Spinal cord injuries, like brain injuries, can be catastrophic. As a personal injury law firm, many of our clients have suffered various injuries, from soft-tissue damage to full-body paralysis. The injured person will likely require long-term, continuing medical care, which is expensive.
Recovering from an injury as severe as spinal cord damage can be time-consuming and overwhelming, but our team is here to help. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, this is not the case to handle alone. You need an attorney who knows how to handle these claim types.
Common Spinal Cord Injuries You Can Sue For
Spinal cord damage can affect your body in various ways. The most catastrophic injuries involve paralysis and are classified in these ways:
- Quadriplegia: Loss of movement in all four limbs; chest muscles are affected, and the patient usually needs a breathing machine.
- Triplegia: Loss of movement in one arm and both legs.
- Paraplegia: Loss of movement and sensation in both legs.
Critically injured patients need 24/7 care for the rest of their lives, while others can lead independent lives with much support. Patient costs add beyond medical care; vocational training, special equipment, home care, and psychological counseling will all be necessary.
As attorneys, we often see clients who have had minor car accidents and didn’t experience symptoms until much later. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of spinal cord damage, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.
You need to prioritize your health, and with a diagnosis and an experienced spinal cord damage attorney in Atlanta, you could get compensation for your medical bills.
What Happens to Your Body When You Suffer Spinal Cord Damage?
Spinal cord damage is a serious, life-altering injury that can have devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
When the spinal cord or bundle of nerves is damaged due to extreme weight or pressure, it can cause paralysis, loss of sensation, and loss of motor control.
Depending on the severity of the injury, individuals may be unable to walk, move their arms or legs, or perform everyday bodily functions.
The loss of function can require the injured person to need assistance performing daily tasks. Along with the torso, you can suffer pain in your neck which may lead to the inability to move your head properly.
Mental health issues could present, such as depression, intense bouts of anger, along with learning disabilities.
Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me 404-400-4000
What Should I Do if I Have Spinal Cord Damage from an Accident in Atlanta?
A spinal cord injury could happen in many ways. Our personal injury firm has seen a lot of cases caused by auto accidents and tractor-trailer crashes.
People who do physical labor, such as construction or factory workers, are also at great risk. If you’ve had a spine injury, first, we want you to get immediate help.
Unlike minor accidents, you may not be able to gather information at the time of the accident. It might not be possible to get the names of witnesses right away. Our lawyers in Atlanta know how to get in touch with a professional who can recreate the accident.
Don’t Agree to a Quick Settlement To Get Your Case Over With
You should contact a lawyer as soon as you notice you’re injured. The more time you take or delay your case, the more negative things can happen.
Often, people want to minimize what has happened to them, and they are quick to settle with an insurance company. They want to make life go back to how it was and think that a quick settlement will do so.
But a quick settlement usually won’t cover your costs in the aftermath of your accident.
You can return to a productive life after traumatic spinal cord damage, but you will need a lot of medical and financial help. But spinal cord injuries require a lot of care with ongoing medical expenses.
Once you settle with an insurance company, you never have the chance to go back and remake your case.
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Worth?
It’s impossible to say exactly how much your claim could be worth without knowing the details of your case. Some spinal cord injury victims recover thousands of dollars, while others’ settlements range into the millions. It all depends on what damages you received because of your accident.
Spinal cord injuries often yield higher settlements than other cases. Due to the extensive care and long recovery times associated with spinal damage, the damages involved in such cases tend to be more severe. Some of our firm’s highest case results involve spinal cord accidents.
To learn more about how much you might be able to expect for your pain, you can get a free consultation with one of our attorneys. An Atlanta lawyer can look at your case and give you a better idea of the size of your settlement.
For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving Atlanta, call 404-400-4000
What Damages Can I Recover if I Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury in Atlanta?
A spinal cord injury case is a personal injury case. As a spinal cord injury victim, you are eligible to be compensated for the following damages:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses, including past and future expenses
- Lost income due to your pain
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Burial expenses if you’ve lost a loved one
- Property damage
In a catastrophic injury, we try to recover for future medical expenses so you will be covered throughout your life. Often for younger clients or someone who is entirely disabled, we structure the recovery, so all the money isn’t spent at once.
This is called a structured settlement, which protects the client through a special needs trust.
How Are Spinal Cord Damage Cases Different From Other Cases?
In most other accidents, there is a clear path to recovery. However, spinal cord injuries are different because they have long-term health issues that require lifetime care, which means long-term medical costs.
The most common healing path is through physical therapy. Physical therapy allows you to build up the muscles you’ve injured at a slow pace. Over time you’ll be able to move like you previously did if you haven’t suffered complete paralysis.
People who have suffered damage to the spinal cord can go on to lead amazing lives. Plus, more and more research is breaking ground on regenerative therapy. Our personal injury lawyers can set up you or your loved one for a chance at a productive life.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Atlanta?
Georgia imposes a time limit or statute of limitations to file an accident claim. Generally, the time limit is two years, but some exceptions could significantly increase or decrease your window of opportunity.
For example, if the injured person was under 18, you may have longer to file a claim and still file within the statute of limitations. You may also get a longer time to file if the accident requires more time to investigate the other party.
Beyond the legal time limit, we urge clients to seek help as quickly as possible. We can help you get the proper medical treatment. The sooner we can get started on your case, the better your chances are of getting compensation for your expenses.
What if My Child Was Injured at School or Sports Practice?
In Georgia, most public schools have protections against lawsuits. However, they also often have private insurance for injuries like spinal cord damage. You can get a free consultation with a lawyer who can tell you more.
Sports injuries are also complicated. Most of the time, when you play a sport, you assume the risk of getting hurt comes along with it. That doesn’t mean you can’t still have a successful claim, but you should still talk to an attorney about your or your child’s sports accident.
What if I Was Injured at Work?
Work injuries are often treated as workers’ compensation cases. This means, as an employee, you can be compensated for an injury in the workplace. However, sometimes a work accident involves someone else at fault for your injury. If this is the case, you can proceed with a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit.
For example, if you are driving for work and your car is hit by a tractor-trailer, you can file both cases. If another employer on the job is responsible for your spinal cord damage, you can file both kinds of cases.
You can have both claims if you’re on the clock and somebody else is at fault for the accident.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for My Accident?
If you were partially at fault for the accident, you could lose some or all of your compensation. Georgia state law uses the modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can get compensation for an accident if you are less than 50% at fault.
There’s a catch, though. If you’re found to be partially at fault below 50%, your compensation could be reduced proportionally. For example, if you had 20% of the responsibility for your accident, your payment could be docked by 20%.
That’s why it’s important to have a lawyer who knows how to prove you qualify for your whole settlement. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys will gather evidence that shows that the other party was responsible for your spinal cord injury.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim if I’m the Victim of a Crime?
Violent crime is the second cause of spinal cord damage in the United States. We don’t know if the criminal can pay for your injuries.
Even if we cannot identify the criminal, we could still recover your money. We’ll go after every possible responsible person or party that may be out there. Crime victims may also be eligible for punitive damages that the court awards to punish the defendant.
This is especially true in drunk driving accidents. In addition, Georgia has a crime victim’s program fund for medical bills. We’ve helped many victims get compensation from this fund for medical bills.
What Can an Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Do for Me?
When you contact a spinal cord injury lawyer in Atlanta from our firm, the first thing they’ll do for you is to listen. Our team will listen to your story of what happened to you and tell you what steps you can take to get compensation.
After you agree to hire us to represent you, our spinal cord injury attorneys in Atlanta can help you start the legal process. We can help you:
- Investigate your case.
- Gather evidence.
- Calculate your damages.
- Negotiate with the insurance company.
- Fight for you in court if necessary.
It’s unlikely that your claim will even turn into a lawsuit and go to court. Most of the time, personal injury claims are settled outside of court. In the rare event you go to trial, your lawyer will ensure they represent your case and your rights to the highest degree.
Talk to a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Atlanta Today
Anyone who has suffered a spinal cord injury needs an expert in their corner. You only have one chance to get this right. The Atlanta spinal cord injury attorneys at John Foy & Associates have been in business in Georgia for more than 20 years.
You want the peace of mind and confidence that you chose a spinal cord injury attorney who will fight for you. Give us a call or fill out our contact form to get a free case consultation.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
