A spinal injury can have a profound impact on your quality of life and alter the course of your career forever. Injured individuals may be unable to perform daily activities and may require long-term medical care. If another person is responsible for your spinal cord injury, a skilled catastrophic injury attorney could help you seek monetary compensation.
An Alpharetta spinal cord injury lawyer could help you seek compensation for your damages including medical bills, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life as well as pain and suffering. Let a knowledgeable attorney help you seek justice for your injuries.
What are Some Common Causes for Spinal Injuries?
Injuries to the spinal column have many causes, including birth injuries where the physician uses inappropriate or dangerous techniques during delivery. Other medical malpractice issues can affect the spine, such as using the wrong techniques during a procedure or failing to diagnosis an injury or infection correctly. Auto and sports-related accidents can cause spinal column trauma, as can severe impacts like diving into a shallow pool during a swimming competition. Slip and fall injuries can also cause spinal harm depending on the how the individual falls, and from what height.
What Health Complications are Common Following Spinal Trauma?
The spine works in conjunction with the brain to regulate a variety of bodily functions and movements. When the spine is compromised by trauma, it can cause a range of health issues an attorney will highlight during legal proceedings. The severity of the injury naturally dictates the resulting health consequences; however, they can include loss of motor function from the waist or neck down. An individual with spinal cord damage might not be able to move their legs, torso, or arms, or control bladder and bowel movements. Sexual function might be compromised depending on the injury’s extent. Other complications can include exaggerated reflexes and spasms, breathing difficulties, and stinging sensations from injured nerve endings.
Benefits of Aggressively Pursuing a Spinal Injury Claim
After seeking medical attention for a spinal cord injury, it is best to seek legal advice. Many accidents could result in monetary compensation, and an Alpharetta spinal cord injury attorney could advise an injured person on their rights.
Insurance companies will often contact the injured claimant within days in an attempt to resolve the claim quickly. Their hope is to work out a settlement worth far less than a claim is worth before the injured person has the opportunity to meet with a lawyer. In many situations, the insurance company may try to convince the injured claimant into admitting they were responsible or partially at-fault for the accident and their injuries. A knowledgeable spinal cord injury attorney could advocate on behalf of the injured party and negotiate with insurance companies to help them get compensation for the full value of their damages.
The Statute of Limitation in Alpharetta
Following an accident, it is best to get started filing the claim as soon as possible. For a spinal cord injury case, there is a statute of limitations that injured claimants must abide by. The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit in court. In Alpharetta, a plaintiff has two years to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit. If the plaintiff files their claim after the deadline expires, the court will likely dismiss the case and they may be unable to recover compensation for damages.
How is Liability Established in a Spinal Injury Claim?
For an attorney to establish negligence in a paralysis injury claim, they must show that the defendant owed the plaintiff duty of care, such as following the rules of the road or maintaining safe work premises, but failed in this regard. The legal professional must additionally show that the breach of duty directly resulted in the accident and subsequently the plaintiff’s injuries. If the accident was intentional tort rather than negligence-based, such as assault and battery, there is no need to show these elements. As long as there is sufficient evidence regarding the defendant’s actions, such as a video of the assault, the court will likely find in favor of the plaintiff.
Recoverable Compensation For a Vertebrae Injury
With the help of a spinal cord injury attorney in Alpharetta, injured claimants may be eligible to recover compensation for a wide range of damages. While medical bills are often a major part of a spinal cord claim, there are other types of damages available, as well. Due to the potential for permanent injuries, these damage awards could include compensation for in-home care and similar expenses. In some cases, a lawsuit could cover the cost of renovating a home to make it wheelchair accessible. Other damages could relate to the injured person’s income. Some injuries prevent a plaintiff from ever returning to work. A successful claim could lead to compensation for lost wages prior to the accident as well as in the future.
Additionally, injured claimants may be eligible to recover compensation for their non-economic damages. These types of damages are harder to calculate and relate to the emotional losses an individual suffers. This could include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of services, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Reach Out to an Alpharetta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
If you have incurred a spinal injury due to another person’s negligent or reckless conduct, an attorney could help you seek justice in a court of law. Through litigation, you could obtain monetary damages intended to compensate you for your losses.
Any delay in proceeding with a spinal cord injury claim could be detrimental. To discuss your options with seasoned legal counsel, contact an Alpharetta spinal cord injury lawyer right away. Call today to schedule a consultation.