At McElyea, Santos & Barnard, P.A., we work closely with medical experts from the medical community to offer brain and spinal cord injury victims a dedicated representation. Serving Orlando and Central Florida, our brain and spinal cord injury lawyers help victims, or their families, pursue compensation from the negligent or reckless parties responsible for this devastating, often permanent, trauma. If you have been injured, the spinal cord and brain injury lawyers at our firm will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf and fight for fair compensation. We are committed to protecting your rights and will provide you with dedicated, experienced representation.
The spinal cord is the column of nerve tissue protected by the spine and is responsible for delivering messages from the brain to the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury (SCI) can damage or destroy this conduit, resulting in permanent disability or paralysis. Paralysis may involve all four extremities (quadriplegia) or only the lower body (paraplegia). The Mayo Clinic estimates that about 11,000 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries each year.
It is imperative that spinal cord injury victims retain the services of an experienced attorney. Our Orlando, Central Florida spinal cord injury lawyers will review your personal injury claim free of charge. Although we may not be able to alleviate a victim's pain or restore lost body function, we can help you obtain the financial recovery to which you are entitled.
The physical and emotional consequences of a spinal cord injury can be devastating. The spinal cord does not need to be severed for function to be lost; both motor and sensory functions may be lost due to bruising, compression, or tearing. Spinal cord injuries generally fall under the following categories:
A spinal cord injury is often caused by a sudden, traumatic blow to a person's spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses the vertebrae. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are:
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, the average medical cost of a spinal cord injury is more than $200,000 (as high as $600,000 for victims suffering from full quadriplegia). Treatment and rehabilitation costs for subsequent years range from $14,000 to $120,000 depending on the severity of the injury.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of another person's reckless or negligent actions, contact McElyea, Santos & Barnard, P.A. Our experienced Orlando, Central Florida spinal cord injury lawyers will help you attain compensation for your injuries.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also called intracranial or head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma, such as a blow, a jolt, or a penetrating wound, results in impaired cognitive function or brain damage. A severe brain injury can result in personality changes, loss of coordination, amnesia, or an extended period of unconsciousness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1.4 million people suffer brain injuries in the United States each year.
If you are the victim of a brain injury, you needn't suffer in silence, unable to earn wages while your savings are used to cover medical bills. Our Orlando, Central Florida brain injury lawyers help clients who have suffered traumatic brain injury as a result of another party's reckless or negligent conduct. We will take action against those responsible for your injuries and fight on your behalf for fair compensation.
Brain injuries are generally classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. So-called "mild" brain injury victims may suffer a period of unconsciousness, confusion, or disorientation. Residual effects may include persistent headaches, anxiety, irritability, and depression. "Moderate" brain injuries may result in the permanent impairment of cognitive, motor, or sensual functions. "Severe" brain injuries may cause psychosis, coma, or wrongful death.
Additionally, traumatic brain injury may increase the risk of epilepsy and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.
A brain injury occurs when an outside force impacts the head hard enough to cause the brain to move within the skull or when a penetrating object causes direct damage. According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), the most common causes of brain injury are:
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cost of traumatic brain injury in the United States is roughly $48.3 billion annually. Hospital expenses account for $31.7 billion of this figure and the cost of fatal brain injuries is $16.6 billion. Additionally, brain injury victims typically suffer years of rehabilitation expenses and lost productivity.
Contact McElyea, Santos & Barnard, P.A., if you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Our Orlando, Central Florida brain injury lawyers ensure that victims of brain injuries are not overlooked or shortchanged by a legal system just beginning to understand the long-term implications of these injuries.
Our trial attorneys understand that brain and spinal cord injury cases are unique, complex, and challenging. Our lawyers are fluent in all aspects of brain and spinal cord injury litigation: we are familiar with how these injuries occur; we know the relevant personal injury laws; we have access to medical experts who can explain to jurors, judges, and insurance adjustors the consequences of these injuries; and we have the experience necessary to get the most out of these sometimes difficult cases.
We have obtained substantial personal injury verdicts and settlements on behalf of our brain and spinal cord injury clients, and we can help you as well. If another party's reckless or negligent actions have resulted in harm to you or a loved one, contact our Orlando, Central Florida spinal cord and brain injury lawyers and schedule a consultation.
Serving Orlando and Central Florida brain and spinal cord injury victims, our lawyers have helped hundreds of clients obtain fair compensation. Complete the form below to schedule a consultation.
McElyea, Santos & Barnard, P.A.