Quadriplegia is a devastating injury caused by damage to the spinal cord. Often this type of injury is the result of a motorcycle or car accident, or the result of a workplace injury. Quadriplegia results in injury to cervical section C1 to C8 or, damage to the first thoracic vertebrae. If the injury is extensive, the victim will be unable to move their arms and legs. If it is a partial injury, some movement and feeling may be present. These types of injuries are life changing, and it important to seek out legal guidance as soon as possible. Speak to an experienced New York City quadriplegia lawyer from Stephen Bilkis and Associates for advice and to learn more about the value of a quadriplegia case.
Symptoms of a quadriplegic injury include:
Victims of quadriplegia can suffer from serious complications such as loss of bladder control, loss of bowel function, respiratory problems, bed sores, blood clots and spastic muscles. These injuries require a high degree of rehabilitation and care. You may need home health care, assistive devices and physical therapy. You are no longer able to work or carry out your daily tasks, yet your financial debt and medical expenses have increased significantly. If you or a loved is a victim of a quadriplegic injury, it is important to know that you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party who caused your accident. What your case is worth will depend on the amount of your damages, or losses that you have suffered.
At Stephen Bilkis and Associates, our primary goal is to help you receive the best support, treatment, and compensation possible. Our team will consult with medical professionals, life care planners and economists to fully assess your situation. We have a strong track record of success. We have successfully attained some of the biggest awards of their time, ranging from a sixty-nine million-dollar ($69,000,000) award, to a twelve million-dollar ($12,000,000) award.
The Value of a Quadriplegia Case Insurance ConcernsA New York City quadriplegia lawyer will explain that each insurance company has their unique way of doing things, processing claims and valuing a claim. It is also important to be aware of insurance policy limits. The insurance policy limit will act as a cap on what you are able to receive. If the policy limit is $800,000 for example, it will be difficult to receive a jury award or settlement for more than that.
What Are Your Damages?The amount of damages will determine the value of a quadriplegia case. This amount is made up of several factors such as:
Medical Costs: If you have suffered a quadriplegic injury, chances are you have very high medical costs. These expenses, including past, present and future, are reimbursable. This includes not only all your hospital bills, surgery bills and medications, but also expenses that you will have down the road. For instance, these types of injuries normally include the need for physical therapy, emotional counseling, assistive devices, and perhaps home health care.
Pain and Suffering Compensation: A quadriplegia lawyer with experience in New York City cases will explain that you are able to collect compensation for pain and suffering. There is little argument that a serious injury like this is a life altering event. You may be suffering a great deal of both physical and emotional stress, and have significant difficulty performing daily tasks. Your loss of enjoyment in life is something to be considered as well. While it is clear that no one knows the extent of your suffering but you, based on your injury, your career, age and other factors a calculation will be made to determine a fair dollar amount.
Loss of Income: Quadriplegia is a very serious, life altering injury. Chances are that you are no longer able to work. You have a right to be compensated for your current loss income, as well as future income. Depending on your career and age, this amount can easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Here are a few examples of similar case awards and settlements:
$13,000,000 Jury Verdict: Visitor falls down apartment complex stairs.
$28,700,000 Jury Verdict: Teenager passenger rendered quadriplegic when school bus and car collide.
$47,000,000 Jury Verdict: Pedestrian sitting on wall hit by car.
The legal team at Stephen Bilkis understands that you are probably angry, confused and have a lot of questions. We are here to help. Call us and speak to a quadriplegia lawyer from one of our New York City locations. We have offices in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County. Call us today at 800.696.9529.