You can suffer a spine injury in Enfield, CT due to no fault of your own. If someone else caused your injury, hold them accountable. To do so, connect with an Enfield personal injury lawyer so you can discuss your legal options.
At Aeton Law, we help our clients get the compensation they deserve. Our Enfield spine injury lawyer is available to review your case. Contact us today to get started.
Types of Spine Injury Cases
There are approximately 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries reported annually in the United States, according to research. Spine injuries range in terms of severity. They occur for many reasons, such as:
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Slip and fall accident
- Medical malpractice
- Defective product
If you hurt your spine as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for damages. The team at Aeton Law can help you with your spine injury case. Schedule a consultation with our Enfield spine injury attorney.
When to File a Spine Injury Claim
Generally, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Connecticut. This gives you a two-year window from the date you suffer your injury to submit your claim. If you do not request compensation from any at-fault parties within this period, you are solely responsible for your injury costs.
In many instances, you can submit a request for compensation through an at-fault party’s insurance provider. For example, you can get into a car accident that leaves you with a spine injury. At this point, you may be able to file a claim through the other motorist’s insurance company and get compensation to cover your injury costs and other crash-related expenses.
Even if you file an insurance claim, there is no guarantee you will get compensation for a spinal injury. An insurer is likely to do whatever it can to avoid paying your claim. With help from a spine injury attorney in Enfield, you can boost your chances of securing damages.
Types of Damages You Can Get in a Spine Injury Case
Economic and non-economic damages may be awarded due to a spinal injury. These are given out to cover medical bills, pain, suffering, lost wages, and other quantifiable and subjective losses. Along with these, you may be eligible for punitive damages, which are provided to deter an at-fault party from committing future acts of negligence.
A spine injury lawyer in Enfield helps you calculate your damages. They also work with you to prepare an argument designed to compel a judge or jury to award you compensation. As part of their efforts, you and your attorney gather evidence.
The evidence you use in your personal injury case may include photos, videos, witness statements, police reports, and medical records. It is in your best interests to collect as much evidence as you can. If you have a strong body of proof, a judge or jury may be increasingly inclined to award damages.
How to Prove Liability for a Spine Injury
You must show a judge or jury that an at-fault party was negligent. This requires you to prove the four elements of negligence were present at the time you suffered your spinal injury. These are:
- Duty of Care: The at-fault party had a legal obligation to avoid reckless acts that could put you and others in danger.
- Breach of Duty of Care: This party violated their obligation to act cautiously around you.
- Causation: Because the party breached their duty of care, they caused your spine injury.
- Damages: You incurred damages as a result of the party’s actions.
Your attorney can answer frequently asked questions and many others about liability in spinal cord injury cases. They can help you prepare an argument that shows the four elements of negligence were present. In addition, your lawyer can help you figure out who is liable.
Who to Hold Accountable for a Spinal Injury
There may be multiple parties responsible for an injury to your spine. Your lawyer can examine your case, and then identify anyone who may be at fault. Parties who may be held responsible for spinal injuries include:
- Drivers
- Healthcare professionals
- Property owners
- Product manufacturers
- Business operators
Review the facts of your case with an attorney. From here, you and your lawyer can assess the circumstances surrounding your injury and determine how it happened. This can help you figure out who is at fault and submit your claim accordingly.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to a Spinal Injury Case
Connecticut has a comparative negligence statute in place that may affect how much you received in damages in your spinal injury case. Based on this statute, you may be ineligible to get compensation if you are found to be primarily responsible for your injury. Also, if you share responsibility but the other party is mostly at fault for your injury, your damages may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
As an example, consider what can happen if you file a car accident claim but are found to be 20% responsible for your crash. In this example, a judge or jury will award damages. However, you will only receive 80% of the original amount you requested.
Comparatively, you may get into an auto crash but are found to be 51% at fault. If this happens, you will not get any compensation. Even though the other driver is 49% responsible, they are not held responsible for your losses.
What to Expect with a Spinal Injury Case
After you file your claim, an at-fault party or their insurer may reach out to you. They may propose a settlement that is far less than what you are requesting. If you accept this settlement, you risk leaving money on the table.
There is also a chance that an insurance company will try to get you to make a statement on the record about your spinal injury. If you say the wrong thing, you may inadvertently accept some or full responsibility for your injury. This could compromise your ability to get damages.
It is beneficial to work with a spinal injury attorney who has received many positive client reviews. This attorney helps you avoid legal mistakes and focuses on finding ways to strengthen your case. They can negotiate a settlement for you, or if a trial is required, represent you and make sure your legal rights are protected in court.
File Your Spinal Injury Claim
The team at Aeton Law has many years of experience with personal injury cases. Our attorney can help you get compensation as part of a spinal injury claim. To request a free consultation, contact us today.