Few injuries have more immediate and life-altering effects than those involving trauma to the spinal cord. Even comparatively “minor” injuries to this central pathway within the nervous system may require months of intensive medical treatment and physical therapy to heal. This degree of damage is often permanent and debilitating in nature.
Because of the impact a spinal cord injury can have on a person’s life, recovering the full spectrum of losses related to your harm may be necessary to keep you afloat. While legal action may seem overwhelming to pursue alone, a catastrophic injury attorney at our firm is here to help. From start to finish of your settlement negotiations and/or civil court trial, a dedicated Dawsonville spinal cord injury lawyer could advocate relentlessly for your best interests and demand the compensation you deserve. To discuss the next steps with a seasoned legal advocate, contact Smith Hulsey today.
The value of a civil lawsuit based on a spinal cord injury depends entirely on how severe and debilitating the plaintiff’s injuries are. This, in turn, depends mainly on two factors: how “complete” the damage is and where on the spinal cord the injury occurred. A Dawsonville attorney could provide more specific information about what losses may be compensable in a particular spinal cord accident case during a private consultation.
“Complete” spinal cord injuries involve the spinal cord being wholly severed at the injury site. This means that the brain has lost connection with the rest of the body below the impact site, resulting in the loss of sensation and motor function. These types of injuries are permanent and result in total paralysis in all affected body areas. By comparison, “incomplete” injuries involve the spinal cord being torn, twisted, or bruised. These injuries do not always cause irreversible damage and may result only in partial loss of sensation or function.
Injuries lower down on the spine may generally only cause loss of function in the legs, pelvis, and lower half of the torso. Such paralysis is often referred to as paraplegia. On the other hand, injuries closer to the neck may cause paralysis throughout the entire torso and all four limbs, known as quadriplegia. Broadly speaking, complete injuries around the neck lead to the most significant personal injury claims, since they often cause the most comprehensive and life-altering losses.
Despite the unique severity of their injuries, local spinal cord trauma victims are not immune from the rules and restrictions set under state law that apply to personal injury plaintiffs. Most notably, the Official Code of Georgia §51-12-33 still allows any court which finds a spinal cord injury victim partially responsible for causing or worsening their losses through their own negligence to reduce that plaintiff’s total compensation by the percentage of total fault assigned to them.
Additionally, O.C.G.A. §51-11-7 prohibits any person found equally or mostly to blame for their own injuries from recovering any compensation whatsoever, even if other parties involved in their accident bear some fault. Guidance from an attorney could be essential in effectively contesting allegations of comparative fault when pursuing restitution for a spinal cord injury in Dawsonville.
No amount of compensation could make up for your avoidable suffering. However, pursuing damages from those responsible could help you manage the various financial and personal losses that your injury may cause.
If you have questions about a possible settlement demand or lawsuit, a Dawsonville spinal cord injury lawyer could answer them in detail during a confidential meeting. Schedule yours by calling Smith Hulsey today.
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