Spinal Cord Injuries
Lawyers
Nearly 90,000 Canadians live with a spinal
cord injury. The effects of an SCI depend on the severity and location of
your injury, (paralyzed, quadriplegic, paraplegic) but these injuries can be
life-changing. A severe SCI is one of the injuries that can be classified as
"catastrophic” under Ontario’s
Statutory Accidents Benefits Schedule, making you eligible for the highest
levels of compensation. If you have sustained a traumatic SCI, please contact a
spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible. Many personal injury lawyers
have a great deal of experience with SCIs, and can help you with the challenges
you are experiencing.
What You Need
When someone sustains a spinal cord or catastrophic injury,
everything in their life has changed. The path you thought you were travelling
on has taken a sharp turn, and you need time to adjust to a new "normal.” You
may be dealing with pain, shock, exhaustion, and a hundred different emotions.
You may need surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, a wheelchair or
other mobility devices. But even as you try to wrap your mind around what a catastrophic
injury like an SCI will mean for your life, you may be worried about practical
details. You will be unable to work for several months – but the bills still
need to be paid. You may have children or household responsibilities – who will
look after them while you are recovering? You yourself may need help with
personal tasks, meal preparation, cleaning, or transportation. A spinal cord
injuries lawyer can help with some of these practical aspects, starting with
getting your insurance claim filed as soon as possible.
An SCI lawyer will do the work necessary to file a
catastrophic injury claim with insurance on your behalf. They may visit the
accident scene and take photos; they may track down witnesses to the accident
and take statements from them. The paperwork required for these types of cases
is daunting to a novice, but an experienced personal
injury lawyer knows how to navigate the insurance sector. They will be able
to fill out exacting forms properly, access necessary medical records and the
police report, and file in time to meet any deadlines. In addition, a personal
injury lawyer may be able to arrange help for you and your family in order to
take some of the pressure off as you rest and recover.
Finding the Right
Lawyer
You’ll want your lawyer to meet certain criteria. If you are
still in hospital recovering from an injury, or if travelling is still
difficult for you, find a lawyer based nearby who’ll come to you. Your lawyer
should have experience not only with personal injury cases, but with spinal
cord and catastrophic injuries. You’ll want to choose a law firm that has a
good track record with these types of cases. After that, you should look for a
lawyer whose personality complements yours. You will be depending on your SCI lawyer
and working closely with them, so find a lawyer who you can communicate well
with, and who you have a rapport with.
Dealing with a catastrophic injury that has left you
paralyzed, quadriplegic or paraplegic is painful enough, without having to deal
with an insurance company not cooperating. Contact a personal injury law firm
today and ask to meet with a lawyer experienced in catastrophic injuries.
Working with a good spinal cord injuries lawyer can be one of the best
decisions you’ll ever make.