Honolulu Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Common Causes and Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are approximately 17,500 new spinal cord injury cases in the United States each year. The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents.

Of course, there are many other possible causes of spinal cord injuries. This includes:

• Motorcycle accidents
• Slips and falls
• Pedestrian accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Bicycle accidents
• Defective products
• Recreation accidents
• Acts of violence
• Work accidents

No matter what caused a spinal cord injury, the effects can be devastating. Any spinal cord injury can affect you for the rest of your life.

There are two main types of spinal cord injuries:

1. A complete spinal cord injurycauses permanent damage to part of the spinal cord. With a complete spinal cord injury, a person loses muscle control, feeling, or function below the site of the injury. This may result in paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.
2. An incomplete spinal cord injury causes partial damage to the spinal column. With an incomplete spinal cord injury, the spinal cord is still able to send some messages to or from the brain. This may allow a person to still have some feeling, function, and muscle control below the injury site.

A spinal cord injury can happen at any point along the spine. These injuries are classified based on where the injury happens:

• Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the head and neck region (above the shoulders)
• Thoracic spinal cord injuries affect the upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscles
• Lumbar spinal cord injuries affect the hips and legs
• Sacral spinal cord injuries affect the hips, back of the thighs, buttocks, and pelvic organs

Depending on the type and location of a spinal cord injury, a person may experience:

• Paralysis
• Numbness, tingling, or a loss of (or changes to) sensation in hands and feet
• Weakness in any part of the body
• Pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Difficulty walking
• Unnatural or uncomfortable positions of the spine and head
• Changes in sexual function
• Difficulty breathing

These symptoms may be permanent, although rehabilitation may be possible for less severe injuries. Getting prompt medical care is often the key to the fullest possible recovery from a spinal cord injury.

Any type of spinal cord injury can be disabling. If you have suffered an injury to your spinal cord in an accident, we are here to help. Our law firm will fight to get you maximum compensation for your losses, leaving you free to focus on your health and recovery.

Can I File a Lawsuit for My Spinal Cord Injury?

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. These types of claims are usually brought on a theory of negligence or carelessness.

Negligence is a legal concept that essentially means that a person failed to use the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation. The injury victim (plaintiff) typically has the burden of proving that the at-fault party (defendant) was negligent. To do so, the plaintiff must introduce evidence of the following:

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to use reasonable care.
2. The defendant violated that duty in some way (such as by running a stop sign and causing a car accident).
3. This violation directly caused the accident or injury.
4. The plaintiff suffered damages (losses) as a result.

In some cases, a spinal cord injury lawsuit is based on intentional or reckless conduct. This can include intentional acts of violence, like a bar fight, or things like DUI accidents. You can still pursue a civil lawsuit against a defendant in addition to any possible criminal charges that the police may bring against this person.

Depending on the facts of your case, you may bring a claim against:

• A driver
• A doctor or other medical professional
• The manufacturer of a defective product
• A property owner
• A government agency
• A hotel or resort
• A business

If you can prove that the defendant caused your spinal cord injury, you may recover money for all of your losses. This may include your medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. In Hawaiʻi, you may also recover punitive damages if the defendant caused your injuries intentionally or recklessly.

Our law firm has extensive experience handling spinal cord injury cases. We will thoroughly investigate each aspect of your case, working hard to hold the responsible parties liable for your injuries. Our Honolulu spinal cord injury attorneys will also build a strong case for compensation, ensuring that you have the money that you need to move forward with your life.

How Can a Honolulu Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help Me?

When you suffer a catastrophic injury such as a spinal cord injury, it is incredibly important that you have skilled legal representation. Your potential losses from a spinal cord injury may be incredibly high. Our law firm will work to help you get a fair settlement for all of your losses.

If another person was responsible for your spinal cord injury, we can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This may be filed against a car insurance policy, a homeowner’s insurance policy, or a commercial liability policy. If applicable, we can also file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer.

Most personal injury claims are handled through insurance. As an accident victim, it is important to understand that insurance companies are not on your side. In fact, their goals are directly opposed to yours. The insurance company wants to settle your claim for as little money as possible, while your goal is to get maximum compensation.

Our Honolulu spinal cord injury lawyers aggressively pursue maximum compensation and refuse to accept settlement offers that undervalue our clients’ injuries. Instead, we will fight to protect your rights and get you every penny that you are entitled to under Hawaiʻi law. If necessary, we will take your case to court to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Our team will also handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your health and healing. You can rest assured that we will protect and defend you, working to get you the best possible outcome.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will never pay a fee unless we recover money for you. If we do recover money for you, then your attorney’s fee will be a percentage of your settlement or verdict at trial.

We know that a spinal cord injury can leave you feeling devastated and overwhelmed. Our job is to take the stress of the legal process off your shoulders. While you focus on your recovery, we will fight for your rights. Reach out at any time for a free consultation.

Compassionate Legal Representation for Hawaiʻi Spinal Cord Accident Victims

Spinal cord injuries can often cause lifelong disabilities. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in any type of accident in Hawaiʻi, we are here for you. Our law firm will work with you to help you get the money that you deserve.

From our law offices in Honolulu, Miyashita & O’Steen advocates for clients who have been hurt in accidents across Hawaiʻi. We handle all types of injury cases, including severe injuries like spinal cord injuries. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Honolulu spinal cord injury attorney, call our law offices at 808-425-9755 or fill out our online contact form.