Spinal Cord Injury Information
San Francisco Bay Area · Los Angeles · San Diego
A spinal cord injury (SCI) completely changes the life of the victim and those who are close to him or her. Paralysis is a life-altering experience which results in enormous financial costs to cover ongoing medical care, attendant care, medical equipment, adaptive technologies, specialized medicines and supplies.
Since 1959, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have helped our California and Nevada clients with spinal cord injuries ranging from quadriplegia to paraplegia to hemiparesis to spinal cord contusions and even brain damage. Walkup attorneys fully understand the personal and family tragedy which results from a spinal cord injury. Each Walkup spinal cord injury lawyer ha s handled cases on behalf of injured clients throughout California including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa and elsewhere. In Nevada, our attorneys have represented clients in Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and other areas throughout the state.
Whatever the cause or type of injury, contact our SCI lawyers for immediate case analysis, evaluation and representation.
Your lawyer must be prepared to evaluate your long-term medical needs, and be able to place a value upon them by hiring and working with specialists in the field of life-care planning. We know that spinal cord injury victims face a lifetime of health related problems that are peculiar to their disability - problems such as bladder infections, kidney stones, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, bedsores, pressure sores, skin contractions and others. Your spinal cord injury and brain damage lawyer at Walkup knows those problems and will work with you to make certain that in formulating a plan for compensation, current and future medical expenses are properly evaluated and included in any settlement demand or jury request.
We know that the average expenses in just the first year of following a serious spinal cord injury averages $198,000 - ranging from $152,000 for paraplegics to $420,000 for quadriplegics.
Average lifetime costs for quadriplegics who sustain their injury between ages 25 and 30 are estimated at $1,350,000.
Our lawyers also know that only 50% of injured clients are covered by private health insurance at the time of their injury, and that our job includes trying to maintain or obtain specialized public benefits.
In representing spinal injury victims, our attorneys keep in mind that medical technologies and adaptive technologies are evolving. Supplies and equipment for those who have spinal cord impairment are improving, and any settlement or verdict must take into account a budget which permits or makes funds available in the future to cover the cost of technologically improved medical equipment.
Where injury results in loss of employment, we do our best to seek compensation for current and future lost wages, health care insurance and pension or retirement benefits according to law.
Where our client requires a caregiver or chore worker, a Walkup lawyer seeks compensation for the cost of attendant care.
When a spouse loses his or her mate to paralyzing injury, a Walkup lawyer seeks compensation for loss of consortium, loss of household services, and loss of spousal intimacy. In such circumstances, the change of roles from partner to attendant can be disruptive to the entire family, and oftentimes specialized family or individual therapy is required.
Our San Francisco, California attorneys work with economists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, physiatrists, life care planning experts, neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists in our representation to make certain that our client's current and future needs are properly analyzed and valued.
If you, a close friend, or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury — regardless of its severity— you should contact a lawyer at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger for investigation, representation and recovery. Our attorneys practice in both California and Nevada. We are prepared to meet with injured people and their families in our office, at your home or in your hospital room.
Toll-Free Call: 1-888.732.8897
