As a personal injury lawyer I have the good fortune of having a Neurosurgeon as a father. Head of Neurosurgery for over a dozen years Dr. R.O. Holness explains in this exclusive video the complications from spinal cord injury due to motor vehicle accidents. People with significant spinal cord injuries definitely have a shortened life span. It may not just be due to breathing difficulties but also from pulminary embolism due to blood clots and veins, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and the like.
Compensation for pain and suffering and costs of care due to spinal injury from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, ICBC, is limited both by common law and practically by third party insurance policy limits. Future care costs must meet the legal test and will only be paid out to the maximum limits of the policy of insurance.
While the medical problems are very significant after a car accident spinal cord injury, the social, legal, and financial problems are equally devastating. You have an individual before a car crash that is an active individual that in an instant becomes an individual that is dependant on others for survival and everyday activity. The severity of the injury is directly related to how much independence the person has. There is a huge group of people that are unable to earn what they did before a motor vehicle accident and cannot go back to the same occupation. The personal injury lawyer needs to gather the admissible evidence to establish any loss of occupation being claimed and may need to obtain several expert opinions.
In Canada, according to Dr. Holness, there is a lot of support and rehabilitation that focuses less on the persons disability and more on the persons remaining abilities. In British Columbia, you may hear from some injury lawyers, there are top well renowned spinal cord injury clinics to assist ICBC injury claimants and their families. The lawyers best options for spinal cord injury clients will often be to ensure the client is treated by experienced healthcare providers within the Province that will survive cross examination. Assessment of claims for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and cost of future care are done using expert opinion, judge made caselaw, as well as statutes, Regulations, and policies.
Living with spinal cord injury after a car accident takes significant life adjustment. Consider hiring a legal professional to protect your ICBC injury claim if you, a friend, or a family member is suffering the complications of a spinal injury.
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyer Mr. Renn A. Holnes, B.A. LL.B.
