Paralysis injuries are life-altering events. You may be unable to control your limbs or your bladder. Perhaps, you’re also permanently confined to a wheelchair. If you’ve suffered a paralysis injury, you need to contact an Atlanta paralysis injury lawyer.
Our Atlanta injury lawyers have successfully represented paralysis victims for decades. We’ll deliver the best customer service and the greatest result. Our prior victories and our 5-star client reviews validate that promise.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta paralysis injury lawyer. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got the answers.
Spinal Column Anatomy
The spinal column consists of 33 bones (vertebrae) that stack on top of one another. It provides the main support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist. It also protects your spinal cord.
The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx.
- Cervical: The seven cervical vertebrae support the head’s weight. They also enable the head to nod and also rotate sideways;
- Thoracic: The 12 thoracic vertebrae support the rib cage and protect the heart and lungs;
- Lumbar: Below the thoracic spine are the five lumbar vertebrae. They support the torso. They are the largest vertebrae because they help us lift heavy objects;
- Sacral: The five sacral vertebrae are fused together. They connect the spine to the hips;
- Coccyx: The four fused coccyx bones connect to the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal vertebrae injuries often damage the spinal cord. They also frequently cause paralysis. Some paralysis injuries are temporary, others are permanent.
Complete spinal cord injuries are the severest injuries. They cause injury victims to lose control of all movement below the injury site. So, if a victim severs their cervical spinal cord, they may lose control of their limbs and bladder. If the trauma only damages the lower spinal cord, the victim may still control their arm movements. However, they will be wheelchair-bound.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries are less harmful than complete spinal cord injuries. When a victim suffers an incomplete spinal cord injury, they still have some sensation below the injury site. Sometimes, only one side of their body is paralyzed.
Many spinal cord injury victims are temporarily or permanently paralyzed. Approximately 40% of them lose the use of the lower limbs. When your life is turned upside down from such a catastrophic injury, you must retain a knowledgeable Atlanta paralysis injury lawyer.
Paralysis Injury Causes
Paralysis injuries are frequently caused by a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes or compresses one or more of your vertebrae. Gunshot and knife wounds also cause paralysis if they penetrate or cut your spinal cord.
Here are the types of traumatic incidents that often cause paralysis:
Paralysis Injury Damages
Paralysis injuries are very expensive. For instance, the average acute hospitalization admission is 12 days. Moreover, most paralysis victims incur at least $1.1 million in medical costs and living expenses during the first year after the injury.
Paralysis also reduces victims’ life expectancy. Victims who suffer serious paralysis at age 40 only live another another 13.4 years, on average.
Fortunately, an Atlanta paralysis injury lawyer can help you recover damages to ease some of those burdens. You may be able to obtain monetary damages for:
- Medical bills;
- Lost wages, both present and future;
- Assistive device costs;
- Home healthcare expenses;
- Diminished life quality losses; and,
- Many other types of losses, depending upon your circumstances.
Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers Can Help You
If you suffered a paralysis injury, you should never settle your case until your damages are completely evaluated by the following experts:
-
- Life care planner – the LCP will visit your home and identify every accommodation that you need to improve your living experience. They will also calculate your future medical treatment costs.
- Vocational rehabilitation expert – that expert will evaluate the jobs, if any, that you’re still qualified to perform.
- Economist – the economist will evaluate your lost wages and lost future earning capacity.
The Atlanta injury lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers will set you up with each one of those experts. Then, we’ll use their opinions to resolve your case. If the insurance adjuster won’t pay you what you deserve, we’ll gladly take your case to trial.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta paralysis injury lawyer.
