Free consultations (505) 889-3463

Santa Fe Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury is a severe type of injury that can arise in many types of accidents, from automobile collisions to serious falls. If you have suffered a spine injury, the effects on your life can be devastating.  

Luckily, you don’t have to go through this alone. The spinal cord injury lawyers at The Fine Law Firm can protect you physically, legally and financially as your spinal injury attorneys in Albuquerque. Discuss your case in detail at no cost when you contact us for a free consultation. Victims throughout New Mexico can rely on The Fine Law Firm for the legal help they need after a serious spine injury.

Why The Fine Law Firm?

  • We care about our clients and take the time to create personalized legal strategies. Your spinal cord injury attorney will prioritize your health, well-being and peace of mind.
  • Our law firm has a 99 percent success rate and has been representing clients in New Mexico since 1975. In that time, we have secured millions of dollars on behalf of injured accident victims.
  • We have extensive experience handling spinal cord injury cases. We understand the laws surrounding these claims and are prepared to go to trial, when necessary.
  • Our spinal cord injury attorneys in Santa Fe operate on a contingency fee basis. This means no recovery = no fee. We will only charge for our services if we win your case.

How Can a Santa Fe Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help?

If you attempt to file an insurance claim against someone for causing or contributing to your spinal cord injury in Santa Fe, you may run into numerous challenges. The insurance company may reject your claim or offer a settlement that is far below what you deserve for your catastrophic injury. A personal injury attorney in Santa Fe can help you overcome these obstacles.

A spinal cord injury lawyer can investigate your accident to determine who is at fault and gather evidence to support your claim. This may include hiring subject-matter experts to strengthen your case. Your lawyer will help you understand your rights and what compensation you may be entitled to, then deal with insurance companies to maximize your payout. Meanwhile, you can focus on your recovery.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury refers to damage to the spinal column, including the nerves, vertebrae, disks or soft tissues. Since the spinal cord is responsible for transferring messages from the brain to the body, an injury can result in a partial or complete loss of feeling and function below the level of injury. 

A serious spinal cord injury can permanently disrupt this messaging system. This is known as paralysis. The two main types of paralysis are paraplegia (the lower half of the body) and quadriplegia (the torso and all four limbs). These are complete spinal cord injuries, meaning there is a total loss of motor and sensory function.

Incomplete spinal cord injuries may allow the victim to retain some function and sensation below the point of injury. The extent of a victim’s symptoms and the ability to recover depend on the circumstances, such as the severity of the injury and where it occurred along the spinal cord.

What Accidents Can Cause a Spinal Cord Injury?

A wide range of accidents and traumatic events in Santa Fe can cause a spinal cord injury. If someone else caused or contributed to the accident that injured you, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim.

The most common causes of spine injuries include:

  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
  • Workplace accidents
  • Construction site incidents
  • Slip, trip and fall accidents
  • Sports and recreational activities
  • Medical malpractice
  • Assaults or violence

Most spinal cord injuries are preventable. If you believe that someone else’s negligence, or failure to exercise reasonable care, led to your neck or back injury, you have legal rights.

Common Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries come in many forms. Some are minor and will not have long-term effects, while others are severe and permanently disabling. The effects of a spinal injury depend on where on the spine the injury is located.

Common types of spinal cord injuries include:

  • Paraplegia
  • Quadriplegia
  • Cervical spinal cord injury
  • Thoracic spinal cord injury
  • Lumbar spinal cord injury
  • Sacral spine injury
  • Spinal concussion
  • Spinal contusion
  • Spinal compression
  • Vertebral fracture or dislocation
  • Herniated or ruptured disk
  • Nerve damage

Spinal cord injuries can cause effects such as tingling or numbness anywhere in the body, chronic pain, altered sensations or loss of sensation, muscle weakness, loss of balance, muscle spasms, loss of bladder or bowel control, trouble breathing, and sexual dysfunction.

How to Seek Justice for a Spinal Cord Injury in Santa Fe

If another person or entity in Santa Fe caused or significantly contributed to your spinal cord injury, you have the right to hold that party liable, or legally and financially responsible. A successful personal injury case could result in financial compensation for the physical, emotional and financial damages you have suffered. 

This can include: 

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages
  • Lost capacity to earn
  • Permanent disability
  • Mental and emotional trauma
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium

A spinal cord injury claim requires proving liability. You may have a case against a negligent driver after a car accident, an employer who failed to protect you as a worker, a product manufacturer for a defective item, a property owner for a dangerous premises or a medical professional for malpractice. An attorney can help you prove your case using clear and convincing evidence.

What Is the Statute of Limitations?

In New Mexico, a law known as the statute of limitations (New Mexico Statutes § 37-1-8) gives you no more than three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim, with some exceptions. Discuss your situation with a spinal cord injury attorney in Santa Fe as soon as possible to get started with the legal process. 

Speak With an Attorney at No Cost Today

The legal battle that can ensue from a spinal cord injury in Santa Fe is not something you should go through on your own. Contact the experienced and skilled attorneys at The Fine Law Firm to receive personalized legal representation and strong advocacy. You will not pay us a dime unless we win your spinal cord injury case.

Learn more about how we can help you during a free case review with a local attorney. Call us at (505) 889-3463 or contact us online anytime.