Georgia Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
Legal Help for Victims of Spine Injuries in Atlanta
Even a minor spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause great discomfort and limited mobility, impacting a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks. Those who suffer more serious damage to their spine often end up having to deal with the repercussions for a lifetime. In fact, many never return to the normal life they once lived. Although medical technology has progressed rapidly over recent years, there are still many SCIs that have no cure. It is truly one of the most devastating injuries you can suffer.
If you have been inflicted with a spinal injury in an accident caused by another party, you have the right to pursue compensation for all related damages. The experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Grant Law Office can help you negotiate a full and fair settlement that will cover your past and future medical treatments, rehabilitation, lost wages, and more. If a trial becomes necessary, our husband and wife team will fight aggressively to win your case. If you believe you may have an SCI claim, please call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free consultation.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Happen?
The spine, despite being made up of hard bone, is an incredibly delicate part of the body. One crack to a single vertebra could lead to a permanent disability. Due to its delicacy, there are countless accidents that could lead to a serious injury to the spine. These accidents range from catastrophic to “minor” -- although anyone who has suffered an injury to the back will tell you there is nothing minor about it. Some of the common ways people suffer spine injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Truck collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Swimming pools falls and near-drownings
- Dog attacks
- Slip-and-falls
- Defective product accidents
- Medical malpractice incidents
No matter what caused your SCI, you are probably in a great deal of pain. SCIs are incredibly difficult to recover from, often requiring surgeries, physical therapy, and a great deal of medication. Even after all that, you may never fully recover from your injury.
What Are the Different Types of Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is essentially a collection of many, many nerves, numbering in the millions. It is about 18 inches long and as wide as the average human thumb. In spite of its relatively small size, it is a vastly complex structure that is absolutely essential to the body's many functions. Think of it as the primary information highway that allows signals to pass from our brain to our body, and vice versa. The spinal column, made of 33 bones called vertebrae, covers the spinal cord, shielding it from damage.
The effects of a spinal cord injury will depend on where the trauma took place along the spine and its severity. The various types of SCI include the following:
- Cervical SCI: Affects the eight vertebrae in the top region of the spinal column. May result in paralysis or weakness in limbs, a condition referred to as quadriplegia or tetraplegia.
- Thoracic SCI: Affects 12 vertebrae in the top-middle region of the spinal column. May result in paralysis or weakness of the legs. May also adversely affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function.
- Lumbar SCI: Affects five vertebrae in the lower-middle region of the spinal column. May result in paralysis or weakness of the legs, a condition known as paraplegia.
- Sacral SCI: Affects five vertebrae in the lower region of the spinal column. May adversely affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Can also cause paralysis or weakness of the legs or hips.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Since SCIs tend to result in partial or complete paralysis of different parts of the body, you may have to endure extended periods of rehabilitation or therapy, along with surgery. You may also suffer emotional and mental trauma in the aftermath, making mental health treatment necessary. Depression and anxiety are not uncommon in SCI victims.
Paralysis can also exacerbate the depression and anxiety. Even partial paralysis will have an extreme impact on the way you live your life. One of the best cures for mental distress is doing the things you love, but paralysis can leave you unable to go for walks, complete pieces of art, or even just play with your pets. Being cut off from your normal routine can be emotionally devastating, making the mental trauma from your accident all the worse.
Of course, that doesn’t even consider the overall cost of an SCI. The expenses involved in the recovery process can be extremely high; a six-figure estimate is not unreasonable. Even with medical insurance, you may spend the rest of his life paying off bill after bill. However, if your injuries were caused by another person, then you may pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
What Are the Benefits of Filing a Claim?
If you have suffered an SCI that wasn’t your fault, then you are now in a position to file a personal injury claim. Whether that be against the at-fault driver who caused your accident, the surgeon who botched your surgery, or the grocery store that left a hazard for you to fall on, filing a claim against the liable party can have incredible benefits. As we’ve said, spinal cord injuries cost a lot of money. Your medical bills will likely be in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars, and you will have to take a long period of time away from work in order to recover. Those two factors added together could mean that you will be left in debt for a very long time.
However, when you file a claim, you have the opportunity to demand proper compensation. This compensation can cover your economic damages, which includes all financial losses related to the accident, as well as your non-economic damages, which cover the trauma that you have experienced. All in all, you can claim for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of job opportunities
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Lowered quality of life
Filing a successful claim can allow you to not only pay off all of your debts, but also leave you with a sum of money to use while you continue to recover. Ultimately, a claim may be your best bet for financial recovery. Of course, filing a successful claim will hinge on the strength of your case. Dealing with insurance companies, paperwork, and evidence is hard enough without a spinal cord injury to contend with. That is why you need a dedicated and compassionate Atlanta spinal injury attorney by your side, offering the help you deserve.
Providing Compassionate Representation in Georgia
A spinal cord injury can radically change your life or the life of someone you love. Georgia law protects the rights of those who suffer from spinal cord injuries, giving you the right to seek compensation from any negligent parties. While the claims process may seem difficult, with the right attorney, you can rest easy knowing that your case is in the right hands.
The experienced Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyers at Grant Law Office may be able to help you recover your losses after an SCI. For a free consultation with Wayne and Kimberly Grant, please call (404) 995-3955.
Additional Information
- If My Child Suffers a Spinal Injury, What Should I Do Next?
- How a Spinal Cord Injury Leads to Chronic Pain
- Types of Damages Sought in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
- The Cost of Treating Spinal Cord Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries - MedlinePlus
- Spinal Cord Injury Information Page - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Contact us today for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.
We require no legal retainer or upfront fees,
and you pay nothing unless we prevail.
Phone: (404) 995-3955
