A growing percentage of our cases are automobile and motorcycle accident cases.
Spinal cord injury statistical information after 1995 has acts of violence at 24 percent including gun shot wounds and battery. As such, acts of violence have recently overtaken falls as the second most common source of spinal cord injuries.
Due to the specific facts of each individual injury, a qualified spinal cord injury attorney must be consulted to discuss liability issues and concerns from the onset. In addition, strict statutory deadlines are applicable including the statute of limitations in any specific jurisdiction or a governmental claim deadlines, which require the examination of the facts by a qualified California spinal cord injury lawyer or California spinal injury lawyer. This website is not intended to give any legal opinion regarding the specific statutory or governmental filing deadline. The statutes and claim deadlines must be done on a case by case basis examining the facts of your individual accident, date of injury and other relevant factors. Contact the California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a confidential case evaluation.
Evaluation of Your Specific SCI Case:
Spinal cord injuries require the evaluation by a qualified California spinal cord injury lawyer, a lawyer with the experience and education in cases involving paraplegia, quadriplegia and paralysis injury accidents. Clients with spinalcord injuries may also benefit from opinions and information regarding recent medical advances, rehabilitation treatment.
Our goal as spinal cord injury lawyers is to obtain both adequate and fair compensation for the injured person. A reasonable and fair award or settlement requires us to aggressively and steadfastly "fight for justice" to provide our clients with the funds necessary to survive with the an acceptable quality of life. Quality of Life is very important and is more than mere survival or being medically cared for. At the Reinecke Law Firm, we work for obtaining quality in life for our clients.
At the Reinecke Law Firm, we are attendant and understand the care of costs coupled with the special needs of each individual client. Each individual client has special unique needs, which require special, personal attention.
No two spinal cord injury clients are the same. The effect n one’s life and damages to one client are not the same as any another client. We understand that each individual is special and we work to preserve the precious quality of life. Rest assured, at the Reinecke Law Firm, we will work to obtain the maximum compensation for past medical expenses, future medical expenses, past, present and future wage losses, pain, suffering, emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, physical injury and psychological injuries. For example, depending on the level of injury, the actual physical injury can be significantly different from client to client. The lower the spinal cord injury the better chance it is for mobility of the arms and hands. Conversely, the higher the injury or higher level, there is a greater likelihood of impairment. As such, each client is special and different and requires special, personal attention.
At the Reinecke Law Firm when evaluating spinal cord injury cases, experienced spinal cord injury counsel is required to emphasize the catastrophic nature of the plaintiff's injury with the full understanding of the medical issues, the improvements in rehabilitative medicine, increased mortality and need for future care both medically and emotionally.
At the Reinecke Law Firm, when evaluating any new case, we personally meet with client and family, review all medical records, and determine if there are respiratory issues and medical issues or problems. Some of clients have required the aid of respirators because they can no longer control their breathing functions. This may, depending on unique circumstances place the patient at a greater risk for respiratory infection. These respiratory issues and preventative care must be addressed by a qualified spinal cord injury lawyer.
In addition, in any particular case bowel and bladder control issues may become existent. It is not uncommon for orifices to be tightly closed necessitating the use of suppositories and catheters for voiding along with a "void bag" or other such depository. One must always take into account the need for medical care and the concern of infection.
At the Reinecke Law Firm, we are well aware of the need to prevent infection as a risk that develops with both bowel and bladder issues but also with decubitus ulcers or pressure sores that may develop. There is no debate that decubitus ulcers can become potentially life threatening though, with proper care and medical attention, they should never develop. Decubitus ulcers or sores are caused by prolonged external pressure. Given the lack of mobility of spinal cord injury patients, there are at a greater risk for developing sores, bedsores or decubitus ulcers. The continued pressure on a particular pressure point impairs blood supply depriving the tissue of nutrition causing the tissue to breakdown and development of painful sores. This may be compounded with bowel or bladder issues that may cause moisture to develop and compound the problem. The continued pressure on a particular point requires bed rotation, specialty devices including air beds and surgery may be necessary to remove the necrotic or dead tissue that led to the mandated debridement or removal of dead skin. For this reason, a strict bed protocol requires constant hourly turning of spinal cord injury victims particularly quadriplegic patients. It is important that even the smallest type of irregular sensation including a wrinkled bed sheet or underwear that is not perfectly fit may cause the development of pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. A qualified spinal cord injury lawyer is required with the knowledge of this type of problem to work to provide for adequate care.
Another important issue is the need for mobility. Simply, without a wheelchair or other medical equipment a spinal cord injury client is at a higher risk for injury and death. At the Reinecke Law Firm we are always aware of the mobility needs of our clients. It is unfair, unjust and improper for a quadriplegia person to be placed in a closed room without a chair or mobilization or light. We never lose track of this basic point that freedom in mobility is essential to life. In addition, there may be mobilization issues in any case. A problem of loss of feeling of function of lungs should not restrict or deprive an individual from realizing the potential need for mobility even if it requires attendant care, wheelchairs or vehicles. At the Reinecke Law Firm, we work to provide the mobility that is necessary for quality life.
We know that spinal cord injuries are devastating both to the individual and to the family that lovingly supports the person. Without the proper representation, medical attention and care, there may be depression and the desire to live may dissipate. As such, we understand that psychiatric and/or psychological intervention may be required. With prescribed medications and proper counseling there may be significant improvement in the client's metal condition to improve their outlook on life.
Legal representation of a spinal cord injury client goes beyond simply working to provide compensation for medical expenses and mobilization. The Reinecke Law Firm and their associates work with the appropriate experts and treatment team in order to address each and every issue that is relevant to the special client's case whether it be psychiatrist, neurologist, orthopedic surgeons, psychologists, neuro psychologists, speech counselors, occupational therapists or physical therapist, recreational therapists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, nurses, patient advocates, case managers, social workers or other specialists are required. Depending on each specific case, each individual will need to consult with one or all of the above. In addition, we understand that a spinal cord injury claim may need the consultation of a cardiologist, an infectious disease specialist or other health care providers. At the Reinecke Law Firm our goal is to obtain the maximum compensation for our clients and to provide for them the highest quality of life. There are specific areas of damages including wage loss, lost of enjoyment of life, trauma to marital relations, loss of consortium and trauma to family members that must also come into account. |
