are some causes for spinal injuries that are reported more commonly than others, so they are worth noting.

The following is a list of common causes for spinal injuries as reported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS):

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Acts of violence
• Sports injuries
• Surgical injuries

Filing a Spinal Injury Claim in Utah

Most personal injury lawyers resolve cases with the negligent party’s insurer, and the process for carrying out an insurance claim is generally standardized. Below is a mapped out guide to how an attorney manages the steps of an insurance claim. Your attorney will take the foundation of these steps and personalize the process to better-fit the boundaries of your unique case.

Investigating the Details of the Accident

The first step in putting together a solid claim is providing your attorney with the information they need to investigate the accident. The negligent party’s insurer or outside representation will be doing the same thing at this point, so it is essential that you have an ally ready to act as a professional set of eyes and ears during the investigation. Police statements, photos, videos, and other evidence can all be useful in painting a clearer picture of the event and how it caused your spinal injury. This investigation will point to the causes of the accident, who is liable (responsible) for damages, and the full extent of damages based on the predicted medical outcome.

Determining Liable Parties

Before you can file a claim against any specific person or entity, you must be able to determine that they are, in fact, a liable party. In Utah, you can file a lawsuit against another person if their negligent actions directly caused your injuries. When the claim ends in a settlement, there may be no formal admission or declaration of liability, but some claims will resolve through a jury trial, where liability is objectively determined, along with appropriate damages.

Calculating the Extent of the Damages

Finally, in order to negotiate a valid settlement amount, your attorney will need to draw up a comprehensive list of the damages incurred. Calculating the extent of the damages means accounting for every injury treatment bill, related expenses, and future expenses that you have taken on because of the accident. This list also includes non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.

What Can I Recover After a Spinal Injury?

Every year the United States sees over 17,000 spinal cord injuries, on average. Many of these accidents are the result of the actions of another person, and when someone else’s negligence begins to affect other people, a fight for compensation may be on the table.

After an injury you can recover two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages refers to monetary losses with a countable value such as:

• Medical bills
• Cost of continued treatment
• Lost wages

Non-economic damages are described as non-verifiable losses with no set price point, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Mental anguish

Injured Because of Someone Else’s Negligence? Talk to Our Utah Spinal Injury Law Firm

Any type of litigation can be emotionally and physically draining, but managing a legal process through spinal injuries can be especially exhausting because of the serious nature of the injuries. To protect the security of your claim or lawsuit, work with a Utah spinal injury lawyer that can oversee litigation and ensure that each step is carried out efficiently.

Our team at Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers has years of experience serving victims of negligence and we’re standing by to help you too! Schedule a free consultation by calling (801) 810-9999 or contacting us online!