Spinal cord injuries in Sandy Springs are incredibly serious and often deadly. If someone survives an accident that left them with a spinal cord injury, the costs are astronomical, and it can be hard to know where to turn first. If you or someone you love suffered this type of injury, the good news is that an experienced Sandy Springs spinal cord injury lawyer can help.
At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping injury victims for over 20 years. We have seen how much of a toll serious injuries can take on people and their families. We also know that while money cannot fix what happened, it can help you get back on your feet and cover the costs of an injury that was not your fault.
What to Know About Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord is a pathway of nerves that extends from the end of your brain stem to almost the bottom of your spine. The spinal cord sends information between the brain and your nervous system, and it is protected by the bones of your spinal column.
When the spinal cord becomes damaged in an accident, it can greatly affect the body, often leading to paralysis or other types of disability.
A spinal cord injury can leave someone with enormous costs that they wouldn’t have to bear if the injury had not happened. That’s why, if you were not at fault for the accident that led to your injury, you have legal rights.
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How a Sandy Springs Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help
The first thing that any good lawyer will do for you is listen. At your initial consultation, your attorney will hear you out and tell you what the best course of action will be for your claim. Once you agree to hire their services, your attorney will get to work to prove that you are the victim of someone else’s negligence.
A spinal cord injury lawyer in Sandy Springs will:
- Investigate your case and gather evidence
- Calculate your damages
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Fight for you in court, if necessary
It’s unlikely, but possible, that your case will go to trial. Most of the time, personal injury claims are settled outside of court. However, on rare occasions, negotiations break down and your claim will go in front of a judge. If that happens, our Sandy Springs spinal injury lawyers will fight to make sure you have a fair chance at trial.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Sandy Springs You Can Sue For
There can be many different symptoms of a spinal cord injury, one of the most serious being paralysis. When someone becomes paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury, their condition is typically classified in one of four ways:
- Paraparesis, which is partial paralysis of the legs
- Paraplegia, which is the loss of movement and sensation in both legs (and usually the lower torso)
- Triplegia, which is the loss of movement in both legs and an arm
- Quadriplegia, which is the loss of movement in all four limbs
Paralysis is a particularly devastating consequence of a spinal cord injury, and it could mean years of physical therapy. That’s years of ongoing treatment that you could be paying for. If someone else was responsible for your injuries, you shouldn’t have to be liable for your own medical expenses.
Other Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
Paralysis happens when the spinal cord has been severed, but someone can also lose function due to tearing, bruising, or compression of the spinal cord. Some spinal cord injuries don’t show up right away, which is why it’s so important to see a doctor after an accident to get checked out for developing problems. Other symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:
- Terrible neck or back pain
- Numbness in the extremities, such as the fingers and/or toes
- Trouble breathing
- Lack of bladder or bowel control and
- Sexual function changes
Depending on the severity of the injuries and other facts surrounding a victim’s life, some people can still live independently with adjustments while others will need constant care for the rest of their lives. Either way, the medical, care, equipment, and vocational training costs can be incredibly high.
Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash, a cervical spine injury, is commonly caused by rear-end accidents. If you have any neck or back pain after a car crash, you should go to the doctor as soon as you can.
Often, the collision does not have to be particularly forceful for someone to sustain a spinal injury. That’s why we suggest getting medical attention even if you feel fine. It’s also why we suggest pursuing a personal injury claim even if your injury was minor.
Often, medical bills for even small injuries can become much more expensive than you would expect. That’s especially true for spinal injuries, which can take surgery or weeks of physical therapy. With the help of a Sandy Springs spinal cord injury attorney, you could be able to recover the money you had to spend because of your car accident.
What You Can Expect to Recover from a Spinal Cord Injury Case in Sandy Springs
If someone else was at fault for the incident that caused your spinal cord injury, you have rights in the state of Georgia. You can seek financial recovery through a personal injury case. The at-fault party may be legally liable for all of the costs you face because of the accident and your injuries.
Damages that you can recover from a personal injury case include:
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and other types of therapy
- Mental health treatment
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity and
- Pain and suffering
Since spinal cord injuries are so serious and debilitating, they are often considered to be catastrophic. Your lawyer will work to get you the highest possible recovery, which may include lifetime coverage.
A Sandy Springs spinal cord injury lawyer will consider all of the costs you now face because of the accident. They’ll also examine how the injury has impacted your life now and into the future. They will determine how much your case is worth so you can seek a settlement to cover your expenses and account for your suffering.
What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury in Sandy Springs
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in Sandy Springs, the best thing you can do is to contact an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer. They can get to work investigating the accident that led to your injury and the at-fault party in the incident. From there, they can determine who was responsible for your injuries and how much your case is worth.
Don’t wait to get started. In Georgia, you typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim or lawsuit, per the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §9-3-33. Sometimes, you have even less time. An attorney can make sure you don’t miss any deadlines and are pursuing the fullest compensation possible.
Talk to a Sandy Springs Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for Free Today
The Sandy Springs spinal cord injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates find that an initial consultation often brings peace of mind to our clients. During our consultations, we go over the details of what happened to you, what your legal options are, and how we can help.
Even if you don’t work with us, an assessment by an experienced legal professional can help you feel more knowledgeable about and in control of your situation. We also do not charge a fee unless we win you money, so there is no risk in contacting us or working with us. To schedule your FREE consultation today, call us or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form