If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, finding the right lawyer can be daunting. There are many personal injury law firms to choose from in Georgia, and it’s hard to know which one will be right for you. You may feel like you’re just one case among many at your potential law firm. You may feel like they don’t really care about you or your injury.
But H Groves Law is different. Our Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyers have the experience and knowledge to get you the best possible outcome in your case. We’ll take the time to listen to you and understand your unique situation so that we can provide the best possible representation.
Contact us today at (770) 329-1868 to schedule a free case review with our personal injury lawyers in Gainesville, Georgia.
How Much Are Spinal Cord Injuries Worth?
The true cost of a spinal cord injury can be challenging to calculate.
The loss of mobility and sensation, chronic pain, and diminished quality of life all take their toll on the injured person and their loved ones. In addition, the financial costs can be staggering. Medical treatment, adaptive equipment, and lost wages can quickly add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
There are a few common expenses spinal injury cord injury victims can demand compensation for.
Past and Future Medical Expenses
Spinal injury patients face steep medical expenses. The recovery time is usually quite long and medication may continue even after the recovery period.
Lost Income
The injured person will lose wages while recovering from a spinal injury. If it is impossible to return to work, the victim can also seek compensation for the loss of future income.
Lost Quality of Life
After a spinal cord injury, you now have to deal with restricted movement and can’t enjoy sports and physical activities in the same way you did before. The law allows you to seek compensation for this loss.
Emotional Distress
A spinal cord injury is not only painful physically, but also emotionally. You can demand damages for your physical and emotional suffering.
What Are the Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The three most common types of spinal cord injuries are quadriplegia, triplegia, and paraplegia.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia is a form of paralysis that affects all four limbs and the torso. It is usually caused by damage to the spinal cord and can lead to complete loss of movement and sensation below the site of injury.
Quadriplegia can be debilitating, but there are many resources available to help people with this condition live full and productive lives. There are a variety of medical treatments that can improve quality of life and many assistive technologies that can help with daily activities.
Triplegia
Triplegia is characterized by the partial paralysis of three extremities, typically resulting from damage to the spinal cord and nerves that control muscle movement. The affected limbs may include the arm and leg on one side of the body (hemiplegia), both legs (paraplegia), or all four extremities (tetraplegia).
Paraplegia
A person with paraplegia experiences paralysis below the waist. This can be caused by damage to the spinal cord or nerves in the lower limbs. Paraplegia can be either complete, meaning all sensation and muscle function are lost, or incomplete, which means that some sensation and muscle control may still be present.
Why Should You See a Doctor Right Away After a Back Injury?
Back injuries can range from mild strains that heal quickly with rest and over-the-counter pain medication to more serious injuries that require surgery and a lengthy recovery process. In fact, back injuries can also lead to chronic pain and disability.
After a severe injury, the back must be stabilized to prevent damage to the spinal cord. For these reasons, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible after sustaining a back injury.
Only a medical professional can determine the severity of an injury and suggest the best course of treatment. In many cases, early intervention can help to speed up the healing process and reduce the risk of long-term problems.
Seeing a doctor also provides medical records that link the accident to your spinal cord injury. If you have suffered a back injury, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. The most common SCI symptom is paralysis, which can occur in varying degrees depending on the location and severity of the injury.
Other common spinal cord injury symptoms include:
- Chronic pain
- Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel touch, heat, or cold
- Loss of bladder and bowel control.
- Changes in sexual sensitivity, sexual function, and fertility
- Difficulty coughing and breathing
- Intense stinging sensation in the injured area
What Are Some of the Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by many different accidents, from car wrecks to falls. Here are some of the most common reasons for spinal cord injuries.
Work Accidents
The nature of certain jobs puts employees at risk of severe work-related accidents. For example, construction workers are often exposed to dangerous conditions, such as heavy equipment and high heights. As a result, they are at a higher risk of suffering a severe spinal cord injury.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
There are a number of factors that contribute to the high incidence of motor vehicle-related spinal cord injuries.
First, the force of the impact in a car accident or truck crash can cause the spine to break or dislocate. Second, seat belts and airbags may not always provide adequate protection for the spine during a collision. The frame of a car can crumple during an accident, resulting in additional pressure on the spine.
Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists have little to no protection in an impact with a larger vehicle.
Sporting Accidents
In many cases, sports injuries occur when the head or neck is suddenly forced into an abnormal position, resulting in a violent impact on the spine. The force of the impact can damage or compress the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis.
Violence
Violence is a leading cause of spinal cord injuries, particularly gunshot wounds. In fact, approximately half of all people with spinal cord injuries are paralyzed as a result of violence.
In addition to the physical effects of violence, there are also emotional and mental health consequences. Victims of violence often suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
What Can I Expect to Recover if I Have a Spinal Cord Injury?
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you may be wondering what your prognosis is. The severity of the injury will play a large role in determining what you can expect to recover.
The following are some of the expenses that you can recover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income due to the injury
- Home modifications for a disability
- Pain and suffering
How Are Spinal Cord Injury Cases Different From Other Personal Injury Cases?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic event that can leave a victim paralyzed, often for the rest of their life. These cases are different from other personal injury cases in a number of ways. The costs of treatment and care can be extremely high, as victims may require around-the-clock care and costly medical treatments.
In addition, many SCI victims are unable to return to work, leading to a significant loss of income. Finally, the emotional and mental toll of the incident can be tremendous, as victims deal with the reality of their new physical limitations.
As a result, SCI cases tend to be complex and expensive, requiring the help of a skilled Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyer.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Georgia?
According to the statute of limitations in Georgia, any personal injury claim must be filed within 2 years from the date of injury. That is why you should contact us immediately after the injury so that we have enough time to gather as much evidence as possible and ensure that you win the case.
What if a Spinal Cord Injury Happened at Work?
Georgia workers cannot sue an employer for personal injury except in very rare cases.
If the spinal cord injury takes place at work, you are more likely to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, to receive compensation, you must meet the deadlines and also prove that the injury took place due to the work assigned to you by your employer.
Call Our Gainesville Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today!
If you have been injured in an accident in Gainesville and are seeking legal assistance, please contact H. Groves Law. We have a proven track record of successfully helping victims of negligence recover the compensation they deserve.
Call us at (770) 329-1868 to schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case and find out how we can help you with your spinal cord injury case.
