ATLANTA PARALYSIS ACCIDENT INJURY ATTORNEY

It is estimated that there are approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury in the U.S. each year, and between 250,000 to 400,000 people are currently living with some form of spinal cord injury. The Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission reports that approximately 540 spinal cord injuries are treated in Georgia hospitals annually, with the primary causes being falls and motor vehicle accidents.

Paraplegic and quadriplegic paralysis are injuries that involve damage to the central nervous system in the spinal cord. The spinal cord contains some of the most critical nerves in the body, responsible for regulation of numerous bodily processes, including movement of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. When the spinal column is damaged, the impact is devastating and often permanent.

Paraplegia refers to paralysis of the lower body, specifically of the legs, after a spinal injury that occurs below the neck. Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is paralysis of all four limbs as a result of a spinal injury at the base of the skull or neck.

In either scenario, one can have either partial or total paralysis, depending on whether the spinal injury is complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal injury means the person may retain some function and feeling because messages to and from the brain haven’t been lost completely. One with a complete spinal injury will sustain total lack of motor and sensory function below the site of the injury.

An Atlanta injury attorney calculating your damages will consider the full extent of one’s tangible and intangible losses to date, as well as those sustained over the course of one’s life.

In a 2004 cross-sectional study published in the journal Nature, more than 100 young men who suffered quadriplegia or paraplegia reported that since their injuries, their physical and psychological health declined dramatically. Their expenses were significantly higher while their earnings were significantly less. Those who had been self-employed prior to the crash showed the most significant economic decline.

The compensation available to spinal cord injury sufferers will depend on whether another party was at-fault for what happened. We work to establish negligence, which means another failed in their responsibility to use reasonable care, resulting in the injury. Once we have established liability, then we can move on to the second phase, which is establishing damages, or the amount of financial compensation to which you are entitled.

Some expenses that may be considered for compensation in these cases include:

Other costs related to care

These can include wheelchairs, modified homes and vehicles, medication such as antibiotics or painkillers, and around-the-clock nursing care or home aide. In many cases, individuals incur travel expenses back-and-forth to receive ongoing, specialized care. They may need to cover the cost of having loved ones come and care for them, their home, or their children for a time.

Wage loss, job loss and loss of earning power

Although some paralysis survivors never work again, those who do are usually forced to change careers or receive some new degree of job training.

Permanent disabilities and health issues

The loss of body function in and of itself is debilitating. To make matters worse, people with paraplegia or quadriplegia often suffer other chronic adverse health impacts, such as respiratory issues, bed sores, and increased susceptibility to certain infections. A person who has lost the use of his or her hands and/or legs may not be able to cook as they once did, and now must pay for someone to prepare meals, shop, launder their clothes, etc.

Loss of life quality

Loss of life quality means that one may not be able to engage in the life they once enjoyed or even engage in simple, daily tasks without assistance. Everyday life becomes more difficult, and often more expensive.

Emotional pain and suffering

Losing something as fundamental as the ability to walk can be devastating. Many people who suffer sudden paraplegia or quadriplegia, whether by traumatic accident or medical error, also suffer from depression. This may require medication and therapy to work through.

As noted by the state Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission, the needs of Georgians with spinal cord injuries include training and awareness, rehabilitation and wellness, service coordination, tools for independent and integrated living, personal support/attendant services, and greater accessibility.

One must also consider that these injuries are permanent. They often do not get better. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, fewer than 1 percent of those diagnosed with paraplegia or quadriplegia recovered complete neurological function by the time they were discharged from the hospital.

Survivors of spinal cord injuries need to work with an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer who fully understands the special considerations of paralysis claims.

As with other types of catastrophic injury claims, paraplegic and quadriplegic injury cases come with unique challenges. This is because your spinal cord is essentially the path that allows information to get from your brain to all other parts of your body. Even a small amount of damage to your spinal cord can result in severe damages and paralysis. In the most minor cases, a spinal cord injury may only result in the victim feeling some temporary tingling or numbness in their extremities. However, it does not take much damage at all for a spinal cord injury to become catastrophic, leading to:

• Paraplegia (lower body paralysis);
• Quadriplegia (full body paralysis); throughout the four limbs;
• Loss of control over bodily functions; and,
• Severe brain damage.

These can all require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury survivors must be fully compensated to account for these future needs. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, they are offered far less compensation than they deserve. At Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, our team of dedicated Atlanta injury lawyers can help to guide you through the process of gaining compensation.

Under GA Code § 9-3-33, the statute of limitations holds that injured parties in Georgia have just two years to bring personal injury claims forward. After those two years, a court will dismiss your claim. It is important to remember that oftentimes, insurance companies will engage in stalling techniques to run out the clock and avoid paying you anything.

Due to the number of complex factors that go into the statute of limitations in any individual case, if you want to pursue a civil claim, you are advised to contact a personal injury lawyer experienced in handling paralysis injury cases to build your case and advocate for your just compensation.