If someone has subjected you to a brain or spinal cord injury in Hackensack, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your financial losses and your long-term suffering. At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., we know brain and spinal cord injuries can be some of the most devastating and debilitating conditions imaginable. That is why we take these cases very seriously when your injuries were the result of another party’s negligence.
Unfortunately, these traumatic injuries are not uncommon. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 288,000 people are living with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) throughout the country, with roughly 17,700 new cases appearing every year. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) estimates that at least 12,000 New Jersey citizens suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year. Throughout the state, roughly 175,000 residents currently experience disabilities from TBIs.
If you are facing such injuries, you do not have to go through this alone. When you retain a Hackensack brain and spinal cord injuries lawyer at our firm, we can be there to handle your legal proceedings while you focus on your recovery, your loved ones, and your plans for the future.
To learn more about our legal services at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., contact a representative today to receive a complimentary consultation.
Recovering Compensatory Damages for Your Losses
Under New Jersey law, you may be able to receive compensation for your mental, physical, and financial hardships after a brain or spinal cord injury. These compensatory damages may include the following:
- Medical expenses related to health care services and future treatments
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain
- Accommodations and medical devices to assist with long-term disabilities
- Mental anguish, including loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and newfound mental illnesses
- A lack of self-esteem or sense of embarrassment from your condition
Moving forward, you should start documenting evidence of your losses, including hospital bills, pay stubs, medical documents, and other related expenses. If you start feeling overwhelmed or confused at any point, a Hackensack brain and spinal cord injuries lawyer can be there to help determine the true value of your case.
At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., we know the monetary value of your case is much more than a number to you and your loved ones, especially when you have suffered long-term injuries. In addition to gathering proof of your economic losses, our attorneys can help assign monetary values to your mental anguish before calculating your overall case value.
To learn more about calculating damages in Hackensack, contact a Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C representative today at (201) 585-9111.
Requirements for Punitive Damages
Although it does not happen very often, the court may also decide to award you punitive damages on top of your economic and non-economic compensation. Punitive damages are unique because they are meant to punish the offender rather than compensate you for your hardships.
As such, courts only award these damages on rare occasions to make an example out of a heinous offense. In doing so, they hope to dissuade members of the public from following in the offender’s footsteps.
To become eligible for punitive damages, New Jersey Revised Statutes (NJ Rev Stat) §2A:15-5.12 requires you to provide compelling evidence that proves your injuries occurred due to the offender’s willful misconduct, malice, wantonness, fraud, oppression, intoxication, or specific intent to cause harm.
Common Causes of Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Even though brain and spinal injuries deal with separate areas of the body, they often occur in the same types of accidents. Examples may include the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Assaults
- Acts of medical malpractice
The Lifetime Cost of Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
When you are dealing with a brain or spinal cord injury, the lifetime cost of medical treatment can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. After all, treatment plans can vary from a few hours of supervision in the emergency department to a complex series of medications, surgeries, and therapy programs that last indefinitely. The societal and economic toll of a TBI was around $76.5 billion in 2010, according to research cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Similarly, the lifetime expenses for SCIs are known to fluctuate depending on the specific injury. According to data from the NSCISC, the following are estimates for different levels of injury:
- Expenses for a first-year paraplegia patient: $537,271
- Each additional year: $71,172
- Expenses for a first-year quadriplegia patient: $1,102,403
- Each additional year: $191,436
- Lifetime expenses for a 25-year-old paraplegic: $2,450,234
- Lifetime expenses for a 25-year-old quadriplegic (damage to C1-C4): Around $5 million
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyers Representing Victims in Hackensack
The brain and spine are vital to the human body in countless ways. When you retain a Hackensack brain and spinal cord injuries lawyer at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., we can be there to fight for your case from start to finish. Along the way, we hope our attorneys can help you find justice and peace of mind.
Our team would love to offer you a free consultation so we can start learning more about your case today. After all, NJ Rev Stat §2A:14-2 establishes a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims in Hackensack.
For more information, contact Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. today at (201) 585-9111.
