Evidence Allowed in Man’s Catastrophic Spinal Injury Trial
A Florida man who sustained catastrophic injuries that rendered him a quadriplegic in an auto accident when his 2002 Toyota Camry unexpectedly went out of control is allowed to present evidence in court that Toyota and other defendants knew that the brake override and electronic systems were defective, resulting in his accident.
The court ruled that Toyota misleadingly promised safety and trust, while at the same time purposely concealed evidence of electronic defects in its vehicles from the American public, and hid its own knowledge of an alarming number of incidents of unintended accelerations, deaths and injuries.
In 2011, Mr. Quinlan was driving his vehicle on Florida State Road 551 when the car suddenly went out of control and slammed into a building in Orlando. As a result, Mr. Quinlan suffered massive spinal cord injuries including permanent injuries that have left him a quadriplegic. He filed a complaint against the Toyota Corporation in Palm Beach in September of 2012. This latest ruling allows Mr. Quinlan to hold Toyota accountable for his severe spinal cord injuries as a result of its defective product. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for his injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries in Florida
As of 2013, approximately 273,000 people live with some level of spinal cord injury (SCI) and 12,000 people suffer from a serious SCI every year in the United States. In Florida, around 760 cases of SCI were reported in 2009, and every year over 800 hospitalizations related to spinal cord injuries are reported. Males are three times more likely to suffer this type of injury than females. Falls and motor vehicles accidents were the two leading causes of SCI in the state.
Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur when there is any damage to the spinal cord that blocks communication between the body and brain. After this type of injury your sensory, motor, and reflex messages are unable to get past the injured area to the brain. Effects of a spinal cord injury can include the following:
- Loss of movement;
- Loss of sensation;
- Loss of bowel or bladder control;
- Exaggerated reflexes or spasms;
- Changes in sexual function, sensitivity, and virility;
- Pain or intense stinging sensation;
- Paralysis;
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
…and other issues that arise from damage to the spinal cord.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
In an SCI lawsuit, an experienced personal injury attorney will make sure that you are fully compensated for your loss. The damages that can be recovered from an SCI can include:
- Past, present, and future medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Impaired earning ability;
- Rehabilitation;
- Long-term care or lifestyle changes;
- Pain and suffering;
- Scarring and disfigurement;
- Wrongful death;
…and other costs that are reasonably related to the effects of the spinal cord injury accident.
Contact an Experienced SCI Attorney Today
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating types of accidents that a person can experience. The effects of such an injury can take years to recover from or result in permanent damage. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in the West Palm, Palm Beach, or greater Florida area, let the attorneys with decades of spinal cord injury experience at Gary Roberts & Associates, P.A. help. Call the office at 561-686-1800 or contact us today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
