Victim of a spinal cord injury? A Virginia spinal cord injury attorney can help you rebuild your life. Contact Virginia injury lawyers for a free consultation. In the United States, about
17,730 new spinal cord injuries occur every year. This devastating statistic is made even more devastating by the fact that spinal cord injuries often are life-changing events that can permanently affect a victim’s quality of life. If you are a Virginia resident and have been the victim of a serious spinal cord injury, you will want to consult the best
spinal cord injury attorney Virginia has to offer: Burnett & Williams.
How spinal cord injuries affect victims
A spinal cord injury is one of the most catastrophic injuries a person can face, with potential medical effects including (but not limited to) loss of movement or sensation (including quadriplegia and paraplegia), bowel and bladder dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. However, it is important to note that the effects of spinal cord injuries can vary greatly from patient to patient, depending on factors including how “complete” the injury is and where the injury is located. Of course, the most direct financial impact that a spinal cord injury victim faces is their medical bills. One
study reports that acute care for a spinal cord injury can cost as much as $612,590, while care and rehabilitation in the first year after injury can cost as much as $1,156,400. While this is the upper end of the spectrum, and the actual cost of medical treatment for a spinal cord injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury, this statistic presents one clear truth: spinal cord injuries are severe and life-changing. That’s not to mention the less tangible but still serious costs that victims face after a spinal cord injury. Many spinal cord injuries result in a partial loss of function or even total paralysis. When this happens, the victim may miss time from work or lose their earning capability entirely, as well as preventing them from doing things they once enjoyed. Other intangible effects of a spinal cord injury include pain and suffering and emotional distress.
How personal injury attorneys help spine injury victims get the compensation they deserve
If you are hoping to seek compensation for a spinal cord injury suffered in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or other serious accident, it is crucial to consult a skilled personal injury attorney. Especially given the complex nature of spinal cord injuries, it is essential to find an attorney with a track record and specialized experience in SCI cases. In Virginia, few personal injury law firms have the level of expertise offered by Burnett & Williams. Your spinal cord injury attorney will advocate for you and fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your accident. “You shouldn’t have to be on the hook for an injury that was due to someone else’s negligence,” says C. James Williams III, principal at Burnett & Williams. “A personal injury attorney will create a demand package that comprises all the hard and intangible costs you have suffered and will continue to experience into the future.” Your personal injury lawyer will begin by conducting a thorough investigation of the accident, gathering any documentation and evidence that will help strengthen your case. They will collect accident reports and medical records, gather witness statements, and consult experts like doctors and accident reconstruction specialists who can provide testimony to support claims of severity of injury and liability. The goal is to prove that your injury is severe and that the other party was at fault. After they have built your case, your lawyer will begin the negotiation process with the insurance company. They will send a demand package to the claims adjuster, who reviews it and typically provides a counteroffer. This process generally continues back and forth until a satisfactory settlement is reached. If you and your attorney feel like you are not getting the compensation you deserve, your case may go to court, where it will be heard at trial by a judge and/or jury.
Burnett & Williams: best spinal cord injury lawyers for Virginia spinal cord injury cases
One key differentiator that sets Burnett & Williams’s approach to spinal cord injury cases apart is the firm’s dedication to restoring humanity to the process of filing an insurance claim. The claims process is designed specifically to put as much emotional distance as possible between the insurance adjuster and the victim, who is assigned a claim number that becomes their “identity” for the insurance company. This approach enables claims adjusters to make tough decisions more easily, as they focus on a specific number rather than the impact it has on an individual. However, with a dedicated spinal cord injury attorney like those at Burnett & Williams on your side, you can rest assured knowing that you are receiving the top legal service. When you have suffered a serious spinal cord injury, you are likely already overwhelmed — don’t let a lawsuit be another burden on your plate. Contact Burnett & Williams today for a free consultation.