Las Vegas Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
Gazda & Tadayon are top-rated spinal cord injury attorneys in Las Vegas, NV, and surrounding areas. Our law firm has helped numerous clients receive the compensation they deserve after experiencing a spine injury. We have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury cases and are one of Nevada’s most experienced traffic accident attorneys.
Top-Rated Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm
Our peers and clients trust us to call the shots. See why we’re rate top Las Vegas personal injury lawyers, or read our client testimonials.
Rated 5.0 stars on Yelp- Rated 4.8 stars on Google Reviews
- Ranked AV Pre-eminent by Martindale Hubbell, their highest designation
- Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers
- Top 100 National Trial Lawyers
Our Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Can Help
As former insurance defense counsel attorneys, we have the insider knowledge on what it takes to win these types of cases. Therefore, we will use all possible resources at our disposal to get results, including our insider knowledge of insurance companies. Since we have formerly served as defense counsel for these insurers, we know how the “other side” thinks. This is a huge asset when handling a spinal injury case – we know exactly what questions to ask, and the right steps to take in order to get the compensation you deserve.
After a spine injury, every single detail can make or break a case. To cover all our bases, we make it a point to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident site, questioning witnesses and evaluating every detail that may contribute to your case. When you choose us to handle your spinal injury case, you choose lawyers that care about your personal and legal success.
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What Should You Do After Sustaining a Spinal Cord Injury from an Accident
Whether it’s from a car accident or because of someone else’s reckless behavior, a spinal injury can come out of nowhere. The results can be devastating for the victim and their family. Spinal cord injuries, or SCIs, can severely limit the victim’s ability to conduct everyday activities, and they often require costly medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. Severe cases can cause mobility issues and paralysis (paraplegia), and can prevent the victim from going back to work. If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury in Nevada, you deserve rightful compensation and strong legal support. We are Gazda & Tadayon, the top injury lawyers in Las Vegas, and with over 50 years of combined experience with some of the most challenging spinal injury cases, we know how to get you the maximum compensation possible.
Most personal injury cases are complicated, but spinal cord injuries are a special case. It takes detailed knowledge of the brain, spine, and nerves to build the best case possible. At Gazda & Tadayon, we have helped hundreds of clients with brain and spine injuries, so we know precisely how to navigate even the most tricky cases. We note every detail of your individual case and consult with medical experts, which helps us build a full picture of the injury and maximize your claim.
To get started, schedule a free consultation for your spinal injury claim, or read what our clients have to say on our Gazda and Tadayon reviews page. You can also visit us in person at our welcoming and compassionate law firm, located at 2600 S Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89146.
Problems Arising from a Spinal Cord Injury
It’s easy to forget how vital the spinal cord is to our everyday activities. It’s just as important as the brain in helping us work, play, and move, and any trauma to the spinal cord can cause severe disability and mobility issues.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves housed inside the spine, and it transmits information from the brain to the body’s muscles, tendons, and bones. These nerve impulses allow a full range of movement. As important as it is, the spinal cord is fragile and vulnerable to outside forces. When a victim sustains an impact to the back or neck, such as in a traffic accident, accidental fall, or head injury, the bones in the spine can shatter, dislocate, fracture, or become compressed, causing problems with the spinal cord.
Some signs of spinal cord injury include:
- little to no sensation, including the ability to feel touch, heat, and cold
- loss of bodily movement
- loss of coordination
- severe stinging pain
There are two types of SCI based on the loss of sensation and motor control in the body: incomplete injuries, which occur when there is a partial loss of sensation and motor control below the site, and complete injuries, where the victim loses all motor function and sensation below the site of the injury.
The extent of the paralysis, as well as the location, depends on where the injury is sustained on the spine. Typically, victims lose sensation and motor control below the site of the injury. Paraplegia (where the victim loses feeling in the legs and torso) and quadriplegia (where the victim is paralyzed in both the legs and arms) is common in severe cases.
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Spinal Injury FAQs
The most important step you can take to ensure you receive appropriate compensation for a spine, brain or other serious injury is retaining the right firm to handle your case. No law firm can guarantee a legal outcome, but an experienced, aggressive personal injury firm with a successful track record like Gazda & Tadayon is more likely to provide the results you need.
No two serious injuries are alike, and lawsuits for serious injuries often take time. Settling a severe injury case before the real extent of your injury is known is a mistake that can cost you substantial financial security. Though spinal injury matters are notoriously complicated, our firm meticulously prepares each case for the courtroom.
Anyone whose negligence causes your injury can be held responsible. Motor vehicle accidents account for nearly half of all spinal cord injuries, and if the other driver was negligent, they are legally responsible for compensating you for your injuries. Falling accidents are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries, and if the fall was causes by a negligent property owner, the property owner is responsible.
Nevada is a comparative damage state, so even if the defendant was partially negligent, you may still have a case. Settlements (or verdicts) in such cases are determined by the percent of fault attributed to the defendant. For example, if you’re found 25% percent at fault and the defendant is found 75% percent at fault and you win your case, your settlement will be approximately 75% percent of what it would have been if you had no fault at all.
If someone else acts wrongfully and harms your spinal cord, you could potentially have a claim for damages against them. The important thing that you must be able to identify is who actually caused your damages. If more than one person or entity did, then you could possibly bring the case against one or all of them for the entire amount of your injuries.
Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries
All four types of SCIs can be debilitating to the victim, but of the four types, cervical spinal cord injuries are regarded as the most critical form. These are caused by injuries to the cervical vertebrae, named C1 to C4, which are located in the neck at the topmost portion of the spine. They are thus responsible for almost all of the body’s nerve impulses, and any trauma to this area can result in complete and permanent paralysis. The patient can have trouble moving the head, and can even have issues breathing properly without assistance.
Thoracic Spinal Injuries
Thoracic spinal cord injuries are the second most severe. The T1 through to T2 vertebrae extend from the base of the neck down to the abdomen, and are considered the middle of the spine. Trauma to this area typically affects the lower body and legs and can cause sexual dysfunction and loss of bladder control.
Lumbar Spinal Injuries
In the lower back are the lumbar vertebrae, L1 through L5, which help control the bowel, hips, and legs. Lumbar spinal injuries to the area can cause mobility issues and a loss of control of the lower torso and legs (paraplegia).
Sacral Spinal Cord Injuries
Finally, the sacrum involves 5 vertebrae that are fused together, located above the tailbone. Trauma to this area, called sacral spinal cord injuries, typically causes sexual dysfunction, bowel issues, and bladder issues.
Many types of mishaps and accidents can result in spine injuries. Traffic accidents, like motorcycle crashes and car injuries, cause around 40% of SCIs every year. Falls are another leading cause of SCIs, and are more prevalent in the elderly. In some cases, unsafe working conditions and safety concerns in public spaces can cause SCIs due to falls, which can qualify as a premises liability case. Recreation and sports activities that include diving accidents typically account for around 10% of injuries to the spinal cord. Criminal acts and domestic violence can also lead to spinal cord injuries in the victim.
In any case, a spinal cord injury often involves a lengthy stay in a hospital which is then followed by many months or even years of rehabilitation. A survivor of a spinal cord injury might require on-going treatments and aid from different specialists as they try to recover. The costs of hospitalization and rehabilitation of a severe SCI, in addition to lost wages and emotional damages, can go into the millions of dollars over a lifetime.
Fortunately, victims can sue for damages as long as the injury was sustained because of the misconduct or negligence of another person, organization, or company. This even includes cases where the victim may be partially responsible for the incident. As long as the case can prove that the person at-fault was responsible for more than half the incident, they can be held liable for the injury. The percentage of fault is then reflected in the amount of compensation that can be collected.
As a result, there is a wide range of third party entities who can be sued for a spinal cord injury due to negligence. This includes drivers, boat operators, truckers and trucking companies, cab drivers and cab companies, cyclists, repair shops, manufacturers, homeowners, employers, teachers, caregivers, medical professionals and other healthcare providers.
Because of the complex nature of spinal injury law in Nevada, it’s critical that you explore your legal options and potentially file for damages as soon as possible. Our state law limits the amount of time after an accident that a victim can file for damages and claim compensation. Contact us today to assess your individual case in a timely manner.
GAZDA & TADAYON INJURY LAW PRACTICE AREAS
Attorney Lewis J. Gazda
Awards
- Million and multi-million advocates forum
- Martindale Hubbell with AV Ratings
- Top-Rated Avvo Lawyer
- Top 25 Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiffs Lawyers
With almost 30 years of experience, Attorney Lewis Gazda is one of the most respected lawyers in the Las Vegas community. Attorney Gazda specializes in both personal injury and wrongful death cases. He is recognized by his peers for his superior negotiation skills and extensive legal knowledge, earning the highest possible rating of AV Pre-eminent from Martindale-Hubbell.
Learn More About Attorney Lewis J. Gazda
Attorney Afshin Tadayon
Awards
Attorney Afshin Tadayon has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney in Las Vegas, with a diverse range of practice areas including personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death, criminal law, and mass tort litigation. Attorney Tadayon formerly served as a defense lawyer for insurance companies; his insider knowledge of their legal tactics makes him a potent advocate for clients seeking the compensation they deserve after an accident.
Attorney Tadayon is ranked AV Pre-eminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a rating reserved for only the top 10% of attorneys as designated by their peers.
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Awards & Accolades
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