After a back or spinal cord injury in Columbus, it’s best to speak with a lawyer immediately. These injuries can affect your life in so many ways, and you might deserve full compensation for your costs.
Our Columbus personal injury lawyers know what to do. At John Foy & Associates, we’re not afraid of complicated injury cases. We fight hard for our clients’ rights from day one. Contact us today to get your questions answered. Call (404) 400-4000 or fill out one of our online contact forms for a free consultation.
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Worth?
Spinal cord injuries can lead to some of the largest court verdicts.
What you might recover in court depends on your injuries. Severe spinal cord injuries may require years of:
- Specialist appointments
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
Spinal cord injuries often lead to lifelong disabilities. Many who suffer spinal cord damage cannot walk again. Patients with a complete spinal cord injury have a less than five percent chance of recovery.
With all of the above in mind, spinal cord injury lawsuits can be in the millions.
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What Is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury?
The settlement for a back injury will vary greatly depending on your injuries. Severe back injuries can result in settlements in the millions. But every case is different.
If you have a back injury from an accident, talk to a lawyer first. You can get the best estimate of your potential compensation by speaking with a professional.
How a Personal Injury Claim Works
In Georgia, you can recover compensation for injury-related damages you didn’t cause, according to OCGA §51-12-4.
If your back or spinal cord injury happened because of someone else’s actions, that person is at fault. You can bring legal action against the at-fault person for your injuries.
After a car accident, the at-fault person’s auto insurance should pay for the damages. You can request compensation for your costs through this type of claim.
For example, let’s say another driver crashes into your vehicle, causing your spinal cord injury. You must prove that:
- The other driver was negligent (which is a legal term for careless).
- The driver’s negligence led to your car accident.
- You suffered the spinal cord injury (and your other injuries or damages) because of the accident.
The driver’s carelessness must have led directly to your accident and injuries. Learn your rights today—at no risk. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Personal Injury Damages You Can Claim
Your injury claim must also prove your accident damages. “Damages” are any losses you have from the accident. There are two categories of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages, also known as special damages in Georgia, are financial losses.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses from the treatment of your injuries
- Lost income from having to miss work
- Lost earning capacity if you have a reduced ability to make money
- Repair costs for fixing your vehicle
Don’t underestimate how much an accident can cost you. Even minor injuries can become expensive quickly, and back and spinal cord injuries are anything but minor.
See a doctor as soon as you can after the crash. Make sure you know the full extent of your injuries and document everything you can.
Your claim will need to include bills, receipts, and quotes to back up your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Also known as pain and suffering or general damages, non-economic damages are about the accident’s emotional effects.
When someone is hurt in an accident, they can experience a significant loss. Accident injuries—especially back or spinal injuries—can change one’s life forever.
Your non-economic damages might include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of activities
- Emotional distress
- Embarrassment or fear
Severe injuries can require lifelong assistance for basic tasks. You might be unable to do things you once loved or enjoyed. These are moments worth more than medical bills or monetary compensation.
Many economic damages, such as medical bills, are about repaying costs you have. Non-economic damages are about compensating you for what the accident took.
A lawyer can help value your non-economic damages. Usually, that involves multiplying your financial losses by a number between three and five. Schedule a free consultation to learn more.
Personal Injury Settlement vs. Trial
Most personal injury claims settle outside of court. You can often get an insurance settlement if you have an experienced lawyer helping you negotiate.
However, a good attorney will be unafraid of possibly going to trial. It all depends on the details of your case. Here’s how the process goes:
- Your lawyer sends a demand letter to the at-fault party. The letter includes supportive documents and the damages for which you’re seeking compensation.
- The other side responds to the letter, often with a counteroffer.
- Both sides start negotiations. If all goes well, you agree to a settlement amount.
- If you cannot settle, the case goes to trial.
Trials are lengthy and costly. But they are the right decision for some injury victims and their families. An experienced attorney can help you decide what’s best for you.
Before accepting any money from the other side, call a trusted lawyer. You’ll need to know your rights and legal options based on the details of your case.
Speak with a Columbus Back and Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
John Foy & Associates can help after your accident. To get a free, no-risk consultation, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
