Macon Spinal Injury Lawyer

Experienced Macon Spinal Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can be one of the most serious and life-altering injuries an accident victim can suffer. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to another party’s negligence or fault, our Macon spinal injury lawyer at the Mann Law Firm can help you get compensation.

While no amount of money can make up for what you are going through, a settlement can help by paying for medical treatment, modifications to the home, continuing therapy and care, and replacing the lost wages of someone who is too injured to work.

At the Mann Law Firm, our spinal injury lawyers understand the difficulties of dealing with spinal injuries and will fight for full compensation through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. Due to the seriousness of spinal injuries, compensation amounts can range from thousands to millions of dollars. Insurance companies will try to get you to accept the lowest offer possible. Our spinal cord injury attorneys know their tactics and how to fight for the settlement you are entitled to.

We offer a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your accident. Call the Mann Law Firm today at (478) 742-3381 for your free, no-obligation case evaluation to determine the best way forward.

Our Spinal Injury Lawyer Knows the Damages That Can Result From Serious Injury

Damage to the spinal cord can cause victims to lose all or some of their ability to control movement and feeling below the injury site.

Accordingly, a spinal cord injury to a vehicle accident victim’s middle back or lower back can affect several other areas, such as the chest, abdomen, legs, feet, and loss of control over certain bodily functions.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, most spinal cord injuries for those under age 65 are caused by car accidents.

This is likely because what often happens in a car accident mimics how most spine injuries occur –a sudden, traumatic blow that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses one or more of the back’s vertebrae. Car accident victims whose spinal cord injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence may be entitled to compensation.

Consulting with an experienced accident lawyer like the ones at the Mann Law Firm is the best way to determine what benefits you might recover. We will provide you with skilled, competent legal representation to ensure that you get the best possible result, given the unique circumstances of your case. In addition to cases handled in Macon, we are prepared to handle spinal cord injury claims for clients in Dublin, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, and other Georgia communities.

The spinal cord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system and is also responsible for controlling many of the body’s reflexes. The cord is protected by a column of bones called vertebrae. It is common for the spinal cord not to be directly damaged but to suffer damage from the splintering, fragmenting, or dislocation of one or more vertebrae. Once injured, the spinal cord’s nerves usually do not fuse back together.

A spinal cord accident that results in permanent disability or loss of movement (paralysis) is a life-changing event that can result in costly hospital bills, income loss, reduced quality of life, and severe emotional damage. People who suffer from spinal cord injury often need long-term medical care and rehabilitation.

The immense medical expenses, potential loss of income, and changes to the quality of life that can accompany a serious injury to your spine are all reasons why you need to have an experienced spinal injury lawyer on your side. The team at the Mann Law Firm will aggressively fight to get you all the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at (478) 742-3381 to discuss your case. We will pursue every possible path to secure that compensation, whether it means being tough negotiators with insurers or taking your case to trial.

Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Macon Know the Symptoms of Serious Injury

Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Macon know that the symptoms experienced by a victim vary depending on the severity and location of the spinal cord injury. Some common symptoms include:

• Changes in sexual function
• Difficulty breathing
• Inability to feel hot or cold
• Loss of bladder control
• Loss of bowel control
• Loss of movement
• Loss of sensation
• Pain or stinging sensation
• Pressure in the head, neck, or back
• Spasms or exaggerated reflexes
• Tingling or numbness.

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. The first step in treating such an injury is to prevent further damage, which is why accident victims are usually immobilized before being transported to the hospital. Initial immobilization doesn’t necessarily mean permanent damage has already occurred, though some patients need to have their movement restricted for rehabilitation.

It’s important to keep medical documentation of all your symptoms to make your case as strong as possible. Consult with our spinal injury attorney in Macon to discuss what options you have available for your case. We know that your life changes drastically after a spinal cord injury, and we want to help you move forward with all the compensation you can receive for that injury.

Recovering Compensation Within Statutory Deadlines

Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent and devastating consequences, making it important for plaintiffs seeking compensation to consider more than short-term losses. In addition to immediate expenses like emergency medical bills and property damage, a comprehensive claim must encompass potential future harm, such as lost future earning capacity, reduced quality of life, and anticipated expenses for ongoing medical care and assistive equipment.

The Official Code of Georgia § 9-3-33 imposes a strict two-year filing deadline, despite the long-lasting impact of such injuries. This means that individuals with spinal cord trauma have only two years from the time of injury or the discovery of negligence causing the injury to pursue legal action. However, this time frame is hardly sufficient to accurately assess the full financial extent of their future losses.

Identifying and evaluating future damages well in advance is important to ensure just compensation for a spinal cord injury. This is an area where the expertise of an experienced lawyer becomes invaluable when dealing with a spinal cord accident claim in Macon.

How Much Can You Recover After a Spinal Cord Injury?

If you’ve suffered injuries caused by someone else’s actions or negligence, you can seek compensation for your losses. This is outlined in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-1-6. To initiate the process, most individuals file an insurance claim against the responsible party, and various factors will determine the amount you can recover.

Damages

Your compensation hinges on the damages you’ve incurred, including a range of losses from the accident and injuries. These damages typically cover medical expenses, prescribed medications, lost income due to missed work, decreased earning potential, property damage, and the pain and suffering resulting from the injuries. Spinal cord injuries are particularly severe, often leading to substantial medical bills and lifelong disabilities, potentially hindering your ability to work and enjoy life as before.

To ensure you receive proper compensation, it’s essential to work with an experienced Macon spinal cord injury attorney who will carefully evaluate all the damages you’ve faced.

Percentage of Fault

Georgia follows a partial fault system, which means you can seek compensation if you were less than 50% at fault in the accident. If you bear partial responsibility, your compensation will be reduced accordingly. Additionally, if multiple parties are at fault, the case’s complexity may impact your recovery, as each party may have different insurance policy limits.

The Average Settlement

Spinal cord injury accidents often result in substantial settlements due to significant losses. As spinal cord injuries are irreversible, victims may face lifelong damages, leading to multi-million dollar settlements in many cases. To fully understand your potential options, it’s crucial to consult a spinal injury lawyer who can provide you with the best course of action based on your specific circumstances.

How is Pain and Suffering Compensation Calculated?

Quantifying concrete damages, such as medical expenses, is relatively straightforward, but assessing intangible losses like pain and suffering can be more intricate. One commonly used approach by lawyers to calculate pain and suffering damages is the “multiplier method.”

In this method, your personal injury attorney will determine a suitable multiplier, typically based on the severity of your injuries and other relevant factors. This multiplier is then applied to your total medical bills. For instance, if your medical expenses amount to $10,000 and the chosen multiplier is two, your pain and suffering damages would be evaluated at $20,000.

It’s important to note that insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts by advocating for a lower multiplier. Conversely, your Macon back and spinal cord injury attorney will advocate for the highest possible multiplier to ensure you receive fair compensation for your pain and suffering damages while safeguarding your interests.

How Negligence Could Lead to Permanent Spinal Cord Damage

There are numerous situations where an individual’s reckless or negligent actions can lead to devastating spinal cord injuries for others. While motor vehicle accidents remain a common cause of such injuries, they can also occur during athletic events, slip and trip incidents, medical negligence, and watercraft accidents.

Regardless of the injuries’ severity, establishing civil fault for an accident follows the same principles. To seek financial compensation, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the named defendant(s) breached a specific duty of care owed to the injured party and that this breach directly caused the injuries. Obtaining the necessary evidence swiftly and presenting it persuasively may be crucial, making the assistance of a skilled Macon spinal cord injury attorney invaluable.

Their expertise can greatly aid in gathering relevant evidence and presenting it effectively, enhancing the chances of a successful claim for financial compensation.

FAQs

What steps should I take if I or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury? 

If you or a loved one experience a spinal cord injury, seek immediate medical attention. Additionally, document the incident, gather contact information from witnesses, and consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to protect your rights and explore potential legal remedies.

Who can be held liable for a spinal cord injury in Georgia?

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the injury, various parties might be held liable, including negligent drivers, property owners, employers, manufacturers of defective products, or healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases.

What makes a strong spinal cord injury case in Georgia?

A strong spinal cord injury case in Georgia typically involves clear evidence of negligence on the part of the responsible party, comprehensive documentation of damages, medical records and expert testimony to support the extent of your injuries, and skilled legal representation to build a compelling case.

Call Our Macon Spinal Injury Attorney For Help

Although our spinal injury attorneys in Macon cannot cure you, we can seek compensation for you if your injury resulted from someone else’s careless actions that caused a car crash. We help our clients pursue compensation for past and future medical expenses, loss of potential income, disability, emotional trauma, and more.

Find out how we can help you. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with us about your spinal cord injury, please call our Macon, Georgia, office at (478) 742-3381 today.