Earlier this year, hockey player Matt Olsen of the Chicago Cougars was tragically injured during a home game. Olsen, only 20 years old, is now paralyzed from the shoulders down after hitting a rough patch of ice and landing against the boards in a way that caused permanent damage. He has undergone extensive rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic and doctors believe he may regain some movement in his arms but not much more than that. Despite this limited outlook, Olsen has come a long way, regaining his ability to speak and eat during the several weeks he spent at a Chicago hospital.
The cost of a spinal cord injury is dependent on numerous factors. According to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, a 25 year old person suffering from paraplegia may expect lifetime expenses to reach $2,310,104 while someone diagnosed with a high tetraplegia injury (also known as quadriplegia) can expect to incur an additional $4,724,181 over the course of their lifetime. These numbers reflect the average healthcare costs and the cost of living but do not take into consideration the net effect of lost wages which average over $70 thousand dollars a year. Injuries resulting in lesser degrees of mobility loss still end up costing individuals many thousands of dollars. It goes without saying that a spinal injury resulting in paralysis is not only an emotionally and physically devastating event, but it is financially exhausting as well.
How Will Illinois Laws Help Me Recover Losses?
Sometimes, spinal cord injuries result from freak accidents that could not have been avoided, but more often than not they are the product of negligence, medical malpractice, or even nursing home abuse. Even in the case of Matt Olsen, a prudent personal injury law attorney would question whether the ice had been properly maintained.
Typically, negligence is the backbone of a lawsuit involving spinal cord injuries. To prove a negligence lawsuit, you must show that someone owed a duty to you and that he or she breached that duty. Additionally, you have to prove that the breach of this duty caused your harm and that harm resulted in damages. In Illinois, contributory negligence can be claimed as a defense, meaning that your actions somehow contributed to the incident, but a proper injury claim lawyer help you assert every possible fact to help you get what you deserve.
If you experience a spinal injury, you can recover both present and future medical expenses. Additionally, you can claim lost wages and pain and suffering. An expert team of negligence lawyers is required not only to help you determine what these costs may amount to, but also to justify the numbers to the court through tried and true tools and strategies.
Have You Been Injured Due to Someone’s Negligence?
The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd has proudly helped our clients claim millions in settlements and verdicts. Our claim attorneys have experience in personal injury cases related to car and truck accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse and much more. If you have been paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury resulting from someone else’s wrongdoing or negligence, please contact us today. Pursuing legal action for a spinal injury is complex and requires the analysis of medical data and the facts surrounding the incident. We can help you navigate the complicated legal process to recoup losses owed to you.
