Santa Monica spine Injury Attorneys

Representation for Spine Injury Claims & Lawsuits

When you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, you need a trusted legal team on your side. Our firm, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP is widely recognized by clients and colleagues for expertise in spinal cord injury representation. Backed by an impressive track record, we have the experience, resources, and knowledge to handle even the most complex spinal injury claims. Our team of seasoned attorneys is known for tenacity and the skill to take tough cases to trial when necessary. We fight tirelessly for the most favorable outcomes for our clients. We recently secured a $9 million result for a man who suffered a spinal cord injury due to an unsafe highway design. While past case results can’t guarantee future outcomes, we believe this case and the many others like it demonstrate our firm’s fierce advocacy and skill under pressure.

Let our Santa Monica spine injury lawyers fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve. Call  (866) 634-4525 now.

What is a Wrongful Death?

In all states, the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult life events a person can go through. When a death is caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity, the loss can be even more devastating. In California, a person can bring a claim against a wrongdoer if their loved one died as a result of a “wrongful death.”

Under California law, a wrongful death occurs when:

• A person is killed due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity
• The deceased person is survived by a spouse, child, or dependent parent
• The deceased person had a cause of action against the person or entity that caused their death

In other words, a wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or entity, and their death causes financial harm to a surviving family member, such as a spouse, child, or dependent parent.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in California?

In California, a surviving family member can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person’s estate. The surviving family member’s role in a wrongful death lawsuit is to represent the interests of the deceased person’s estate. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the family members do not seek to recover damages for their own losses; they seek to recover damages for the estate’s losses.

Generally, the following individuals are eligible to file a wrongful death claim:

• The surviving spouse or domestic partner of the deceased.
• Surviving children of the deceased (including adopted children).
• If there is no surviving spouse or children, other dependents who were financially dependent on the deceased person.
• If none of the above exists, other individuals who may be entitled to the deceased person’s property under California’s intestate succession laws.

Damages in a California Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In a California wrongful death lawsuit, the family members of the deceased person’s estate can seek to recover compensation for all of the damages they have suffered as a result of the death of their loved one. In a successful wrongful death lawsuit, the jury will award damages to the estate’s representatives for all of the losses they have suffered.

These damages may include:

• Economic damages: These cover financial losses resulting from the death, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages, and loss of future income.
• Non-economic damages: These compensate for intangible losses like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and emotional distress caused by the death of the loved one.
• Punitive Damages: In cases involving gross negligence or intentional harm, the court may award punitive damages to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior in the future.

Why Hire our Santa Monica Wrongful Death Lawyer?

A wrongful death lawsuit can be an extremely complex case to bring. The defendant will likely have insurance coverage that will hire an attorney to defend the case. In addition to the defendant’s attorney, the deceased person’s family may also have to hire an attorney to ensure the estate’s interests are protected.

At Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, our Santa Monica wrongful death attorneys have the experience and know-how to represent the interests of the deceased person’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit. We have the resources and the knowledge necessary to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Greene Broillet & Wheeler today to schedule a free consultation with our Santa Monica wrongful death lawyer. Let us help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve during this challenging time.

Causes of Serious Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can happen due to many kinds of accidents, and under various types of dangerous conditions—some of which are the result of the carelessness, negligence, or reckless actions of others. These injuries can have devastating, lifelong impacts. They frequently result in permanent disability, loss of mobility, and chronic pain, seriously diminishing a person’s ability to work, perform daily activities, and maintain their quality of life.

Common causes of serious spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles are among the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. The force of impact in a motor vehicle accident can lead to severe trauma to the spine, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These accidents often occur due to negligent behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, or failing to obey traffic laws.
• Slip and fall accidents: Slips, trips, and falls can also cause significant spinal cord damage, particularly if the victim lands on their back or neck. These incidents frequently occur in places where property owners have failed to maintain safe conditions, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly lit areas. In such cases, the property owner may be liable for failing to prevent a foreseeable risk.
• Workplace accidents: Occupational hazards, especially in industries like construction, manufacturing, and transportation, can lead to spinal cord injuries. Falls from heights, being struck by falling objects, or accidents involving heavy machinery are just a few examples of how these injuries can occur on the job. Employers are responsible for ensuring a safe working environment, and failure to do so may result in liability for injuries sustained by their employees.
• Sports-related accidents: Contact sports, such as football, rugby, or hockey, and high-impact recreational activities, like skiing or diving, can lead to spinal injuries. While participants assume some risk when engaging in sports, injuries caused by unsafe conditions, improper training, or defective equipment can open the door to legal claims against coaches, organizations, or equipment manufacturers.
• Defective products: Sometimes, spinal cord injuries result from defective or malfunctioning products, such as faulty car seats, helmets, or industrial equipment. Manufacturers, designers, and distributors can be liable if their products are found to be unreasonably dangerous and directly cause harm to the user.

Negligence can contribute to spinal cord injury cases. When an individual, company, or entity fails to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would in similar circumstances, and this failure results in injury, they can be held legally responsible.

Our lawyers have worked on diverse spinal cord injury claims arising from recklessness or negligence. With each case we take, our goal is to thoroughly investigate the incident, use our extensive resources to identify the cause of the accident, and establish the defendant’s liability. We strive to hold those responsible for your life-changing injury accountable, enabling you to pursue the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

Harm Caused by Spinal Cord Damage

The spinal cord is a vital and delicate nerve bundle that carries signals between your brain and body. Even minor accidents can lead to severe or permanent spinal cord injury due to the sensitivity of the spinal column and the nerve tissue within it. Any damage to the nerve fibers in the spinal cord can disrupt communication between the brain and the rest of the body. What may seem like a small injury can result in lifelong complications, affecting your quality of life and independence.

The nature and severity of these complications typically depends on the location and extent of the injury, but can range from mild discomfort to complete loss of motor function or sensation.

Complications associated with serious spinal cord injuries include:

• Paralysis: A spinal cord injury can result in paralysis that impacts most of the body, including all limbs, or be confined to the lower body alone. Paralysis can occur instantly at the time of the injury or develop gradually due to bleeding and swelling around the injury site.
• Limited mobility: Injury to the spinal cord can lead to the deterioration of muscle tissue and tone (atrophy) below the injury site. Muscle atrophy can result from nerve damage that causes a loss of communication between the brain and the muscle, as well as disuse. Even if a spinal cord injury does not cause full paralysis, it may still cause significant difficulties with movement. Limited mobility can impact daily activities and require the use of assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers.
• Loss of organ functions: Spinal cord injuries can also affect the functioning of various organs. Such an injury may lead to issues with bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and respiratory difficulties.
• Increased risk of blood clots: Due to reduced mobility or paralysis, people with spinal cord injuries are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, specifically deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

What Are Quadriplegia and Paraplegia?

Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is a severe form of paralysis that results in partial or total loss of use of all limbs and torso. This condition typically occurs when the cervical segment of the spinal cord, located in the neck region, suffers a severe injury.

In an accident, a forceful impact can fracture or dislocate the vertebrae, which can then damage the spinal cord. The resulting injuries can disrupt the transmission of signals from the brain to the rest of the body, leading to impaired movement and loss of sensation below the level of injury.

Paraplegia refers to an impairment of motor or sensory function in the lower extremities, typically caused by damage to the lower regions of the spine and spinal cord.

Similar to quadriplegia, paraplegia can result from an accident in which a severe blow to the spine causes fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae, damaging the spinal cord. Depending on the exact location and extent of the spinal cord injury, people with paraplegia may lose complete or partial function of their legs and possibly some function in their torso.

Specialized Care for Spine Injury Patients

Spinal cord injuries—and the resulting complications—are very serious. Unfortunately, they cannot always be completely healed or reversed. However, recent strides in treatment and medical science are helping some patients recover to a greater extent, or make substantial improvements in their post-injury quality of life.

Our Santa Monica spine injury lawyers help clients access the treatments necessary for their spinal cord injury recovery. We fight for compensation that will cover the true costs of advanced medical care and long-term therapy, and help survivors live fuller lives after devastating injury.

Treatments and aftercare options for spinal cord injury patients may include:

• Surgery: Frequently the first step in treating a spinal cord injury, surgery can help stabilize the spine and correct herniated disks that are compressing the spinal cord. Surgical procedures may also be used to manage various complications.
• Physical therapy: After initial treatment and stabilization, physical therapy becomes a cornerstone of recovery. It focuses on regaining strength, flexibility, and endurance, and can help patients re-learn basic motor functions.
• Occupational therapy: After a serious spinal cord injury, occupational therapy can help patients regain independence by teaching them new ways of performing essential tasks like dressing, cooking, and bathing. It can also involve modifying a patient’s home environment to improve accessibility.
• Medication: Various medications can be used in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Some drugs, such as corticosteroids, may be used immediately after the injury to reduce inflammation and damage to nerve cells, while others help manage symptoms and complications, both short- and long-term

Past & Future Spinal Cord Injury Damages

In California, individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries due to another party’s negligence can pursue legal action to demand compensation for their damages and losses.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, our team can help you understand the types of damages that might be available through your claim and the reasoning behind them. We can also assist in determining the appropriate amount to seek, whether through a negotiated settlement or court-awarded judgment.

Compensation you can pursue in a spinal cord injury claim includes:

• Medical expenses: Compensation for medical expenses includes the cost of medical care immediately following the accident, as well as ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. It also covers future medical expenses, which is crucial for spinal cord injury victims whose recovery can be lengthy, with many potential complications and exorbitant financial burden.
• Lost income: If the injury causes you to miss work or reduces your ability to earn a living, you may seek compensation for income you have already lost, and future loss of earnings.
• Pain and suffering: A form of non-economic damage, pain and suffering refers to the physical pain and emotional distress you suffered as a result of the spinal cord injury.
• Punitive damages: In rare cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly reckless or malicious, the court may award punitive damages to punish the defendant, rather than compensate the plaintiff.

It is crucial to recognize that the potential long-term costs of medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and ongoing difficulties associated with your spinal cord injury can be significantly higher than initially anticipated. When selecting a legal team to handle your spinal cord injury claim, choose one that fully comprehends the importance of fighting for all future damages, not just those you have already experienced. Our experienced team understands the scope of challenges and costs our clients can face, and always makes every effort to secure maximum compensation.

Learn How to Start a Claim – Call Now

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we zealously advocate for clients and families impacted by spinal cord injuries. Our trusted Santa Monica spine injury attorneys provide unwavering support and representation for locals who need legal help during critical times. When faced with challenging cases and uncooperative defendants, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice.

We’ve successfully challenged major corporations and other powerful defendants in courtroom litigation. No matter who is on the other side of your spine injury claim, our skilled and compassionate team is ready to fight for you.

Contact us online or call (866) 634-4525 to learn more about filing a spinal cord injury claim today.