You don’t have to face the aftermath of a spinal cord injury alone. When someone else’s negligence changes your life in an instant, you deserve a legal team that will fight for you with strength, compassion, and experience. At Trantolo & Trantolo, our Melville personal injury lawyers have been standing up against insurance companies since 1938, and we are ready to put our decades of advocacy to work for you.
We know a spinal cord injury can affect every part of your daily life, from your independence to your financial stability. That’s why we’re committed to pursuing the compensation you need not only to cover your immediate care but also to support your long-term recovery and future. Contact our office today for a free consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer in Melville, NY, and take the first step toward rebuilding your life.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma to the back or neck damages the nerves and fibers that make up the spinal column. These nerves are the pathway for signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord typically affects areas below the injured nerves, causing loss of feeling, control, and function.
Victims of motor vehicle accidents and falls are the most likely to suffer a spinal cord injury, but it can happen anywhere. Trantolo & Trantolo helps injury victims cope with the financial, physical, and emotional effects of a SCI. We know that the consequences can be devastating, and we want to help you get the compensation you deserve.
We Aim to Secure Maximum Compensation for All Your Losses
Our personal injury team has over 85 years of experience helping the severely injured seek monetary recovery for their losses. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for injury victims. You deserve fair compensation after a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence.
When you hire us, we work closely with medical providers and life care experts to establish the full scope of your economic and non-economic losses, including medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Factors That Could Affect Your SCI Settlement in Melville, NY
Every spinal cord injury claim is unique, so the damages you can recover vary widely. While many circumstances can affect your final settlement or verdict, the injury location and type are primary factors.
Spinal Cord Injury Location
The spinal cord is divided into four sections, each of which controls different parts of the body:
- Cervical spinal nerves: These are the nerves in the neck that control the back of the neck, shoulders, hands, arms, and diaphragm.
- Thoracic spinal nerves: Located in the upper to mid-back, these nerves control some back muscles, chest muscles, and certain organ systems.
- Lumbar spinal nerves: Found in the lower to mid-back, these nerves control signals to parts of the back, abdomen, buttocks, genital organs, and legs.
- Sacral spinal nerves: These nerves are located at the base of the spine and control the thighs, lower legs, feet, external genitalia, and the anus.
Injuries higher on the spinal column affect all the areas controlled by the nerves below. For example, a thoracic spinal injury affects the lumbar and sacral spinal nerve areas. Those with injuries higher up the spinal column may suffer more extensive paralysis, requiring more medical treatment, long-term care, and financial support.
Type of SCI
Spinal cord injury severity is typically divided into two types:
- Incomplete spinal injury is partial damage to the spinal column that lets some nerves still transmit messages to and from the brain. People with incomplete injury may still have some limited feeling, movement, and function below the injury site.
- Complete spinal injury is full damage to the nerves at the site of the injury. Those with complete SCI lose all feeling, sensation, muscle control, and function below the point of injury.
SCI victims with complete injuries may need more medical treatment, assistive equipment, and income support than those with incomplete injuries. No matter how complex your case is, our team has the experience, resources, and reputation to get the results you deserve.
Personalized Legal Support from Dedicated Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys in Melville
Trantolo & Trantolo’s Long Island spinal cord injury lawyers are focused on getting the best outcome for your case. When you hire us, we assign a legal team to handle every aspect of your case. You can expect continuous availability and constant communication from your assigned team throughout your claim.
Your attorneys will investigate the cause of your SCI, identify the responsible party, and negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement. If we cannot achieve a desirable outcome through negotiations, our team will not hesitate to take your claim to court.
Trust Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers to Get the Job Done
Whether your spine was injured in a car accident, construction incident, or slip and fall, Trantolo & Trantolo knows how to build a winning case on your behalf. Contact our office today for a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury attorney in Melville, NY.
FAQs About Spinal Cord Injury Claims
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
New York CVP § 214 generally gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Depending on your accident details, the deadline can be much sooner. For example, GMU § 50-E only gives victims injured by a government entity 90 days to provide notice of a claim. Insurance companies often require even shorter notice. Consult with a spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing important legal deadlines.
What Should I Not Say to the Insurance Company?
Insurance companies do not always want to pay injury victims for their losses, and they have many tactics to reduce or deny claims. Here are some tips for protecting your rights:
- Do not admit fault or point fingers.
- Don’t downplay your injuries or say you “feel fine”.
- Avoid discussing your medical history or past injuries.
You can avoid many pitfalls by speaking to your SCI attorney before talking with the insurance adjuster. When you work with Trantolo & Trantolo, our team handles all correspondence with the insurance company, so you don’t have to.
How Much is it to Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Melville, NY?
Trantolo & Trantolo charges no upfront fees or retainers to represent your spinal cord injury claim. We recover our costs and fees from the final settlement or verdict in your favor. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us anything for our services.
Trantolo & Trantolo
Office Info:Melville, NY Office
Address: 445 Broadhollow Rd #25, Melville, NY 11747, United States
Phone: 844-999-9999
Opening Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days A Week
Location Info: Our Melville office is conveniently situated to serve our clients coming from western and central Long Island. We’re located on Broadhollow Road inside the Bank United building, just off the Long Island Expressway (I-495). For those visiting us from the west, take the LIE to exit 49N for NY 110 (Broadhollow Road). If you’re coming from the East, use exit 49S. Head south on Broadhollow Road and you’ll find our office on the east side of the street.