Clearwater Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Dramatization, not an actual client
Board Certified Spinal Cord Lawyer Jim Magazine Has What it Takes to Win Your Case
At the Magazine & Light Law Group, we understand that spinal cord injuries can cause a tremendous amount of financial stress on you and your family. With enormous lifetime medical expenses, lost income from your inability to work, special medical equipment, in-home care, and modifications to your home and vehicle, it may seem like there is no end in sight. If your spinal cord injury was caused by the negligence of someone else, however, you may be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation. Spinal cord injury lawyer Jim Magazine can help you file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party, so you can meet your financial obligations and obtain the medical treatment you need to enjoy a more satisfying and less stressful life. With over 30 years of experience helping victims like you, Jim knows what it takes to win your case.
Call spinal cord injury lawyer Jim Magazine to discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.
Call: 727-499-9900 Or
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If you were injured, contact Florida personal injury lawyer Jim Magazine at The Magazine & Light Law Group.
Call 727-499-9900 to schedule your FREE consultation.
Table of Contents
Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits in Florida
Spinal cord injuries impact the lives of thousands of people every year in the United States. Some of these injuries are only temporary, and victims heal with a minimal amount of medical intervention. For others, however, the loss of sensation, physical strength, and bladder or bowel control may affect them for the rest of their lives. In the most severe cases, victims experience lower-body or full-body paralysis that is permanent. Sadly, most spinal cord injuries are caused by the negligence or recklessness of someone else. These incidents give rise to various types of injury lawsuits in Florida.
Car Accident Lawsuits:
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord damage in Florida. In fact, spinal cord injuries are common consequences of DUI accidents, T-bone accidents, rollovers, and head-on collisions, especially when these crashes happen at high speeds. If a negligent driver caused your spinal cord injuries, you may be able to file a lawsuit against his or her insurance company to recover compensation. If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may be a source of financial recovery.
Product Liability Lawsuits:
Sometimes, dangerous or defective products cause spinal cord injuries. If faulty brakes, defective tires, malfunctioning farm equipment, or another dangerous product caused your injuries, Spinal cord injury lawyer Jim Magazine will help you hold the negligent manufacturer liable for your losses. If negligence was not a factor in your accident, we may still be able to win a lawsuit based on the theory of strict liability.
Premises Liability Lawsuits:
Dangerous property conditions are another common reason spinal cord injuries happen. Most premises liability lawsuits involving these types of injuries arise after slips and falls on someone else’s property and swimming pool accidents. If a property owner knew about or should have known about a dangerous condition that caused you to sustain a spinal cord injury, that party can be held legally liable.
How to Win a Spinal Cord Injury Case in Florida
Following the proper steps after your accident can help ensure that spinal cord injury lawyer Jim Magazine has the tools he needs to win your personal injury claim or lawsuit. If you were hurt in a car accident, slip and fall, or another incident that may have injured your spinal cord, you should:
Call 9-1-1:
You or someone else at the scene should call 9-1-1 immediately and get help on the way. Try to remain calm and still while you wait for paramedics to arrive. You will probably receive treatment at the scene and be transported by ambulance to your local emergency room. Meanwhile, law enforcement will begin gathering information to create a police report that documents your accident and resulting injuries. Your medical records and the police report will be valuable in proving negligence when you file an injury claim or lawsuit.
Gather Evidence:
If you aren’t able to gather evidence yourself, ask other people at the scene to take pictures of where your accident happened and get the contact information of any witnesses. Ask them to capture anything that might have contributed to your injury – like broken handrails, vehicles involved in a crash, etc. Once your condition is stable, be sure to get a copy of the accident/incident report. Your spinal cord injury lawyer can help you obtain copies of your medical records and other documentation that may help your case.
Avoid Talking About the Accident:
Anything you say, and any posts you make on social media, can be used against you by the insurance company and the other side’s attorneys. To protect your right to recover compensation, it’s best to avoid talking about the accident or your injuries with anyone except your medical team and your spinal cord injury lawyer.
Call a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer:
Call spinal cord injury lawyer Jim Magazine as soon as you are able. Jim will evaluate your case to establish who may be liable for your injuries, identify all sources of financial recovery, and determine what legal options may be available. If you decide to file a claim or lawsuit, Jim will negotiate with the other side to ensure you receive full compensation for your losses.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in Spinal Cord Injury Cases in Florida?
Like other types of personal injury cases in Florida, various factors will be considered to determine what damages may be recoverable in your spinal cord injury claim or lawsuit. Your injury lawyer will look at your monetary and non-monetary losses, as well as the actions of the wrongdoer, to determine how much you can recover. Possible damages include:
Special Damages
Special damages refer to the financial losses your accident caused, and is expected to cause in the future. When estimating your special damages, we will look at your medical bills and statements, payment receipts for medications and medical supplies, the cost to modify your home or vehicle, charges for in-home nursing care, and wage statements from your employer.
General Damages
General damages include subjective losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Since it can be difficult to assign a monetary value to your general damages, your spinal cord injury lawyer will probably use your special damages as a basis when estimating their value. If your condition is expected to cause you extreme pain, suffering, or mental anguish, your award for special damages could be substantial.
Punitive
Damages
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in personal injury cases in Florida. However, if the defendant acted intentionally, or that party’s actions were especially egregious, the jury might award punitive damages to you. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and set an example so that the same or similar behaviors don’t happen again.
FAQs About Florida Spinal Cord Injury Cases
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Florida?
Victims in Florida generally have four years from the date of the incident to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit. If the defendant is a government entity, however, the time you have to take legal action is usually three years from when your injury occurred.
Can I file a lawsuit if my spinal cord injury happened on private property?
If your spinal cord injury was caused by dangerous conditions on private property, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner. For your case to be viable, we must demonstrate that the property owner knew about, or should have known about, the hazard, he or she failed to warn you about it or repair the dangerous condition, and that you were lawfully on the property where the accident occurred.
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a spinal cord injury claim in Florida?
In most cases, you won’t have to pay anything upfront when you hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Florida. Your attorney will investigate your case, negotiate with the insurance company and/or the other side’s attorneys, and even fight for you in court on a contingency fee basis. If you win your case, your attorney will subtract fees and case costs from your injury award. If you don’t win, you don’t pay.