On a global scale, approximately 250,000 to 500,000 people experience a spinal cord injury every year. Spinal cord injuries are also a significant contributing factor to permanent disability in both Canadian adults and children.
Around 86,000 individuals struggle with spinal cord injuries in Canada. Moreover, an estimated 3,675 new cases of spinal cord injuries arising from traumatic or nontraumatic causes occur every year. Regardless of how a spinal cord injury happens, it can result in life-altering consequences and impose substantial financial burdens.
The medical expenses of spinal cord injuries can differ based on factors such as age and the severity of the injury. For instance, spinal cord injury costs in Canada vary from $39,330 for cases involving incomplete paraplegia to $ 148,620 for complete quadriplegia.
Have you or a loved one experienced economic and non-economic losses after sustaining a spinal cord injury? Suppose the spinal cord injury happened in a motor vehicle accident that was the result of another individual’s negligence in Nova Scotia. The injured victim can take legal action with a spinal cord injury lawyer’s assistance.
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How Spinal Cord Injuries Can Happen in Nova Scotia, Canada
A person’s spinal cord extends from the brain to the back. It contains bundles of nerves and nerve cells that transmit messages throughout the body. Injuries to the spinal cord can impact various bodily functions.
When a serious injury causes damage to the spinal cord, nerve impulses may be blocked, resulting in temporary or permanent bodily function changes. The injury can be fatal if the spinal cord sustains too much damage.
Understanding how spinal cord injuries occur is crucial for risk awareness and prevention. Likewise, identifying where the injury stemmed from is vital for determining legal liability and securing the appropriate compensation.
Causes of spinal cord injuries can be categorized as non-traumatic and traumatic.
Non-traumatic causes
Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries develop from slow, internal damage to the spinal cord. They often stem from diseases or medical conditions, such as:
- Infections
- Cancer or tumours
- Degenerative spine conditions
- Inflammation
- Congenital medical conditions
Traumatic causes
Abrupt, traumatic impact on the spine can cause fractures, dislocations, or compressions of one or more vertebrae. Common traumatic factors that may lead to spinal cord injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Birth injuries due to medical malpractice
- Acts of violence like sexual assault
Legal Options Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Nova Scotia
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The aftermath of spinal cord injuries is often devastating and permanent. Obtaining fair compensation is crucial, mainly when someone else’s negligent actions cause spinal cord injuries. The knowledge and assistance of a spinal cord injury lawyer are essential in these complex cases.
In Nova Scotia, individuals who suffer spinal cord injuries as a result of negligence can access the following legal options:
Apply for long-term disability benefits
Like brain injuries, a spinal cord injury has the potential to result in chronic pain and long-term disability.
Suppose you made enough contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). In that case, you may be eligible to receive CPP disability benefits if you’ve become disabled and cannot perform any job regularly. In 2023, a CPP disability benefit can provide up to $1,538 per month, starting in January.
The monthly amount will increase to $1,546,05 in December.
It’s important to note that CPP disability benefits are not automatic. They require an application, which the Canadian government carefully reviews to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements.
Additionally, the province of Nova Scotia offers long-term disability (LTD) benefits. Private insurance companies provide these benefits to individuals who suffer loss of income due to an illness or injury. The injured employee’s extended absence from work must exceed 100 days to qualify.
In Nova Scotia, you can also receive long-term disability benefits through the Disability Support Program. It’s a provincial initiative designed to assist individuals of all ages with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and long-term mental illnesses.
Seek compensation through an insurance claim
Nova Scotia operates under a no-fault insurance system. It implies that regardless of who is responsible for the accident, you can seek specific benefits by filing a claim through your insurance company. This shortens the duration needed to pursue compensation.
Under the Insurance Act, insured drivers injured in a motor vehicle accident are legally qualified to recover Section B benefits, also called No-Fault or accident benefits. It provides coverage up to $50,000 for necessary and reasonable medical expenses.
Suppose the accident and resulting spinal cord injury hinder your ability to work. Section B also enables eligible individuals to pursue compensation of up to 80 percent of their regular wages or a maximum of $250 for loss of income, depending on which amount is less.
Pursue damages by filing a negligence lawsuit
Nova Scotia’s no-fault insurance system doesn’t mean you cannot hold the at-fault party liable for the spinal cord injury you experienced in an accident. It’s also possible to pursue damages by filing a negligence lawsuit.
Negligence is one of the grounds for a personal injury case in Nova Scotia and across Canada. It occurs when the party fails to act reasonably or exercise caution to prevent harm to others. Any action or inaction that results in an injury or wrongful death may give you a valid personal injury claim.
The Importance of Hiring Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Nova Scotia
The financial cost and expense of a spinal cord injury victim’s care can be high and overwhelming. However, accident claims involving spinal cord injury cases usually involve complex legal and medical issues that extend beyond the scope of a typical personal injury case.
Different types of injuries can affect the spinal cord. These injuries can have varying degrees of severity and resulting losses. While some spinal injury cases encompass obvious and immediate injuries, others have long-lasting implications that may not appear right away.
A lawyer can investigate all aspects of a spinal cord injury. They can collaborate with medical experts to build a solid personal injury case. They’re equipped to negotiate with insurance companies.
Hence, they can help you recover the fair compensation amount that encompasses the long-term cost of medical treatment, loss of earning capacity, as well as the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the spinal cord injury. Moreover, a lawyer can fight for the amount you legally deserve in court if necessary.
That’s why hiring a lawyer is particularly important in cases involving spinal cord injuries. Unfortunately, many injured victims are not keen to work with a personal injury lawyer due to the associated legal fees. Do you have concerns about the cost of legal services?
Some personal injury law firms may offer a contingency fee arrangement. Instead of paying them an hourly or flat fee out of pocket, lawyers only get paid when your personal injury case wins. The contingency fee can vary but often ranges from 10 percent to a maximum of 50 percent of the settlement or award.
Speak to a Nova Scotia Diamond & Diamond Lawyer
Suffering a spinal cord injury can have catastrophic aftermaths. Depending on the type of accident, injured victims may experience a loss of mobility or permanent impairment.
Such cases often demand substantial financial resources to cover medical and economic expenses. During this difficult time, an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer in Nova Scotia can be invaluable in fighting for what you’re legally entitled to recover while you focus on your recovery.
The Diamond & Diamond Nova Scotia legal team can give you experienced legal advice and guide you every step of the way. Obtain a free consultation now so we can help you secure the compensation you need to move forward after a life-changing spinal cord injury.