Mary Johnston: Spinal Cord Slip and Fall Injuries

From West Jordan, Utah to the East Coast, spinal cord and slip and fall injuries occur with an impressive degree of regularity. I’ve seen as a slip and fall lawyer, that the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that up to 34 people suffer from a serious spinal cord injury every day. Regardless of age, spinal cord injuries are going to be serious matters, even if a lawyer needn’t be involved.

That said, when both identified and treated promptly, oftentimes, physical damages can be limited. However, due to the fact that many elderly Americans are unable to properly care for themselves and require the services of professional caregivers, when negligence abounds, spinal injuries undoubtedly worsen.

In September of this year, an interesting study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study closely examined 1,440 patients who’d recently experienced a spinal cord injury.

Shockingly, the study revealed something very interesting—a sharp increase in the rate at which senior patients were dying in hospitals after spinal injuries. Even more concerning, due to a limited physical state, the spinal injuries of senior citizens tended to be less severe than their younger counterparts.

While researchers admit that a number of factors could play a role in such a finding, caregiving negligence can’t by overlooked as a potential culprit. Needless to say, if you or a loved one hasn’t received the appropriate care for a slip and fall or spinal cord injury, consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer in West Jordan, Utah or elsewhere, as soon as possible.

MEDICAL INSURANCE’S EFFECT ON PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

Some of the most common damages in a personal injury case are medical bills. It is commonly accepted in Utah and everywhere else that if a person or business causes injury to someone, then the responsible party should be liable for resulting medical bills.

These medical bills, however, can make personal injury claims a little more complicated. Some think that when health insurance companies pay for medical expenses it means that the victim is already taken care of. In reality, most claims include the cost for medical expenses whether insurance is involved or not— this leads to a financial discrepancy. If the victim does get money back from the offending party then they can receive double the money needed to pay for medical expenses. If they don’t file for damages including medical bills then the liable party ends up not paying for anything.

As mentioned before, in most cases, medical expenses from auto accidents and other things are included in the damages claim. However, the insurance company is able to submit something called a lien. This basically says that if their customer receives reimbursement from the claim, then the money should go to the insurance company since they paid for the majority of the cost.

Making sense of this situation can be difficult for many people in Utah and outside the state. A personal injury lawyer can help clients determine the best course of action in claims for auto accidents or whatever they may be.