Life changes after a spinal cord injury. They leave a lasting mark on their victims and their loved ones. If someone caused your spinal cord injury through carelessness, they should be held accountable. Working with a Lake Charles spinal cord injury lawyer can make a clear difference in the outcome of your case.
With a dual background in medicine and law, Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., brings a unique perspective to serious injury cases. He spent nearly 20 years as a practicing physician for long-term acute care. His hands-on experience gives him a deep understanding of how traumatic injuries affect real lives.
Spinal cord injury laws in Louisiana allow injured people to recover damages from negligent parties. The law treats these claims seriously. This is especially true when the injuries result in permanent disability. You might have the right to file a claim against the responsible party.
The process starts by showing that someone acted negligently, which led to your injury. That could mean proving a driver was distracted or that a property owner failed to fix a known hazard.
Many cases involve younger adults, adding long-term challenges to health. Because of the lifelong impact, these spinal cord injury cases often result in higher damages than other personal injury claims.
The law allows recovery for damages like medical expenses, future care, and pain and suffering. If the injury affected your ability to work, lost earning ability can be included too.
Spinal cord injury cases are rarely simple. They often require detailed medical evidence. Without legal guidance, it can be hard to know what your case is worth. An experienced Lake Charles spinal cord injury attorney from our firm can step in to guide the process from day one.
Insurance companies may appear helpful at first, but their goal is to reduce the amount they pay. Many injured people end up with low settlements that don’t cover future medical costs. Our lawyer in Lake Charles can push back against these tactics using evidence that supports your case.
Our Lake Charles personal injury attorney can also help coordinate with doctors to keep your case on track. We know how spinal cord injury laws work in Louisiana, and our team can present claims in court if needed.
Having legal help does not guarantee results; however, it gives you a better chance of reaching a fair outcome.
Unlike other injuries, spinal cord damage often causes permanent loss of function. That makes these cases more complicated. Here’s how they stand apart:
Spinal cord injury cases need a strategy that focuses on long-term care.
Spinal cord injuries often don’t result in a full recovery. They leave a mark that stretches over decades. Even with proper treatment, many people never regain full function. This can also affect the injured person’s family.
Estimates show that around 17,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. each year. Many of these injuries result from preventable causes like motor vehicle collisions. Motor vehicle accidents account for 38% of new SCI cases. Each incident brings a wave of disruption.
Schwalben Law Firm combines legal experience with patient care. We can communicate clearly with medical professionals, helping clients avoid misrepresentation. Our clients benefit from an attorney who has seen both sides of injury cases. We’ve been in the exam room and the courtroom with injury victims.
A: Louisiana law treats spinal cord injury claims caused by negligence as a personal injury claim. These cases fall under comparative fault. That means if you’re partly responsible for your injury, your compensation can be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault, your recovery can be reduced by that amount.
A: A spinal cord injury lawyer helps with insurance companies by speaking and negotiating with them on behalf of their clients. Insurance companies often work to minimize payouts, and their representatives might try to settle quickly. They often pressure people into accepting a low offer. When you hire a lawyer, you don’t have to speak directly with adjusters from the other side.
A: Spinal cord injury claims are different from other personal injury claims in a few ways. These claims often involve higher stakes. Most spinal cord injuries lead to permanent disability, which can affect your daily life. Unlike other injuries, spinal cord damage can require lifelong medical treatment. The legal process for these claims needs a strong presentation of evidence.
A: A spinal cord injury can involve multiple parties, depending on how the injury occurred. In a motor vehicle crash, multiple drivers could share fault. Louisiana’s comparative fault law allows you to bring a claim against each responsible party. Each one can be held accountable for their share of the damages.
Living with a spinal cord injury brings daily challenges. Don’t let the responsible party off the hook. Our lawyer, with experience in medicine and law, can help guide you toward justice. Schedule a consultation with Schwalben Law Firm for a legal team that understands serious injury law.