Spinal cord injuries are a leading cause of permanent disability and death in the United States. Every day in New Mexico, accident victims are admitted to emergency rooms with neck, back and spine injuries. When a spinal cord injury in Alamogordo is caused by someone else’s negligence, or lack of proper care, the injured victim can seek justice and financial compensation with help from an Albuquerque spinal cord injury attorney.
Contact the spinal cord injury lawyers at The Fine Law Firm for the opportunity to speak directly to an attorney free of charge. We are compassionate attorneys who are committed to the recoveries of our clients.
Why Clients Select The Fine Law Firm in Alamogordo
- We are a reputable law firm with national recognition for excellence by Martindale-Hubbell and AVVO. Our client testimonials demonstrate our dedication to client success.
- We have more than 50 years of experience representing individuals and families in New Mexico. We understand exactly what spinal cord injury cases need to succeed.
- Our law firm has achieved groundbreaking case results for past clients. We are equipped and prepared to go to trial with spinal cord injury cases, when necessary.
- We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us anything for our services unless we secure compensation for your spinal cord injury case.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves and soft tissues that are enclosed within the spine – a column of bones (vertebrae) that is located down the center of the back, from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The spine acts as a pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
A spinal cord injury refers to any level of damage to one or more parts of the spine. This can include the vertebrae, the cushion-like disks in between each vertebra, the surrounding ligaments and soft tissues, and the nerves. Serious spinal cord injuries can permanently disrupt the spine’s messaging system, resulting in paralysis, or irreversible loss of feeling and function below the point of injury.
What Accidents Cause a Spinal Cord Injury?
At The Fine Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers have experience handling numerous types of accident cases. We understand the most common causes of back and spine injuries as well as how these injuries affect our clients.
In Alamogordo, New Mexico, spinal cord injuries often arise from the following accidents:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle or bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian-vehicle collisions
- Falls
- Impact sports
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Acts of violence (e.g., gunshot wounds or stabbings)
Most serious and harmful accidents in Alamogordo are preventable. As your Alamogordo injury attorneys, we will investigate the source of your spinal cord injury to search for signs of negligence and evidence to support your claim, such as accident reports and witness statements.
Common Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. A complete injury means that the spinal cord’s messaging system has been entirely compromised, resulting in total paralysis. An incomplete injury means the victim may experience some loss of movement or sensation, but retain some.
The types of spinal cord injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Disk herniation
- Ruptured disk
- Muscle sprains or strains
- Pinched or damaged nerve
- Spinal concussion
- Contusion
- Compression
- Severed spine
- Paraplegia
- Triplegia
- Quadriplegia
Damage or harm to the spine can result in symptoms such as chronic pain, stiffness, loss of motor function and sensation, a tingling or “pins and needles” feeling, muscle weakness, respiratory problems, loss of bowel or bladder control, and changes in sexual function.
Your Rights After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury in Alamogordo
You will have pressing needs after suffering a spinal cord injury in an accident in Alamogordo. You will need injury-related care, treatments, rehabilitation services and medical equipment. If someone else is responsible for causing or contributing to your spinal cord injury, you have the right to file a claim or lawsuit in pursuit of financial compensation from this person to be made whole again.
You will have grounds to file a claim if you can prove negligence, which is made up of four parts:
- Duty of care: a responsibility to act in a reasonable and safe manner.
- Breach of duty: a violation of an individual’s duty of care to others.
- Causation: a connection between the defendant’s neglect or recklessness and the harmful incident.
- Damages: losses suffered by the victim, such as medical bills and lost wages.
Most personal injury claims in New Mexico are based on the legal theory of negligence. However, there are some exceptions. A product liability claim, for example, typically uses a strict liability law. Under this rule, you don’t have to prove that a manufacturer was negligent to hold it responsible for injuries caused by a defective product. Speak to our attorneys to find out if your personal injury case has merit.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
According to New Mexico state law (the statute of limitations), personal injury claims must be filed and initiated with the courts within no more than three years of the date of the harmful accident to be legally valid. If the victim does not discover the spinal cord injury right away, the clock will start ticking on the date of reasonable discovery.
How Can an Alamogordo Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help?
Hiring a personal injury lawyer in Alamogordo to represent you during a spinal cord injury claim can make a world of difference to the outcome of your case. You can concentrate on recovering from your serious injuries and adapting to your new life post-accident while your lawyer takes care of difficult legal processes for you.
A law firm will be able to thoroughly investigate your accident to determine who is at fault and can be held liable. An attorney can collect evidence to strengthen and support your injury claim. Your lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement from an insurance provider or bring your case to trial in Otero County, if necessary. Hiring a lawyer will maximize your financial outcome while minimizing stress.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation in Alamogordo
Spinal cord injuries can be life-changing. Get the justice you deserve by working with the attorneys at The Fine Law Firm. We will do everything within our power to hold someone accountable for the injuries and losses you suffered in a preventable accident. Contact us today at (505) 889-3463 to request a free consultation and learn more.