The spinal cord plays an important role in carrying signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord is usually a result of injuries to the spine. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries often don’t heal completely, resulting in permanent disabilities.
If you or your loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you have legal rights and need to call an Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer. You can file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party and attempt to recover compensation.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys at H. Groves Law in Atlanta, GA have successfully litigated and tried numerous cases involving serious and debilitating spinal cord injuries and can help you recover compensation. Call us today at (770) 329-1868 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.
How Much Are Spinal Cord Injuries Worth?
Spinal cord injuries usually require a lot of medical treatment, and sometimes therapy before full recovery is achieved. In some instances, a full recovery isn’t possible, and the accident victim may need to be looked after for the remainder of their life.
A lifetime of care in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or elsewhere, unfortunately, does not come cheaply. It thus makes sense to wonder how much spinal cord injuries are actually worth. The following damages are often claimed when filing a spinal cord injury claim or lawsuit:
Past and Future Medical Expenses
Victims can seek compensation for any medical costs incurred as a result of a spinal cord injury. This includes their prescription medication, hospital stay, doctor’s appointments, and ongoing rehabilitation. Future medical expenses will also be included.
Lost Income
You may face limitations in your ability to do your job following a spinal cord injury. You may require light duty or be completely unable to work. If you are no longer able to earn as much as you used to, you can seek compensation for lost current and future wages.
Lost Enjoyment and Quality of Life
Spinal cord injuries typically result in permanent disabilities or disfigurement that can impact your daily life adversely, which may result in reduced enjoyment and quality of life.
Emotional Suffering and Distress
Suffering does not always have to be physical. You may also suffer emotional suffering and distress after being involved in an accident that causes spinal cord injuries.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Here are the most standard types of spinal cord injuries:
Quadriplegia
Tetraplegia as it is also known eliminates your ability to move below the injury site and you may experience difficulties with bowel and bladder control, respiration, as well as other routine functions.
Triplegia
It is a medical condition where 3 limbs are paralyzed i.e., it causes a loss of sensation and movement in one arm and both legs. The causes of the condition may vary, but it is usually caused by complications of a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage.
Paraplegia
It occurs when movement and sensation are removed from the lower half of the body, including the legs. The injuries that cause paraplegia are the product of damage to the thoracic spinal cord. Injuries are usually severer when they occur closer to the top vertebra.
Why Should You See a Doctor Right Away After a Back Injury?
No matter how minor your back injury may seem, you should always see a doctor right after. What seems minor at first could become a major health issue down the road. Having a doctor examine you after suffering a back injury helps you either way.
If the back injury is indeed minor, you will continue feeling fine and having peace of mind with the knowledge that you’re in good shape. If it turns out that the back injury is more serious, then you take the steps to get the necessary treatment so that your injuries can start healing.
Having a doctor examine you can also help you document your injuries and the prescribed treatment. The documentation can be precious evidence in case you ever decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Here are some of the commonest symptoms of spinal cord injuries:
- Problems with blood pressure and heart rate
- Breathing problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Muscle spasticity
- Loss of feeling in the legs, arm, or trunk
- Muscle weakness or paralysis in the legs, arms, or trunk
The symptoms of spinal cord injury may resemble those of other medical conditions or problems. Furthermore, each person may experience symptoms differently. That’s why it is always important to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
What Are Some Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can occur in a variety of different contexts that include but aren’t limited to:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
A serious car accident can cause the victim’s head to move forward and backward very quickly, or perhaps even dislodge the person from the vehicle, potentially leading to head injuries and spinal cord damage.
Falls
Slips and Falls are the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. While you might not necessarily think of this as a legal issue, slip and falls are common both at work and among people that visit commercial establishments.
Sporting or Recreational Accidents
Contact and highly physical sports such as wrestling, football, skiing, cheerleading, and hockey are dangerous even for highly skilled players and are responsible for about 8% of spinal cord injuries every year. Even just one wrong move or bad hit is enough to leave a player paralyzed.
Violence
Victims of violent acts often suffer spinal cord injuries. Most violence-related spinal cord injuries are caused by guns, but knife attacks and even weaponless violence can also cause permanent damage to the spinal cord.
Work Accidents
Injuries sustained on the job, which include slips and falls on the job and motor vehicle accidents on the job can result in the accident victim striking his/her head, back, or neck, leading to a serious spinal cord injury.
What Can I Expect to Recover If I Have a Spinal Cord Injury?
The types of compensation available for spinal cord injuries include:
- Loss of income and future earning capacity
- Loss of consortium, services, and society
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Cost of modifying your home and vehicle to accommodate the injury
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
How Are Spinal Cord Injury Cases Different from Other Personal Injury Cases?
Spinal cord injuries differ from other kinds of personal injuries due to the extreme impact they can have on a person’s life and well-being. The spinal is essential for everyday tasks such as eating, walking, and moving in general. A spinal cord injury, therefore, can amplify the pain and suffering the person has to go through.
Spinal cord injury cases are different from other personal injury cases due to the level of impact a spinal cord injury has on a person, beyond things such as lost wages and medical bills. From a legal perspective, it means that somebody suffering from a spinal cord injury due to another party’s fault is more likely to recover a higher damage award.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Georgia?
Yes. The time limit to file any type of personal injury claim is 2 years, according to state law. However, it is generally advisable to contact our legal team immediately after suffering your spinal cord injury. This lets us gather as much evidence as we can, ensure that your injuries are properly documented, and assist you in getting the right medical treatment.
What If a Spinal Cord Injury Happened at Work?
If a spinal cord injury happened at work, you are most likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through your employer. The benefits typically vary in amount depending on the severity and nature of your injury.
In Georgia, however, you are prohibited from suing your employer while collecting workers’ compensation. If your accident was caused by a third party, you can sue them and still be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits at the same time.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury at work, you can count on our legal team at H Groves Law in Atlanta, GA can help you pinpoint liability and bring the responsible party to justice while obtaining the maximum possible for you under the law.
Talk to An Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today!
Spinal cord injuries sustained as the result of another party’s negligence can lead to a lifetime of pain, trauma, and suffering. A spinal cord injury not only has a significant impact on the accident victim’s life but can also seriously impact everyone in the accident victim’s life.
If you or your loved one’s spinal cord has been injured or damaged due to someone else’s negligent actions, please don’t hesitate to contact the spinal cord injury attorneys at H Groves Law in Atlanta, GA today by calling (770) 329-1868. We will be happy to evaluate your case for free.
