Law Blog

A spinal cord injury can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. But few people ever talk about the financial devastation that can result from such an injury. If you have a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you must ensure that the compensation you’re seeking is enough to pay for the best possible treatment throughout your recovery. But, you’ll also need compensation to cover your loss of income, pain and suffering and a lifetime of medical expenses associated with your injury. Do not make the mistake of trusting an insurance adjuster to figure out how much you should be compensated. You need a top-notch personal injury attorney who has the experience and qualifications to determine how much money you will need, someone highly motivated, working on your behalf to see that you get what you need.

On average, the annual living and healthcare expenses plus the approximate lifetime costs directly associated with a spinal cord injury depend on severity of the injury, which means there is a great deal of variation as to the actual costs. The following figures haven’t taken into consideration the indirect costs, such as lost wages, benefits and productivity, which in 2014 dollars averaged $71,961 a year. Instead, the variations below are based for the most part on level of education, the severity of the injury, and employment history prior to the injury. The Average Yearly Expenses are in 2014 dollars.

Approximate Lifetime Costs by Age at Time of Injury (discounted at 2%):

The law firm of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley will consult with medical experts and vocational rehabilitation professionals to determine the extent of your spinal cord injury and the long-term prognosis. We also bring in very astute financial planners to help us determine the all the short- and long-term financial ramifications. Through over a decade of specializing in personal injury law we’ve demonstrated the skills necessary to ensure that you and your family will receive the kind of financial compensation you need to move forward with your lives. We invite you to contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.

(Source: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center)

Published on behalf of O'Connor, Runckel & O'Malley LLP

The spinal cord is a network of nerves inside the backbone that run from the brain stem to the tailbone. These nerves control all bodily movement as well as transmitting sensation. When the spinal cord is damaged it can destroy feeling and mobility below the injury, and if the damage is serious, it could cause death.

Spinal Cord Injuries from 2010 – 2015

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham reports that the distribution of the various causes of spinal cord injuries has drastically changed since 2010. These are the percentages as of 2015:

• Vehicular accidents 38%
• Accidental falls 30%
• Violent acts (gunshot wounds primarily) 14%
• Sports and/or recreational activities 9%
• Medical and/or surgical procedures 5%
• Other causes 4%

Researchers estimate that 12,500 new SCIs are occurring each year as of 2015 and from 240,000 to 337,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with a SCI.

The average age of someone sustaining a SCI is 42 years as of 2015, having moved up from 29 years back in the 1970s.

The length of stays in the hospital is going down, with the average in acute care now at 11 days, which is down from 24 days in the 1970s. Stays in rehabilitation facilities are currently 36 days, which is way down from 98 in the 1970s.

At O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley we have more than 50 years of combined legal experience. If you or a loved one has unfortunately been a victim of a Spinal Cord Injury it may be in your best interests to speak with a topnotch attorney. We have expertise in this area of the law and a substantial track record of successful outcomes for our clients. We invite you to contact us today. We will answer all your questions and discuss your legal rights and how we can help you protect them.

(Source: NSCISC - National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center)

Published on behalf of O'Connor, Runckel & O'Malley LLP

SAN RAMON, CA – A little 3-year-old boy tragically died Friday night after his family’s car was struck from behind on Interstate 680 when it was out of gas and parked on the shoulder. The California Highway Patrol said a suspected drunk driver was driving the SUV that crashed into the family’s Toyota Camry.   

The CHP identified the boy who was killed as Elijah Dunn of San Ramon. He was airlifted from the scene of the accident and taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, where he died of his injuries.

Elijah’s mother, 11year-old brother and 1-year-old sister were also in the car and were taken to hospitals after the accident. His mother suffered major injuries while his siblings were injured less severely, according to authorities.

Elijah was enrolled at Karina’s Daycare & Preschool in San Ramon, said the daycare’s owner, Karina Jimenez who described him as being a mellow, sweet child who was very loveable.

“It was absolutely devastating for us when we heard he hadn’t survived,” she added.

He was getting ready to celebrate his birthday on September 26th and was so excited. She said that everyone loved Elijah and that he came from a wonderful family. She said she’d spoken with the toddler’s grandmother, who relayed that the family was grieving and requested privacy at this difficult time.

Yarenit Malihan, 38, of Pleasanton was driving the SUV at the time of the accident and was arrested on suspicion of DUI as well as gross vehicular manslaughter, both felonies, the CHP reported on Saturday. Malihan was taken to San Ramon Medical Center to be treated for her injuries and then she was transported to the Contra Costa County detention facility in Martinez.

Malihan has the same Pleasanton home address as an Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy, and it is believed that they are husband and wife, according to CBS News.

The crash happened around 6:20 p.m. Friday evening during rush hour on northbound I-680 in the vicinity of the Bollinger Canyon exit, clogging traffic for over two hours.

The family had pulled over to the right onto the shoulder, waiting for someone to bring gas, according to John Fransen, a spokesperson for the CHP.

It initially appears that the mother took all the safety measures appropriate for the situation by pulling over to the far right and having everyone remain in the car while they waited for help to arrive, Fransen said. A sound wall along the freeway prevented them from pulling further to the right and away from the traffic lanes.

“It looks like the mother and children in the Camry were wearing seat belts and the smaller children were buckled into child safety seats,” the CHP wrote Saturday in a post on Facebook.

There are no prior DUI convictions on Malihan’s record, according to the CHP. She was driving under a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident.

The rear of the Camry was mostly mangled after being struck by the Toyota Sequoia SUV, which was traveling at an unknown speed, according to accident investigators.

Paramedics transported Elijah, his 11-year-old brother and 1-year-old sister to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, while their mother was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. The mother sustained a number of injuries in the crash, including a broken back and ribs.

Experiencing the death of a loved one is an extremely difficult time and we understand that nothing can truly compensate you for the loss of your loved one. However, if you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by another, you may be eligible to seek a remedy and payment. Protect your rights by contacting an experienced Wrongful Death Attorney as soon as possible. When you call the law offices of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley, you will be talking with an attorney who has spoken with hundreds of people in your similar circumstance. You will be treated with the respect and sympathy you need during your time of heartbreak and anguish.

(Source: East Bay Times)

Published on behalf of O'Connor, Runckel & O'Malley LLP

O’Connor, Runckel and O’Malley LLP would like to announce our 2016 scholarship recipient, Debbie Kol. Debbie received her bachelor's degree in Literary Journalism and International Studies from the University of California, Irvine. She is committed to giving back to her community as a mediator and a Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles volunteer. This fall, Debbie will be attending the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Debbie hopes to use her law degree to assist underserved communities both locally and abroad.

We look forward to watching Debbie succeed in her upcoming years at Hastings.

Have you ever collided playing sports, fallen off a horse, or been in an auto accident? Were you ever injured in the military, been a victim of domestic violence, or had a concussion? Any one of these incidents can lead to a traumatic brain injury. A recent study suggests that these types of injuries resulted in years of painful migraines and headaches for 80% of the participants in the study.

The chances of getting into a traffic accident go up during times when more cars are out on the road, like during rush hour, or when road conditions and/or visibility are compromised, like during inclement weather. However, the odds of an accident skyrocket when there is an increase in the number of people driving under the influence. Research has been done as to when motorists are most apt to be involved in an accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The results offer good information as to when those times occur the most so we can avoid being out on the road when we are at the greatest risk of being involved in an accident.

ANTIOCH, CA – Monday evening a 49-year-old woman from Oakley died from injuries sustained in a multivehicle collision on eastbound Highway 4, according to police. The California Highway Patrol said the fatal accident occurred during the evening commute, just west of Somersville Rd., with the 911 call coming in at 5:46 p.m.

Of the motor vehicle accidents occurring in the United States each year, approximately 2% result in the death of a bicyclist. In most of these deaths, the head received the brunt of the injuries. This highlights how vital it is for cyclists to wear protective helmets at all times. It is estimated that wearing a helmet reduces the likelihood of a head injury by 50%, and the odds of suffering an injury to the head, neck or face could be reduced by 33%. Twenty-one states in the country, plus the District of Columbia have enacted helmet use laws that specifically apply to young cyclists, however none of these helmet laws apply to all riders.

CASTRO VALLEY, CA – The California Highway Patrol reported that two men from Pittsburg were killed while a woman was severely injured in a multivehicle collision that occurred on Friday night on Crow Canyon Road near the intersection of Norris Canyon Road.

Samone Gatlin, 33 and Jamil Numan, 36, both residents of Pittsburg, were fatally injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the County of Alameda Coroner’s Office.

The accident was reported to authorities at 8:47 p.m. and happened on Crow Canyon Road slightly south of the intersection of North Canyon Road, according to Dan Jacowitz, a CHP Officer assigned to the Castro Valley CHP.

The brain itself is made of soft, Jello-like tissue. It’s not a fixed, hardened structure like you find in bones. The brain consists of millions of very fine nerve fibers and floats around inside a hardened skull, in cerebral-spinal fluid. When the head is suddenly struck or is violently shaken or strikes a solid stationary object, the utter force of this motion goes directly to the brain.

When the head rotates during trauma, the brain inside also moves, twists and turns and undergoes forces that cause the brain-matter to move. Sudden movements of the head or forces directly hitting the head cause the brain tissue to move although the brain is protected within the skull and is highly resilient. This type of motion stretches, squeezes and may even tear the neural brain cells. To maintain the precise distance between neural cells and the delicate balance needed to effectively process and send messages between cells requires a calm, stable environment. When brain cells are squeezed and stretched due to these kinds of forces this delicate balance is altered and this can easily cause problems in the brain’s processing of information.