A spinal cord, back, or neck injury can ruin your life. You may be experiencing extreme pain, which has permanently forced you into changing the way you used to live. You might also be faced with exorbitant medical bills. These catastrophic or serious injuries could be making you feel uncertain or helpless about the years to come. An Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer may be exactly what your need.
Spinal cord injuries and damage to the spine, back, and neck occur in multiple types of accidents. If you have suffered an injury or damages to your spine, spinal cord, back, or neck, you shouldn’t be lumped with the bills for all the treatments you will be needing, or for your ongoing disability when another person should be held liable for your accident.
The Herro Law firm is here to assist you. We only take on limited case numbers every year so that our personal injury lawyers can deliver exceptionally focused client services while reserving the expertise of our legal skills to pursue the results that our clients deserve when it comes to personal injury claims. Call our Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer today at (404) 433-6876.
How Much Are Spinal Cord Injuries Worth?
The cases relating to spinal cord injuries will depend on how severe the injury is. However, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has stated that lifetime costs relating to “a complete” spinal cord injury typically range between two to four million dollars (sometimes more).
A spinal cord injury references any type of injury that damages or affects any part of your spine or the surrounding nerves. Your spinal cord is a very delicate organ and when damaged or injured, could result in permanent harm when it comes to strength, sensation, or motor function from below the injury point.
SCIs (spinal cord injuries) can affect just about every aspect of a person’s life. An SCI can cause permanent and catastrophic injuries which is why the courts are well-known for awarding a significant amount of money when it comes to compensation. This is because the person that is affected will usually require financial recovery to afford various types of damages. These can include one or more of the following:
Past And Future Medical Expenses And Costs
This can include the costs involved to purchase medical equipment such as a wheelchair, medical bills, surgical costs, and modifications to a home or car to accommodate your disability.
Loss Of Enjoyment And Diminished Quality Of Life
This is a very poignant area when it comes to SCIs since many spinal cord injury victims experience permanent paralysis. While it is very difficult to quantify an individual’s life-changing losses once they have experienced an injury to the spinal cord, the Atlanta courts use highly specific calculations to decide on what victims should be compensated for their permanent or even temporary injuries.
Suffering And Emotional Distress
Emotional anguish is very common for those that have suffered an SCI. Since this type of injury might involve having to accept your injury and then change how you once lived in order to accommodate your new disability, emotional damages can be extremely severe.
Loss Of Income
Your spinal cord injury may have resulted in you having to take a significant amount of time off work, or losing your ability to work at all.
The Most Common Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Even though spinal cord injuries are linked with multiple unique symptoms, injuries classified as severe involve paralysis. These are categorized in the following ways:
Quadriplegia
This paralysis type is when a victim has lost movement in all their limbs (the arms and legs). The muscles in the chest could also be involved which means the person may need the assistance of a breathing device to remain alive.
Triplegia
Triplegia is when a victim loses movement in one arm and both legs.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is a type of paralysis that causes loss of movement and sensation in both legs.
In the majority of cases, people that are critically injured will require 24/7 care for the remainder of their life, while some may be able to live independently, but will still require a lot of support.
Why Is It Important To See A Doctor Immediately After A Back Injury?
If you were in an accident and you sustained injuries to your back or neck, it is important to immediately go to an emergency room or see your doctor. You will need your injuries evaluated and to check if there are any damages to your spine. With an injury to the spinal cord, it is important to get assistance immediately since these injuries are not always apparent, to begin with. If ruled out and not checked, an injury to the spine could lead to fatal or severe consequences.
Below are some of the symptoms or emergency signs linked to an SCI:
- Extreme pain in your back or excessive pressure in your head, back, or neck
- Loss of sensation, tingling, or numbness in your toes, feet, fingers, or hands
- Difficulty with walking or balance
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
If you delay seeking treatment, this may exacerbate the injury and delay your recovery process.
The Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Even though there are many accident types that can result in an SCI, here are some of the more common causes:
Falls
Most spinal cord injuries that seniors experience result from slip and fall accidents. These falls can result in neck, back, or head injuries that lead to or cause severe damage to the spine.
Car Accidents
Collisions and motor vehicle accidents are the main cause of SCIs. During a collision or car accident, your spine can get crushed or compressed, which can result in serious injuries.
Workplace Injuries
While all types of injuries that are work-related could end up being serious, an SCI is often the most severe.
Violence
Around 13% of all SCIs result from assaults such as gunshots or stab wounds.
Sports Or Recreation Accidents
SCIs are also sustained or caused by sporting or recreational activities. This can arise due to negligence or using defective equipment.
What Can You Expect To Recover If You Have A Spinal Cord Injury?
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury that has resulted from the carelessness or negligence of another party, you are entitled to go after compensation. You can pursue and file for compensation for the damages and losses you have sustained, which includes:
- Medical expenses for ongoing and anticipated care expenses
- Emotional anguish, pain, and suffering
- Loss of income or earning capacity
- If you have lost your loved one and you have decided to file a wrongful death claim to cover the burial and funeral expenses
How Is A Spinal Injury Case Different From Other Types Of Personal Injury Cases?
When people claim compensation for a personal injury to cover the damages they have sustained, they are usually more likely to obtain the compensation they need to move forward with living. However, this is usually not possible for victims who have experienced SCIs.
This is because a spinal cord injury often results in long-term physical and psychological effects, which can mean they need 24/7 care and assistance for the rest of their lives. To add to this, the costs involved to treat and care for SCI injuries tend to be relatively high.
Are There Time Limits To File A Claim For A Spinal Cord Injury In Georgia?
In the state of Georgia, the statute of limitations to file a claim for any type of personal injury, which will include SCI claims, is 2 years from the date that the injury occurred or was discovered. This is why it is so important to see a doctor as soon as you can so that you can get a medical report to support your case.
What Happens If My Spinal Cord Injury Occurred At Work?
If you suffered a spinal cord injury while you were at work performing your duties, you are entitled to pursue workers’ compensation. The difference between personal injury claims and workers’ comp is that “determination of fault” is not required to receive the benefits from workers’ compensation.
Consult With At Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
Having to deal with an injury to your spinal cord can be extremely challenging, financially, emotionally, and physically. This is usually due to the impacts that these serious injuries can cause and how they could affect the rest of your life.
At Herro Law, we work very hard when it comes to making sure the negligent party that is responsible for your SCI provides ample compensation so that you can receive the care that you need for as little or as long as possible.
The spinal cord injury lawyers in Atlanta, GA have the experience, resources, and skills required to help you win your SCI case. If you feel like we might be able to assist you, call us at (404) 433-6876, or complete our online form. The initial consultation is confidential, free, and comes with no strings attached.
