The spinal cord connects various parts of the body and controls many of our daily movements. As such, injuries to the spine can have life-altering effects, including temporary or permanent paralysis. Spinal damage often occurs in traumatic accidents such as car crashes or severe falls.
If a spinal injury results from another person’s negligence, the victim and their family may seek damages in a civil claim with the help of a skilled catastrophic injury attorney. Monetary compensation cannot fix the pain, suffering, and physical limitations created by a severe injury, but it can help drastically reduce financial burdens. If you or a family member was harmed in a serious accident, speak to a Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyer to learn your legal options. At Smith Hulsey, our legal team is committed to handling your case while you focus on getting better.
Spinal cord injuries damages a person’s spine, including the nerves within the vertebrae. These injuries commonly occur in the following scenarios:
Traumatic injuries to the spine can cause a person to lose their use of their limbs. If an injury is lower in the spine, it may affect mobility in a person’s legs. Damage to the upper spine can impact a person’s ability to use their arms. Severe spinal cord damage can result in partial or total paralysis of the limbs.
Injuries this severe typically require multiple surgeries and lengthy recovery time. As such, spinal injury victims may need to work with a skilled Gainesville attorney to recover the compensation they need to cover these expensive medical procedures.
In a successful claim, a plaintiff and their attorney must be able to demonstrate that another person negligently caused their spinal injuries. In a car accident case, negligence could involve speeding, drunk driving, or running a red light. For slip and fall cases, the negligent person might be a landowner who failed to maintain safe premises.
An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer at our Gainesville office could help gather evidence from the site of the accident and build a strong case for the other person’s negligence.
In some cases, a defendant may argue that the victim contributed to the accident that caused their injuries. For instance, many car crash claims involve errors or traffic violations made by multiple drivers.
In Georgia, an injured person can recover damages even if they share liability for their accident. Under Georgia’s comparative negligence policy, a person can pursue compensation as long as they are less than 50 percent at fault for the incident. However, the court will reduce their damages in proportion to their share of fault. For instance, if a victim’s damages amount to $100,000 but they are 40 percent at fault for the accident, the court will permit them to recover 60 percent of the damages, or $60,000.
Spinal injury victims should consult a seasoned attorney to further explain the legal nuances of Georgia’s negligence laws.
Spinal cord injuries can incur massive costs for medical and rehabilitative care. A victim may also be left unable to work and earn wages while they are recovering, adding to their financial burden.
In a successful lawsuit, an injured person can recover various economic costs related to their accident, including medical expenses and income losses, both past and future. They may also seek non-economic damages for their pain and suffering. In tragic cases where a spinal injury is fatal, a skilled attorney could help the family pursue damages in a wrongful death suit.
At our law firm, we have seen firsthand the impact that these injuries can have on the lives of victims and their families. Spinal damage can have serious effects, and some victims never fully recover.
If you were harmed by another person’s reckless or careless actions, speak to a Gainesville spinal cord injury lawyer at Smith Hulsey. Call us today to set up an initial consultation and learn how we could fight for your rights.
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