Support : Claiming Compensation

Claiming Compensation after a Spinal Cord Injury

Services offered by spinal injury solicitors Below are services which a good spinal cord injury solicitor should offer, or be knowledgeable about when you contact them. Legal assistance; Immediate financial assistance; Dedicated case managers; Private rehabilitation; Housing adaptations; Specialised wheelchairs; Bespoke adapted vehicles; Assistive in-home technology; Communication solutions; Long-term financial assistance and advice; In-home private nursing care; Assistance dogs. The above information has been adapted from articles supplied by Serious Law. Visit the Spinal Cord Injuries and Compensation discussion forum for any queries regarding legal or compensation issues.

Why Sue for Compensation ?
Do I have a Case ?
Why do I need a Spinal Injuries lawyer ?
Questions to ask when choosing a lawyer
How do I pay for lawyer fees ?

Why sue for compensation ?

Following a spinal cord injury, the chances of a full recovery are usually pretty slim, and some form of paralysis may remain which affects a persons quality of life.

It is a fact of today’s economy, that being disabled does not come cheap, and equipment required to improve the quality of life for someone with a spinal cord injury is usually specialised and therefore expensive. Also, some form of care and specialist accommodation may also be required which may need funding by the person affected.

One way of helping to pay for all the specialist equipment and care, is by securing funds in the form of compensation if another party was to blame for the accident or conditions leading to paralysis.

Do I have a case ?

Even if you think you may of had some reason to be blamed for your spinal injury, you should still contact a lawyer to see if any compensation can be recovered. Specialist lawyers will know the legal situation of a case, and will have expert knowledge of conditions which will allow a case to proceed.

Why do I need a Spinal Injuries lawyer ?

A specialist lawyer in spinal injuries will have expert advice at his disposal in order to put your case for compensation before a court of law. Also, the lawyer you choose should have past experience in spinal injury cases.

In cases where the time before settlement is expected to be years away, a specialist lawyer will be able to arrange an interim payment in order to pay for equipment, care and accommodation. The interim payment is then deducted from the final settlement upon completion of the case.

Questions you should ask a lawyer should include:

• How many cases involving a Spinal Cord Injury has the lawyer looking after your case handled ?
  
• How many cases involving a spinal injury have gone to court in the last 5 years ?
  
• How many of those cases were successful ?
  
• What is the biggest claim the lawyer has settled ?
  
• Has the lawyer completed specialist training for personal injury law ?
  
• Who does the firm use to write medical reports, are they medical professionals qualified in spinal cord injuries?
  
• Who does the firm use to write reports on future home adaptions, adaptive technology and adapted vehicles?
  
• How quickly can an interim payment be arranged to pay for specialist care, accommodation or equipment?
  
• Has the lawyer attended any courses run by accredited spinal cord injury organisations?

Make sure you are happy with the answers your lawyer gives you. If you are unhappy with the answers given, shop around for a lawyer you are happy with.

How do I pay for lawyer’s fees ?

These days there are a number of options available to you to cover the cost of lawyer fees.

if your case goes to court and you win, or your case is settled out of court, your fees will usually be paid by the party you are suing.

Another alternative for funding your case, is a no win no fee arrangement with your lawyer. Your lawyer will make a risk assessment of your case, and establish the likelihood of a win which will determine if this arrangement is suitable for your case.

Remember, this money is to give you a better quality of life following your injury, and can make a big difference to your well-being, it may seem daunting at first, but compensation should be considered by everyone who has suffered a spinal cord injury.

Why Sue for Compensation ? • Do I have a Case ? • Why do I need a Spinal Injuries lawyer ?
Questions to ask when choosing a lawyer • How do I pay for lawyer fees ?
Claiming Spinal Cord Injury Compensation

Support : Claiming Compensation