Being paralyzed as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident that was caused by a negligent driver is devastating. Your entire life has changed in the blink of an eye, and you’re left to try to pick up the pieces. The emotional turmoil is a battle all on its own, after spending your life being able to function in an unrestricted way. And the new financial costs of all the medical care and help you need are likely astronomical.
You can pursue compensation for the injuries you sustained in the accident. Call CHASENBOSCOLO at (703) 538-1138 to speak with a highly experienced auto accident attorney in Virginia about your case.
Paralysis and Its Impact on Your Life
If you suffer severe brain or spinal cord damage, you could become paralyzed. You could be either partially or fully paralyzed. You may not be able to walk again and could lose full control over your body.
Aside from the trauma of being seriously injured and having to adapt to a new way of life, this type of severe injury can cost you thousands of dollars. The National Spinal Cord Injury Center estimates that someone who is completely paralyzed can incur medical costs totaling more than $1 million, and that’s just during the first year after their injury. For a completely paralyzed person between the ages of 25 and 50, the costs of necessary medical care and assistance for the rest of their lives could range between $2.8 million and $5.1 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hiring an attorney and pursuing compensation for your auto accident-related injury can feel daunting. You probably wonder how the process works and whether or not it’s worth it. One of our goals is to help you feel as comfortable as possible so you can ultimately make the best choice for yourself.
At our initial consultation, we’ll answer all of your immediate questions and discuss your concerns. And if you hire us, throughout our pursuit for your compensation, we’ll keep the lines of communication open and transparent so you can be assured that any questions you may have will be answered as they arise.
While you’re considering your next steps, here are answers to some of the questions you may have.
If the accident was partially my fault, can I still be compensated?
Unfortunately, the state of Maryland follows the strict doctrine of contributory negligence. This doctrine in tort law means that if the injured party is in any way responsible for the accident, event, or other cause of their injuries, they’re barred from recovering compensation. Whether you were 40 percent at fault or only one percent responsible for causing your injuries, you won’t be entitled to any compensation. The at-fault party has to be 100 percent responsible for your injuries.
How much can I be compensated?
When you file a personal injury claim or lawsuit for your paralyzing injury, if you’re successful, you could be compensated for your:
- Medical costs
- Lost income or wages
- Lost future income and earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
- Scarring, disability, and disfigurement
There’s no template for how much compensation any accident victim could be awarded because the amount you’re eligible to recover depends on your losses. The costs of the medical treatment you’ve received and the health care that you may require for the rest of your life related to your paralysis are specific to you. Likewise, there’s little that can be any more subjective than the emotional and mental impact that your sudden paralysis has had on you as it’s completely altered your life.
Your auto accident attorney from CHASENBOSCOLO will calculate the financial costs of your paralysis. We’ll gather all necessary documentation to determine the value of your medical costs, an estimate of your future medical costs, any income you’ve lost, and an estimate of the effect that your paralysis may have on your ability to earn income in the future.
As for the more personal losses you’ve endured, such as your pain and suffering, we’ll discuss with you everything you’ve been dealing with since you were injured in the accident. We know that it can feel like no number is enough to fully quantify how you’ve been affected by the car accident and your subsequent paralysis. Using our decades of experience, we’ll work hard to come up with a number that best represents what the emotional and mental trauma of your injury has cost you.
Do I need to hire an accident attorney?
Though you don’t need to hire an auto accident attorney, you should.
Yes, you can file a personal injury claim with your or the at-fault driver’s insurance company. But insurance company representatives are skillful in their use of tactics to take advantage of people injured in accidents at a time when they’re most vulnerable. Insurance companies don’t want to pay the injured parties if they don’t have to, and at the very least, they want to reduce their policyholder’s liability. That is, they want to pay you as little as possible.
Because Maryland is a contributory negligence state, any statement by you or other evidence that the insurance company or responsible party can gather to place blame for the accident on you will eliminate their need to compensate you. Without an experienced attorney, you could accidentally compromise your claim or case by saying or doing the wrong thing.
Contact CHASENBOSCOLO If You’ve Been Paralyzed After an Auto Accident
Were you paralyzed after being involved in an auto accident with a negligent driver? You may be able to hold the driver accountable by pursuing compensation for your injury. Hire CHASENBOSCOLO to help.
The Virginia auto accident attorneys of CHASENBOSCOLO have over 30 years of experience fighting against insurance companies and individuals to get full and just compensation for our injured clients.
If you’re worried about whether you can afford our legal services, don’t be. We work on a contingency basis, which means that you won’t have to pay us upfront for our services. We’re only paid if we’re able to recover compensation for your losses. Once we do that, we’ll receive payment for our work on your claim or case from a portion of your settlement or award.
Ready to seek the justice and compensation you deserve? Call us today at (703) 538-1138 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. We’ll discuss your case and give you our honest assessment about whether you have a chance of obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.
