| member of your family has experienced a recent | | | | achieved and were they adequate? If possible, |
| spinal injury that has left them paralysed, your | | | | ask to see case history reports or speak directly |
| loved one can still lead a full and varied life, no | | | | with past clients to see what practical assistance |
| matter how severe their injury. Whilst lifelong | | | | they received. |
| therapy and assistance will be needed by | | | | When you have satisfied yourself that your |
| someone with a spinal injury, your loved one can | | | | prospective solicitors are suitably experienced in |
| look forward to a life with a large degree of | | | | pursuing a spinal injury compensation case, you |
| independence. This is true where the use of arms, | | | | should also ask:- |
| legs and even the power of natural speech have | | | | - will a Case Manager will be appointed to manage |
| been lost. | | | | your loved one's care, so that you can always |
| Major advances in computing and computer | | | | speak to someone who is familiar with the |
| assisted technologies mean that individuals who | | | | medical history. |
| have suffered a complete loss of movement as a | | | | - Will your solicitor help you manage the specialist |
| result of spinal injury can use these technologies | | | | care teams? Will they provide services to help to |
| to help them move about and control their living | | | | source the technology and equipment your family |
| environment independently. Electric wheelchairs | | | | will need to support assisted living for someone |
| guided by eye movement are already available to | | | | with a spinal injury? |
| a spinal injury victim. Additionally, a new generation | | | | - Will the firm help you deal with any issues or |
| of technology is in development that will permit a | | | | unforeseen requirements that may arise over the |
| wheelchair to be guided by the power of thought | | | | course of securing the claim? |
| alone. If a loved one has also lost the power of | | | | - Will this assistance extend to the years after |
| speech as a result of a spinal injury they will still | | | | the serious injury compensation award has been |
| be talk through use of a voice synthesiser | | | | made? |
| controlled by any small eye or head movement. | | | | - Are the spinal injury care and management |
| However, the technology that offers a loved one | | | | services provided free of charge? |
| with a spinal injury the ability to live independently | | | | Additionally, you should also examine what |
| is expensive. | | | | services are offered by your prospective lawyers |
| When pursuing a compensation claim from | | | | to help you care for a family member with a |
| insurers, it is vital to find a legal firm that is | | | | spinal injury, whilst the claim is being settled. It |
| experienced in serious injury compensation, so | | | | must be remembered that serious injury |
| that any claim fully covers all the expenses that | | | | compensation cases can take up to five years to |
| are likely to arise as a result of your loved one's | | | | reach a final settlement, and once your loved one |
| spinal injury. The compensation award must be | | | | is released from hospital your needs will be |
| sufficient to cover a lifetime of costs arising from | | | | immediate. Additionally, the selected legal firm |
| provision of specialist care, equipment and a living | | | | should be willing to seek an interim award for |
| space that is suitably adapted for a spinal injury | | | | spinal injury from your insurers, or should be willing |
| victim. It is also important to understand that | | | | to secure other financial assistance to help your |
| once a settlement has been made, a spinal injury | | | | family with any immediate costs that will need to |
| compensation case cannot return to the courts to | | | | be met when your loved one comes home. |
| seek additional funds at a later date. | | | | At such a distressing time, it is essential that you |
| So how can you select an experienced legal firm | | | | choose solicitors that are able to give you all the |
| to pursue your case for you at this difficult time, | | | | assistance you will need to support a loved one |
| and what help can you expect? | | | | with a spinal injury both now, and in the months |
| When considering a legal firm to represent your | | | | and years ahead. Taking the time to choose the |
| family in a spinal injury compensation case, you | | | | right legal practice for your family's individual |
| should check how many serious injury cases that | | | | circumstances is a wise investment of your |
| law firm has successfully completed in the past. | | | | energies. |
| What spinal injury compensation awards were | | | | |