- Spinal Cord
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. They have the potential to turn your life upside down in an instant, leaving you with a mountain of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence in Georgia, it’s important to understand your legal options for compensation.
In this article, we will discuss the various factors that determine the average settlement for a spinal cord injury claim in Georgia. We’ll also discuss how hiring a Douglasville spinal cord injury lawyer can help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. So let’s jump right in!
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Let us begin by talking a little about this kind of injury. There are several types of spinal cord injuries, each with its set of symptoms and severity levels.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
These are the most common types of injuries to the spinal cord, accounting for 60% of spinal cord injuries. These injuries can be of three types:
- Anterior cord injury
- Central cord injury
- Brown-Sequard syndrome.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
These are the most severe types of spinal cord injuries, resulting in permanent disability. They are:
- Tetraplegia – complete paralysis from the neck down
- Paraplegia – paralysis of the lower trunk and legs
- Triplegia – complications arising from a severe incomplete spinal cord injury.
What Impacts Compensation in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?
The value of damages in a spinal cord injury claim will depend heavily on the type of injury you suffered and its impact on your life. Now, let us explain which factors will determine the settlement amount your Douglasville personal injury lawyer may be able to negotiate.
Whether a Business Entity Is Liable for Your Accident
If you sustained a spinal cord injury on the premises of a business, you may wonder whether that business entity can be held liable for your accident. The answer largely depends on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Alternatively, if you were injured in a car, motorcycle, or truck accident caused by the negligence of a person driving for job purposes, their employer may be vicariously responsible for your accident.
Your Douglasville personal injury lawyer will analyze your case carefully to identify all liable parties. The reason for this is that businesses carry more insurance than individuals. Thus, you stand more chances of recovering the maximum amount of damages you are entitled to.
The Available Insurance Coverage
When it comes to settling a spinal cord injury claim, insurance coverage plays a significant role in determining the compensation amount. In Georgia, like most states, there are minimum insurance requirements for drivers and business owners. For instance, compulsory auto liability insurance covers bodily injury damages up to $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident.
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or fault while driving your vehicle or using their property in Georgia, you may be eligible for compensation under the liable party’s insurance policy.
However, the insurance company will only pay up to the coverage limit, and not a dollar more. Thus, you may have to sue the negligent person personally for the difference.
It’s essential to work with an experienced Douglasville personal injury lawyer who can help determine what type of insurance coverage applies and ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible under these circumstances.
The Extent of Your Injuries
The extent of your injuries is a crucial factor in determining the settlement amount for spinal cord injury claims. The severity of the injury directly affects the compensation amount, as it determines the medical expenses and long-term care required.
For example, if you have suffered a complete spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia, you may need lifelong medical support that includes mobility assistance, therapy, and medication. These expenses can add up to millions over time.
On the other hand, if your spinal cord injury is relatively minor such as a herniated disc or fractured vertebrae with no significant nerve damage requiring surgery or long-term rehabilitation, then your settlement will be significantly lower.
The Impact of the Injury on Your Life
Suffering from a spinal cord injury can be a life-changing experience. The impact of the injury on your life can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. It can cause you to lose mobility, suffer chronic pain, and even develop depression or anxiety.
One major way in which spinal cord injuries affect your life is by limiting your ability to work. Many people who suffer from these types of injuries are unable to return to their previous jobs or may need extensive modifications made in order to continue working.
Ultimately, the impact of a spinal cord injury on one’s life cannot be overstated. That’s why it’s so important for victims of these types of accidents to seek out experienced legal representation in order to fight for maximum compensation for damages incurred due to another party’s negligence or reckless behavior.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are a type of compensation that you may be entitled to if you have suffered a spinal cord injury. These damages are intended to compensate you for the intangible losses that cannot easily be quantified, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Pain and suffering is one of the most common types of non-economic damages awarded in personal injury cases. This includes physical pain from your injuries, as well as emotional anguish, like depression or anxiety caused by your accident.
Calculating non-economic damages can be difficult because they aren’t based on objective financial factors like medical bills or lost wages. Ultimately an experienced Douglasville personal injury lawyer will help determine what amount would best cover these losses in each specific case.
A Douglasville Personal Injury Lawyer Will Fight to Win the Maximum Compensation You Deserve
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in Georgia due to someone else’s negligence, it is important to understand your legal rights and options for seeking compensation. Working with an experienced Douglasville personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you receive the maximum compensation that you deserve.
You can rely on the expertise and dedication of Hartley, Rowe & Fowler, P.C. We have decades of combined experience representing clients who suffered a spinal cord injury. We understand how overwhelming this time can be and will work tirelessly on your behalf to build a strong case and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
We offer each new client a free consultation so we can discuss your situation and determine the best course of action moving forward. Remember, when it comes to spine injury claims in Georgia, having an experienced attorney by your side can make all the difference.
Call us at 678-825-6004 anytime 24/7 to schedule your free case review with us!