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A spinal cord injury can change everything in the blink of an eye. The body may no longer respond the way it once did. Simple daily tasks can become impossible without help. Beyond the physical damage, victims and their families face profound emotional, financial, and practical challenges. In Norfolk, catastrophic injuries like these are the highest-stakes personal injury cases there are. They require deep experience, careful investigation, and unshakable advocacy from attorneys who know how to handle every aspect of a complex claim.
At Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, we understand how life-altering these injuries can be. We help people whose lives have been fundamentally changed pursue the compensation and justice they deserve. Our Norfolk spinal cord injury lawyers provide experienced, caring legal support to guide you through this difficult time.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Impact
A spinal cord injury is different from other back injuries. When the spinal cord is damaged, messages normally sent from the brain to other parts of the body may be damaged or disrupted entirely, leading to paralysis and a partial or complete loss of function below the injury site.
Levels of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are often described by the level of the spine where the damage occurred:
- Cervical injuries can result in tetraplegia, impacting the neck, arms, legs, and torso.
- Thoracic injuries occur in the upper and mid‑back, often affecting the chest and legs.
- Lumbar and sacral injuries involve the lower back and can affect the hips, legs, and pelvic organs.
The higher the injury on the spine, the more extensive the loss of function tends to be. This distinction matters because it directly affects the care needs and financial losses a person may face.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury means there is no feeling or function below the level of the injury. An incomplete injury means some sensation or movement remains. Both types can be devastating, but complete injuries generally involve more severe long‑term disability and greater lifetime costs.
Common Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms and Long-Term Effects
Spinal cord injury victims may experience:
- Paralysis in one or more limbs
- Loss of sensation or reflexes
- Chronic pain or spasm
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Respiratory difficulties
- Loss of independence
Beyond physical symptoms, many survivors face emotional and psychological challenges. The need for lifelong care, costly medical equipment, adaptive housing modifications, and loss of income all contribute to a profound, ongoing impact on quality of life.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Norfolk
Spinal cord injuries can happen in many ways, but some accidents are more common in Norfolk. Many of these occur because of someone else’s negligence or failure to maintain safe conditions.
- Car Accidents: Speeding, distracted driving, and running red lights on busy roads like I‑264 and Virginia Beach Boulevard create dangerous collisions.
- Truck Accidents: Wide turns, failure to signal, and ignoring traffic laws by truck drivers put other road users at serious risk.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Careless lane changes, driver inattention, and poorly maintained roads make motorcycles especially vulnerable.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Drivers failing to yield, speeding, or ignoring traffic signals in crowded areas endanger walkers.
- Bicycle Accidents: Motorists disregarding bike lanes or failing to watch for cyclists, along with unsafe road designs, contribute to crashes.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Wet floors, uneven sidewalks, and poorly lit stairwells often result from property owners neglecting hazards.
Getting legal guidance early can help protect your rights and ensure you are positioned to pursue full compensation.
What Are Your Legal Options After a Spinal Cord Injury?
If someone’s negligence or intentional act caused your spinal cord injury, you may have the option to file a personal injury claim. This allows you to seek compensation from the at-fault party for your medical expenses, lost income, and other impacts on your daily life.
However, handling a claim on your own can be risky. Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule means that if you are even partially at fault for the accident that caused your injury, you may be barred from recovering any compensation. Insurance carriers often use this to their advantage, looking for ways to assign fault to you so they can avoid a costly payout. Additionally, accurately calculating your damages is especially complex in these cases, as spinal injuries often demand long-term medical care and may even affect your employment. Mistakes or oversights can significantly reduce the compensation you receive. Having legal representation is the best way to ensure your claim fully reflects your losses and that you are protected against unfair insurer tactics.
How Our Norfolk Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Can Help
Huffman & Huffman has stood with injured Virginians since 1973. With over 150 years of combined legal experience, our personal injury lawyers have the skill and dedication to handle even the most serious injury cases. We know the Norfolk community, the local courts, and how to navigate complex litigation from start to finish.
After a catastrophic injury, you shouldn’t have to deal with paperwork, negotiations, and other stressful legal matters. Our personal injury attorneys will handle these challenges for you, including:
- Investigating the cause of the accident and identifying liable parties, including drivers, property owners, employers, and product manufacturers.
- Calculating damages for past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, home modifications, and pain and suffering.
- Communicating with insurers and defense attorneys to protect your claim and counter tactics that undervalue or deny compensation.
- Preparing your spinal cord injury case for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
With our dedicated team managing these tasks, you can focus on getting better with the peace of mind that your claim fully reflects the scope of your losses and that your best interests are being protected.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Spinal cord injuries often have life-changing consequences, and pursuing fair compensation requires accounting for both immediate and long-term losses. Our attorneys work to make sure every aspect of your injury is considered, including:
Economic damages, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, ongoing treatment, and specialized care.
- Rehabilitation costs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and long-term recovery programs.
- Assistive devices and adaptive equipment needed to maintain independence.
- Home and vehicle modifications to accommodate mobility limitations.
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity, reflecting not only income lost so far but also the impact on your future career and earning potential.
Non-economic damages, such as:
- Pain and suffering resulting from the injury and its ongoing effects.
- Emotional distress related to lifestyle changes, anxiety, or depression.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, including limitations on activities you once enjoyed.
- Loss of consortium or companionship, addressing the impact on family relationships and support networks.
By carefully evaluating the long-term effects of your injury, our attorneys make sure your claim fully reflects the scope of your losses and pursue the maximum compensation possible.
Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation With Our Norfolk Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, time is of the essence. You need a personal injury law firm you can count on to give your case the attention it deserves. At Huffman & Huffman, we offer free, confidential case evaluations to help you understand your legal options and why we’re the right choice for you.
You do not have to navigate the legal process alone. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
