A spinal cord injury can change everyday life in an instant. The need for emergency care or surgery may be followed by a long period of rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, and lasting changes to mobility or sensation that affect both injured people and their families.
When another party’s negligence caused the injury, a personal injury claim may provide a path toward accountability and compensation. Coopers LLP represents individuals and families with spinal cord injury and other catastrophic injury claims in Santa Barbara and throughout California.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Santa Barbara
Coopers LLP handles spinal cord injury claims in Santa Barbara caused by incidents like:
- Construction and agricultural work site incidents: Falls from heights, scaffolding and ladder failures, trench collapses, and heavy equipment injuries.
- Bicycle and pedestrian collisions: Impacts on city streets, coastal routes, and around the college and university areas.
- Commercial truck and delivery vehicle collisions: Crashes on U.S. Route 101 and connecting freight routes.
- Highway and roadway collisions: Incidents on Route 101 and State Route 154, including work zone and roadway conditions.
- Dangerous property conditions: Unguarded openings, failed stairs and handrails, and deck or balcony failures.
Deadlines and Claims Against a Public Entity
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, most personal injury lawsuits, including spinal cord injuries, must be filed within two years of the injury. However, claims involving a public entity, such as a city, county, transit district, or state agency, follow a different process. Under the California Government Claims Act, an injured person generally must submit a written claim to the responsible entity within six months of the injury before a lawsuit can be filed.
Exceptions may apply in specific situations, so it is important to speak with a Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Missing an applicable deadline can limit or bar you from seeking compensation for your spinal cord injury.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Santa Barbara Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Responsibility for a spinal cord injury depends on how the incident happened and the evidence available. A claim may involve a negligent driver, a property owner who failed to address a dangerous condition, an employer, a company responsible for a defective product, or another party whose actions contributed to the injury.
Some cases involve more than one responsible party, and the facts of each case determine who may be legally responsible. A Santa Barbara spinal cord injury lawyer can help examine your situation and work to determine liability.
California’s Comparative Negligence Rule
California follows a comparative negligence rule. This means that a person who was partly at fault is not automatically barred from seeking compensation, but any recovery may be reduced by that person’s share of responsibility.
For example, if total damages are $100,000 and the injured person is found 20% responsible, the recovery could be reduced by 20%. Insurance companies may dispute fault after a serious injury, which makes legal representation and available evidence especially important.
How Coopers LLP Handles Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Coopers LLP works to investigate how a spinal cord injury occurred, identify parties who could share responsibility, and gather relevant evidence. We also often review medical and wage records, communicate with insurance companies, and evaluate your options under California law. If a claim does not resolve through negotiation, our spinal cord injury lawyers can file a claim and take your case to trial.
We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis for all injury cases. You pay no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you.
Talk With a Santa Barbara Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
A spinal cord injury can raise immediate questions about medical care, lost income, insurance coverage, and the legal options that may be available. If you or a loved one have been injured due to another party’s negligence, contact Coopers LLP today for a free consultation.