Your spinal cord is a delicate bundle of nerves running through your vertebrae, carrying signals between your brain and body. During a car accident, the forces involved can cause vertebrae to fracture, dislocate, or compress, potentially damaging or severing this pathway. A spinal cord injury can change your life forever, and if you or a loved one sustained this damage during a collision, you deserve to hold the responsible party accountable.
The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Damage
Spinal cord injuries often lead to partial or complete paralysis, affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. Paralysis can rob victims of their ability to walk, grasp objects, or even breathe independently. Once routine activities—such as getting dressed, eating, or using the bathroom—may now require constant assistance.
Many survivors need to modify their homes, purchase specialized equipment, and rely on full-time caregivers. They may be unable to return to their previous job, forcing them to rebuild their career path or face permanent disability. The lifetime cost of care for a severe spinal cord injury can exceed millions of dollars, creating serious stress during an already challenging time.
Your Options for Justice After a Car Accident in Kansas City
If you are involved in a catastrophic car accident and someone else is at fault, you deserve justice. Pursuing legal action with a car accident attorney in Kansas City can help you adapt to your new reality. When pursuing justice for a spinal cord injury, you have several legal options available to you:
- Personal Injury Lawsuit: File a civil claim against the at-fault driver with help from a Kansas City personal injury attorney to recover compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and other damages. This option often provides the most comprehensive path to full compensation.
- Liability Insurance Claims: You can file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, these policies are subject to limits that often fall far below what your spinal cord injury is actually worth.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims: If the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance coverage, you can pursue compensation through your uninsured motorist policy.
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Claim Worth?
Spinal cord injury lawsuits are often high-value claims. This is because these catastrophic injuries typically require lifelong medical care, special equipment, and substantial lifestyle modifications. The inability to work and earn income, combined with ongoing healthcare expenses, creates a massive financial burden. As such, you need a settlement that adequately covers your immediate and long-term needs.
The value of your settlement will depend on your specific case. For example, injuries higher on the spine typically result in larger settlements because they affect more of the body and require more extensive care. Your age at the time of injury also affects your settlement amount, as younger victims face more years of lost wages and medical expenses.
An attorney can help you determine the value of your claim. They work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to demonstrate the full scope of your losses. Most importantly, they prevent insurance companies from pressuring you into accepting an inadequate settlement.
Start Your Legal Journey with Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe
A spinal cord injury can radically change your life, and you deserve the necessary resources to adapt to your new normal. The attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker, & Hershewe has secured over $1 billion for our clients—we can help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 for a free consultation today.