Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can change your life as well as the lives of your loved ones. These injuries are permanent and cause significant changes to mobility and daily life. For many spine injury survivors, they must adapt to life with a disability.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury because of another person’s reckless or negligent actions, you may be able to sue for damages. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas can let you know if you have a spine injury lawsuit worth pursuing.
Don’t delay. To discuss your debilitating accident with an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer near you, contact our Rancho Cucamonga law firm. You can also reach our office by phone at (909) 321-5706.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal injury can be classified as either complete or incomplete:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries – A complete spinal cord injury injury is when the spinal cord is fully severed at the injury site, which is also known as the level of injury. This means a person has no feeling or function below the level of injury.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries – An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is only partially severed. This means a person may still have some feeling or function below the level of injury.
Even incomplete spinal cord injuries could have a serious impact on your quality of life and ability to earn a living. It’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible about taking legal action.
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in California?
You typically have two years from the date of a serious injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once that two-year statute of limitations has passed, you will not be able to seek legal action.
It’s worth noting that some cases may have a much shorter statute of limitations depending on the circumstances. This is why it’s in your best interests to contact our law office in Rancho Cucamonga as soon as possible after your spine injury.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas
Founded in 1995, the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas brings compassion and focus to every case we work on. In addition to high Avvo ratings and numerous accolades from legal organizations, there are other reasons why people in San Bernardino County come to us when they need a trusted and capable catastrophic accident lawyer.
Experience Working for Insurance Companies on Accident Cases
Attorney Fernando D. Vargas started his legal career in 1987 working as a defense lawyer for insurance companies. He knows how insurance companies operate, and the tactics they use to lowball settlement payouts and argue cases in court. He uses that firsthand experience to negotiate better settlements and build stronger cases for his clients.
Personal Attention to the Needs of the Client
You, your family, and your future matter to us. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas will personally work on every spinal cord injury and catastrophic injury case. He will always be available to clients when questions or concerns arise. We encourage you to read our past client testimonials to get a sense of what our law firm can offer families in need of legal help after an accident causes a long-term or permanent disability.
Se Habla Español: Legal Services in Spanish
To best serve the Hispanic community in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, it’s important to have fluent Spanish speakers. Fernando D. Vargas is fluent in Spanish, and many of his legal staff are fully bilingual as well.
Free Legal Consultations
After a catastrophic injury that causes a disability, your primary concerns involve trying to plan for the future. At our Rancho Cucamonga law office, your first consultation is free of charge. This allows you to get honest advice from a qualified neck and spine injury lawyer without incurring any additional financial burdens.
Representation on a Contingency Fee Basis
Our team works on a contingency fee basis. That means if we work on your catastrophic injury case, we will only get paid if we can secure a settlement or win damages from a jury in court. If we can’t win, you owe us nothing. Families affected by spinal injuries know they have our full support when they come to our law office.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
If you or a loved one has experienced a serious spinal cord injury, you need a skilled lawyer on your side who can fight for just compensation. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas and his team are here to advocate for you. To request a free consultation with a trusted spinal cord injury attorney near you, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Living with an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
When someone suffers an incomplete spinal cord injury, they will still have some degree of sensation and function below the level of injury. Yet even with some remaining sensation and function, incomplete spinal cord injuries can have a profound impact on how someone goes about daily life.
Effects on Mobility and Daily Life
While people with an incomplete spinal cord injury can still move their extremities, your full range of motion may be reduced. You may need to use a cane, walker, or other assistive device simply to get around.
The effects of the injury on grip strength and fine motor skills could mean a substantial change in what work you are able to do and how you earn a living. There are also significant changes to your quality of life to consider.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia occurs when there is a significant spinal cord injury to the lumbar or thoracic spine. These kinds of injuries lead to a loss of sensation and function in the legs, lower body, and possibly even parts of the torso.
Effects on Mobility and Daily Life
Paraplegics will be dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. Modifications will often need to be made to homes for wheelchair accessibility. Daily routines can be significantly altered given physical limitations related to the spinal cord injury. It may even be necessary for the person with the spinal injury to change careers.
Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
Quadriplegia/tetraplegia occurs when there is a significant spinal cord injury to the cervical spine, which are the vertebrae that comprise the neck. These severe spinal cord injuries result in the loss of sensation and function in the torso, all extremities, and possibly even certain internal organs.
Effects on Mobility and Daily Life
Quadriplegics are dependent on the use of a motorized wheelchair for mobility. In addition to modifications to living quarters for wheelchair accessibility, they will need to be cared for by a partner, family member, or a personal care attendant simply given the nature of their disability. Some quadriplegics may even require a respirator to help with normal lung function in addition to constant medical monitoring.
Causes of Severe Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can occur following different kinds of incidents, though these are some of the most common causes of catastrophic neck and spine injuries we’ve seen at our law office:
- Auto Accidents – Serious head, neck, and back injuries can occur following major car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. Even when wearing a seatbelt, a helmet, and protective gear, a severe impact can damage the spine and spinal cord.
- Falls – Falls from great heights can cause all kinds of catastrophic injuries, including fractures bones and head trauma. If a fall led to a spinal cord injury, our law firm can assist you in filing a premises liability claim.
- Firearm Accidents – People need to take great care when handling a firearm. A misfire or unintentional discharge could cause serious harm to people nearby. These kinds of gun-related accidents can lead to severe injuries to the spine.
- Work Injuries – If you work in construction or at an industrial workplace, there is a high risk of catastrophic injury that could affect your spine or spinal cord. Our law firm can help determine if you’re eligible for a third-party claim for your on-the-job accident.
- Sports Injuries – People in full-contact sports or any type of high-intensity athletic competition may experience a serious injury to the neck or spine.
- Acts of Violence – Fights, assaults, and other acts of intentional violence against another person could lead to incomplete or complete spinal cord injuries.
Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Law Firm About Your Spine Injury
Whether you suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury, paraplegia, or quadriplegia, you can count on the Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas for sound legal counsel. We are ready to help English-speaking and Spanish-speaking households throughout San Bernardino County. To request a free consultation with an experienced spinal cord injury attorney near you, contact our Rancho Cucamonga law firm.
Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits
A spine injury results in numerous financial losses and long-term setbacks. When reviewing your spinal cord injury case, the team at our Rancho Cucamonga law firm will help you understand the true value of your claim as we assess damages. Below are just a few matters we consider as we work on catastrophic injury claims.
Medical Bills
We can seek compensation for emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgical procedures, and any treatments that were performed to save your life or stabilize you following a catastrophic accident.
Ongoing Medical Expenses
People with spinal cord injuries will often require years of ongoing physical therapy and occupational therapy as they adapt to life with a disability. This could include traveling to see spine injury specialists outside of Southern California. For quadriplegics, there may also be a substantial cost for hiring at-home caregivers and attendants simply given the nature of their disability. Our legal team can estimate the future cost of your health expenses given your new reality.
Cost of Assistive Devices
If you need a cane, walker, wheelchair, or any assistive device following a spine injury, the cost of these mobility essentials will be part of the compensation we seek. All assistive devices will need to be repaired and replaced at some point, which is why our team will also consider the cost of maintenance and replacement of devices or equipment in the future.
Lost Income and Future Earnings
Spinal cord injury victims don’t just lose wages at their job. Changes in mobility and motor function could mean the end of a career and source of income. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas can assess your lost wages and estimate the loss of future income based on your career trajectory prior to the accident. Our team can also account for job retraining if you intend to change careers after a spine injury.
Damage to Property
Legal damages will also cover any damage to a vehicle or other belongings at the time of the catastrophic accident. This includes any electronics, keepsakes, or other valuables that may be broken or totaled as a result of the accident.
Home Modifications for Accessibility
Your home may need substantial remodeling or changes in overall design in order to accommodate your disability. Our law firm can help add up the cost of making your home wheelchair accessible, including the addition of ramps, changing floor materials, expanding doorways, remodeling a kitchen or bathrooms, and installing grab bars where needed.
Pain, Suffering, and Effects on Mental Health
We’ve predominantly focused on physical injuries and material costs, but a spine injury can also have a significant impact on your psychological well-being. Our legal team can also address the need for counseling/therapy and the emotional pain and suffering you’ve endured because of your spine injury.
Can I Still Seek Damages If I Was Partly at Fault for an Accident?
Yes, you can still seek damages for a spinal cord injury even if you were partly at fault. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state.
Pure comparative negligence means that a person can still seek damages even if they are 99% at fault for an accident. The percentage of fault is deducted from the total amount of damages awarded.
Partial fault in an accident could significantly affect how much you win in a jury trial. When evaluating your spinal cord injury claim, our team will let you know if you can maximize your compensation by accepting a settlement rather than taking your case to court.
Contact Our Rancho Cucamonga Lawyer About Your Spine Injury
An injury to the spine can change your life and the lives of those around you. The Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas can help you seek compensation and hold the negligent party liable for what they’ve done. To set up a free case evaluation with an experienced spinal cord injury attorney near you, contact our law firm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
