Indianapolis, IN Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

One of the most catastrophic accidents that a person can suffer is an injury to the spinal cord. Victims may experience complete or incomplete paralysis. They may be coping with physical limitations, emotional distress, chronic pain, and substantial medical expenses.

The attorneys at Hensley Legal Group in Indianapolis have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that a spinal cord injury can have on victims and their families. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering from this type of injury and we are eager to do what we can to make a difference in your life. By taking legal action, we have helped numerous spinal cord injury victims recover the compensation they need after the accident.

Hensley Legal Group has been serving the residents of Indianapolis, Indiana, for over 20 years. We are an award-winning law firm and have successfully handled spinal cord injury cases involving quadriplegia and paraplegia. Call us 24/7, start a live chat, or fill out the online evaluation form to schedule a free consultation.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

Our spine consists of a length of bones called vertebrae, and our spinal cord runs down through a space in the center of these bones. The spinal cord is made up of a bundle of nerves that carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body.

According to researchers, an estimated 17,730 new spinal cord injuries occur in the US every year. When the spine is damaged, there may be permanent changes in strength, movement, sensation, and other bodily functions below the site of the injury.

The severity, or “completeness,” of an injury can be classified as:

Complete: If a spinal injury is complete, there is zero feeling or motor function below the affected area, or;

Incomplete: The majority of spinal cord injuries are incomplete, meaning that there is still some motor function and sensory below the injury

Spinal cord injuries may result in one or more of the following symptoms:

Loss of movement
Loss of feeling in the arms, legs, or chest
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Inability to feel heat, cold, or touch
Changes in sexual function
Chronic pain due to nerve damage
Muscle spasms
Difficulty breathing

Common Causes of Indianapolis, IN Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is typically caused by a traumatic injury or a blow to the spinal column that damages one or more of your vertebrae. The following are some common causes of Indianapolis spinal cord injuries:

Motor vehicle accidents: Nearly half of all spinal injuries are caused by car and motorcycle accidents

Slip and falls: 31.8 percent of all spinal injuries are the result of a fall, and if someone is over 65 and suffers a spinal injury, it is most often caused by a fall

Assault and violence: 13.5 percent of all injuries to the spinal cord are caused by gunshots, knives, and other physical acts of violence

Sports and recreation: Sports such as football, hockey, diving, skiing, and wrestling are the cause of 8 percent of all spinal cord injuries

Diseases: Osteoporosis, cancer, arthritis, and other diseases can damage and weaken the bones that protect the spine

Alcohol: Drugs and alcohol are contributing factors in many different types of accidents including spinal cord injuries

Establishing Liability For an Indianapolis, IN Spinal Cord Injury

Any party whose negligence or intentional misconduct caused your accident can be held liable for your Indianapolis spinal cord injury. Your Indianapolis personal injury lawyer can help you identify all parties potentially responsible for your injuries so they can be held accountable for their actions.

For instance, your Indiana spinal cord injury lawyer may hold one of the following parties liable for your injuries.

Product manufacturers

Under Indiana state law, manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers have a legal obligation to ensure that the products they sell are safe for their intended use. If a product defect in any way contributed to the accident that caused your spinal cord injury, your personal injury attorney may be able to help you file a claim against the manufacturer.

If, for example, you were injured in a motor vehicle crash and a defective car part caused the accident, you may have a solid case. In order for your claim or lawsuit to be successful, however, your Indianapolis spinal cord injury lawyers will need to establish the following:

Duty of care: The manufacturer had a responsibility to make a product that was safe for its intended use

Breach of duty: Your personal injury lawyer will then need to prove that the manufacturer knew or should have known the product was defective

The defect caused the injuries: Finally, your lawyer will need to present evidence that the defect was the direct cause of your spinal cord injury

Motorists

If your severe spinal cord injury was sustained in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s actions, then you may be able to recover compensation from the negligent party. When Hensley Legal Group prepares your claim, our spinal cord injury attorneys will work to collect evidence to build a solid case on your behalf.

This may involve:

Speaking to witnesses
Reviewing traffic footage
Examining police reports and medical records
Consulting with accident reconstructionists
Photographing the scene of the accident

The Indianapolis personal injury lawyers at our law firm have extensive experience in handling both spinal cord injury and car accident claims. We know what is needed to maximize compensation for you and your family.

Medical staff

Tragically, in some situations, a spinal injury may be caused by the very people we go to for medical treatment. If a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional in Indianapolis, Indiana, caused your spinal cord injury, then you may be entitled to receive financial compensation.

When a doctor causes a spinal cord injury, it is usually while they were treating a patient for another condition. Treatments that have resulted in spinal cord injuries include:

Surgical errors: Any surgery involving the spine is a delicate procedure. If the patient isn’t positioned correctly, the surgeon isn’t properly trained, or a capable doctor makes even the slightest error, the patient could be left with a life-altering spinal cord injury.

Anesthesia errors: Anesthesia that is improperly administered during a procedure can increase the risk of an epidural hematoma – which can cause an injury to the spinal cord.

Chiropractor errors: Chiropractors manipulate the spine during treatment, and they could severely damage the spinal cord if they make their adjustments incorrectly.

Emergency room errors: Emergency room doctors can misdiagnose a broken neck or back and cause permanent damage by improperly moving the patient.

Diagnosis errors: If a patient comes to the hospital due to back pain, the doctor will need to perform X-rays and scans to be able to properly diagnose the cause of the pain. Failure to quickly and properly diagnose a spinal abscess, ruptured disc, or spinal stenosis could result in an SCI that otherwise could have been avoided.

Property owners

Property owners in Indianapolis and throughout the State of Indiana have a legal obligation to keep their land and buildings safe for visitors and those conducting business there. If your spinal cord injury was the result of hazardous conditions on someone else’s land, the property owner could be held liable for your medical bills and other damages.

The following are some reasons why a property owner may be found liable for your SCI:

You slipped and fell due to poor maintenance or debris in a walkway
You were injured in a violent attack due to poor lighting or negligent security
You were injured in a diving accident on public or private property
You were injured by a dog, horse, or another animal

The personal injury attorneys of Hensley Legal Group in Indianapolis, Indiana, have handled many premises liability cases. With the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary, we can help you recover maximum compensation for your spinal cord injury.

Why Hire an Indianapolis, IN Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

There are few injuries that can have a more devastating impact on your life than those involving your spine. Even a minor spinal injury can turn your life upside down and leave you requiring long-term medical care. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to hold that party accountable.

After suffering a spinal injury, the thought of filing a claim or lawsuit might seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. The experienced Indianapolis spinal cord injury lawyers at Hensley Legal Group are here to help. Our law firm can handle the details of your personal injury case so that you can focus on what matters most – your rehabilitation and recovery.

Your spinal cord injury lawyer will calculate the value of your claim and aggressively pursue compensation for you and your family. This may include damages for:

Medical bills
Lost wages and loss of future earning potential
Rehabilitation
Nursing care
Long-term disability
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Loss of enjoyment
Emotional distress
Punitive damages

If someone you loved died due to a spinal injury, our compassionate Indianapolis, Indiana, personal injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim. This may secure you and your family compensation for your funeral expenses, emotional suffering, and loss of financial support.

Contact an Indianapolis Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

A severe back or neck injury can cause paralysis or have other tragic effects on a person’s life. If you suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to cope with the financial burden and consequences on your own. Contact Hensley Legal Group today to find out how our experienced Indianapolis attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation for your spinal injury.

When you choose our law firm to represent you, you get a skilled and compassionate legal team on your side. We can negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve. What’s more, our personal injury attorneys will hold all at-fault parties accountable for the pain you have suffered when we pursue your case.

Hensley Legal Group represents clients on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing out of pocket. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing. A spinal cord injury attorney at our Indianapolis law office will be happy to discuss your case at a time and location convenient for you. Call us today at 888-912-0631 to schedule a free consultation.