When a brain or spinal cord injury takes a really bad turn, it impacts just about every area of a person’s life, and the lives of everyone who loves them. We’ve seen firsthand how bad these kinds of injuries can be, and we understand that the challenges run far deeper than just the physical damage that shows up on a CAT scan. A person with a terrible brain injury can be left with a laundry list of issues, and it’s not just physical ones that are a problem, it’s also mental and emotional ones too. Chronic pain is bad enough on its own, but add in a dash of depression, anxiety, and sometimes even a complete shift in personality and you’ve got a real mess on your hands. Family members are suddenly thrust into a world of caregiving, and let me tell you, that’s an incredibly stressful thing to do, dealing with mountains of medical bills, trying to navigate a maze of complicated medical systems, and on top of all that they’ve got to come to terms with the fact that the person they love is now living a completely different life than the one they thought they had planned. Product liability claims arise when defective or unsafe products cause injury. Manufacturers and distributors may be held responsible for harm caused by design flaws or inadequate warnings. Compensation can cover medical bills and other damages.
Brain injuries actually happen a lot more often than you might think, in fact, they can happen just about anywhere, like in a devastating car wreck, or a fall on the job site, or even in a violent attack. The problem is that the brain is just so complicated, and yet so vulnerable. And because of all that, a single little knock to the head could have some really far-reaching consequences. It’s not just that physical stuff you see on a medical imaging test, it’s the fine details too like trouble with balance, headaches, or constant dizziness that can make even the smallest tasks feel like a struggle. And then there’s the big brain stuff, remembering things, paying attention, understanding information, speaking, making decisions, you get the idea. All of that can be totally shot after a brain injury, which makes everyday life basically impossible. And to top it all off, mood swings, irritability, and a complete loss of emotional control can make it hard for loved ones to even recognize the person they used to know. Civil litigation involves legal disputes between individuals or organizations. These cases may include contract disputes, property matters, or negligence claims. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the legal process and protect your interests.
Spinal cord injuries are probably one of the most awful things that can happen to someone, because they can leave them paralyzed, and stuck in a world of chronic pain. The spinal cord is basically the highway between the brain and the rest of the body, carrying impulses that are needed for things like movement, sensation, breathing, heart rate, and even digestion. And when that gets messed up, either because of a break, a bruise, or some other kind of damage, well, the impact can be pretty devastating. Complete spinal cord injuries can leave people totally paralyzed, unable to breathe without a ventilator, it’s that bad. And on top of that they can end up with chronic pain, muscle spasms, and a whole host of other health problems.
The financial toll of a brain or spinal cord injury is downright staggering and only gets worse with time. In the first few weeks following a serious injury, the cost of emergency medical care, including ambulance rides, surgeries, hospital stays and all that type of thing, can easily top hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even after the immediate crisis has passed, in-patient rehabilitation clinics offering high-intensity therapy from a whole team of professionals will cost thousands a day for weeks or even months at a stretch. And then there’s the long term stuff, ongoing therapy, regular doctor visits and prescriptions, medical equipment and supplies that can cost a small fortune and have to be replaced regularly. Plus you may need to make significant changes to your home, installing things like ramps, widening doorways, and making living spaces more accessible. And if those changes can’t be done, you may have to find a new place to live.
All of this stuff adds up to hundreds of thousands, millions even, just to cover the medical costs and day-to-day expenses. Then there’s the loss of income, many people with catastrophic injuries will be out of work for years, if not for the rest of their lives. Most people can’t just go back to their old job, and finding new work that pays decently is even tougher.
At Singer Katz, we are here to help people who have suffered brain or spinal cord injuries get the financial assistance they so desperately need. We know that no amount of money is going to turn back the clock, or bring back what’s been lost. But with the right help, we can make a real difference in someone’s quality of life. We can help them get the medical care and therapy they need, get the equipment and home modifications they need to live safely and comfortably, pay for the help they need to take care of the basics, and get some peace of mind that comes with having a financial safety net. What we promise to do is hold the people responsible for the injury accountable and fight tooth and nail to get our clients as much money as they are entitled to. We know it won’t be easy, but we’re up to the challenge.
To win a case like this, you need to put together a solid case that shows the extent of the injury, the medical treatment you’ve received so far, and what the future holds, both in terms of medical expenses and lost income. We work closely with medical experts who can explain the injury and the treatment in a way that a judge or jury can understand. We also work with rehab professionals who can show what progress you’ve made, and what you’re still struggling with. And we work with life care planners who can give us a clear idea of the medical expenses and home modifications you’ll need over the course of your lifetime. All of this is put together by our team of experts to give us a complete picture of the impact of the accident on your life.
Insurance companies know that cases like this can end up going for millions, which is why they fight them so hard. They may dispute who was at fault, how serious the injury was, whether you’ll recover faster or slower than our experts think, or whether pre-existing conditions played a role. They’ll often start by making a settlement offer to try to get the case settled before we know how bad the long-term needs are going to be. These offers may sound good, but they usually don’t even scratch the surface of what you’ll actually need. Having a lawyer on your side keeps you from settling for too little and makes sure that someone with experience is fighting for you.
In cases of severe injury, timing is everything. Physical evidence from the accident scene can disappear, witnesses can get harder to find, memories fade, and time limits can limit how long you have to file a case. If you miss the deadline, you’re out of luck.
We know that dealing with insurance companies and lawyers can be a nightmare when you’re already dealing with a serious injury and all the changes that come with it. You need to focus on getting better, not on fighting for your rights. That’s where we come in, we take care of all the legal stuff so you can focus on getting your life back on track. We’re the ones who will talk to the insurance companies, do the investigation, collect evidence, consult with experts, and work out a settlement that is fair. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll take it to court. While we’re fighting for you, you should be able to focus on getting better, one day at a time.
People who have been hurt often go without the legal help they really need because they’re terrified of the cost. The truth is, you don’t have to pay us a single dollar up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if we come out on top and get you the money you deserve. This way, everyone can get the good legal advice they need, no matter how much cash they’ve got in the bank, and it means our interests are completely aligned with yours, we’re both fighting for the same thing.
In Thunder Bay, our whole approach at our firm is built around caring for people who’ve had their lives turned upside down by serious injuries, folks who are totally committed to helping you. We know just how brutal the impact of brain and spinal cord injuries can be on people and their families, and we’re committed to treating every case with the care, respect and genuine compassion it deserves. We put up one heck of a fight for every last dollar we can get you, but at the same time, we know that this is just a crappy time in your life so we try to be patient, understanding and just plain real with you through it all.
Here at Singer Katz, we genuinely believe that people who’ve been smashed up because someone else was sloppy deserve some serious firepower to help them get back on their feet. If you or someone close to you has got themselves injured badly in Thunder Bay, we’re here to listen to your story, answer your questions, break down your legal options and rights and try to make sense of what lies ahead for you.
