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Skilled Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys in Montreal
At Annette Lefebvre Avocats, our lawyers are experienced at obtaining the compensation victims of spinal cord injuries require to rebuild their lives after a catastrophic injury. Back injuries caused by slipping and falling down, medical error, property negligence or another event, can limit a victim’s capacity to work, interact socially, and afford the cost of critical medical care. Our attorneys are committed to holding accountable the people who caused our clients’ injuries. Contact us today to find out if you have grounds to file a lawsuit for compensation for a spinal cord injury.
What is The Spinal Cord?
The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebrae (backbones) in your spine. Approximately 18 inches long, this bundle of nerves begins at the base of your brain and ends at your buttocks.
The majority of spinal cord injuries cause loss of function and sensation since the spinal cord is essential for transmitting brain impulses throughout the entire body. The injury to the spinal cord could cause permanent, life altering damage.
Types of Paraplegia
Various body areas can be affected by a variety of disorders together known as generalized paralysis. There are various types, including:
• Hemiplegia refers to paralysis of one side of the body.
• Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body with both motion and sensation affected.
• Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, refers to paralysis of all four limbs; there may be varying degrees of loss of motion and/or sensation.
• Monoplegia is a type of paralysis that affects only one part of the body, one limb, an arm or a leg.
Most spinal cord injuries are either irreversible or have a very slim possibility of fully recovering.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injury Cases
A sudden, severe impact to the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, or spinal cord itself is a common cause of spinal cord injury. Some of the most common causes of spinal cord damage include:
- Traumatic accidents – Sports injuries, bicycling accidents, being hit by a falling object, a balcony collapsing, falling into an elevator shaft or a manhole can result in serious spinal cord injuries.
- Medical malpractice – Misdiagnosis, poor surgical technique or professional negligence can all lead to spinal cord damage.
- Defective products – Defective equipment or construction machinery may result in catastrophic mishaps, which may serve as the foundation for a product responsibility claim.
- Traumatic brain injury – Sometimes, the trauma of an accident can cause somebody to suffer both a traumatic brain damage and a spinal cord injury.
- Falls – Slips and falls, especially among seniors, are a major factor in spinal cord injury.
- Cauda Equina Syndrome – Cauda Equina Syndrome is a neurological disorder affecting the bundle of nerves (cauda equina) at the lower end of the spinal cord. If left untreated, it can cause permanent neurological injury and paralysis.
Spinal Cord Injury Compensation
If your spinal injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for any expenses and difficulties resulting from your injuries. However, the amount of compensation you are entitled to can vary significantly depending on the severity of your injury.
The following damages may be recoverable for you in a spinal cord injury settlement:
Permanent impairment
If you are living with permanent impairment to your physical or psychological integrity, you may be entitled to an indemnity according to the percentage of your functional impairment.
Medical bills
Plaintiffs are entitled to financial compensation for any medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury, including hospital bills, prescription medication costs, doctor visits, rehabilitation costs, attendant home care and any foreseeable future medical costs.
Lost wages
In addition to lost income, compensation may also be given for time missed at work and a reduction in earning potential.
Pain, suffering and inconvenience
Spinal cord injuries cause enduring physical and psychological pain. These victims may be eligible for monetary compensation for their suffering.
Wrongful death
If a spinal cord injury leads to death, the family of the deceased person may be able to sue the party that was at fault. In certain situations, the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation for their loss of financial and moral support as well as damages for the victim’s agony and suffering.
Punitive damages
Exceptionally, it is possible to recover punitive damages when the negligence is so egregious, or the harm was intentional or done in bad faith. Punitive damages are not compensatory, rather they serve to deter undesirable conduct.
The Advantages of Hiring an Experienced Back Injury Lawyer
Not every law firm has the necessary resources to provide guidance on the subtleties of spinal cord injury. Montreal’s Annette Lefebvre Avocats law firm is different. Over the last 30 years, our law firm has assembled a vast team of leading experts in every area of medicine who help us evaluate the issue of fault and the extent of your injury.
As skilled spinal cord injury attorneys, we will tenaciously fight for your rights and support you at every turn. We’ll see to it that your case is handled quickly and effectively.
The best settlement for you is the only resolution that will satisfy our team, therefore we will collaborate closely with leading experts and medical specialists to help you navigate the legal system with expertise, commitment, and compassion.
Annette Lefebvre Avocats lawyers are aware of the difficulties brought on by traumatic events and serve as your valued advisor and ally during this challenging time of your life.
Areas We Serve for Spinal Cord Injury
- Montreal Metropolitan Area
- Laurentians
- Trois-Rivières
- Sherbrooke
- Québec City
- Gatineau
- The North Shore: Laval, Terrebonne, Blainville and all surrounding areas
- The South Shore: Longueuil, Brossard, Boucherville, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and all surrounding areas
Our team is equipped to represent clients throughout the province of Quebec. There is no need to come to our office for an appointment and remember, all the Spinal Cord Injury cases Annette Lefebvre Avocats handles are on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
There are three very specific elements all of which must be present in order to win:
1.
Fault
Fault is an act, or failure to act, which falls below the “standard of care’’ for the professional in question. The test in law merely requires that your doctor or nurse act as an average, prudent and diligent professional would act in similar circumstances.
2.
Injury
An identifiable injury must have occurred.
If no injury occurred as a result, your lawsuit will not succeed even though a negligent act was committed.
3.
Causation
Once fault and injury exist, the question becomes ‘’is the fault the direct cause of the injury?”
Do You Have A Case?
If all of the above elements exist you can claim monetary compensation (also known as “damages”) not only for your physical injury but also for your resulting economic losses, such as loss of past and future income, the cost of medical expenses and cost of care, as well as your resulting psychological damages, namely pain, suffering and inconvenience.
Medical records and expert consultation are essential to determining whether you have a case. Get in touch with us for a free consultation with one of our lawyers if you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury.