Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a spinal injury, the Atlanta spinal injury lawyers at DRS Law are ready to support you through every step of your case.

Spinal Injuries

According to the 2024 SCI Data Sheet from the National SCI Statistical Center ,  every hour of every day, another person sustains a  spinal cord injury.

What is a spinal cord injury?

A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal nerves, the body’s central and most important nerve bundle, as a result of trauma to the backbone.

Most spinal cord injuries occur when trauma breaks and squeezes the vertebrae. This results in damages to axonsthe nerves that pass through vertebrae and are responsible for carrying signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Someone with injury to only a few axons might be able to recover completely from their injury. But, damage to all axons will most likely cause paralysis in the areas below the injury.

According to the National Institute of Health, a spinal cord injury is described by its level, type, and severity:

The level of injury for a person with SCI is the lowest point on the spinal cord below which sensory feeling and motor movement diminish or disappear (such as C3, T2, or L4).

The two broad types of SCI are:

• Tetraplegia (formerly called quadriplegia), which generally describes the condition of a person with an SCI that is at a level anywhere from the C1 vertebra down to the T1.
• Paraplegia which describes the condition of people who have lost feeling in or are not able to move the lower parts of their body.

There are two degrees of SCI severity: 1) complete injury and 2) incomplete injury.

Spinal injury statistics

• Approximately 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur each year in the USA.
• Since 2015, males have accounted for about 79% of new cases.
• Approximately 305,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury.
• Average age at injury is 43 years old.

Leading causes of spinal injuries

• Vehicle crashes are currently the leading cause of injury (37.5 percent)
• Falls (31%)
• Medical/surgical errors (3.8 percent)

Lifetime costs of spinal injuries

According to the Miami Project To Cure Paralysis , the estimated lifetime costs for someone who sustained a spinal injury at age 25 ranges from $2 million to $6 million, depending on the severity of the injury. The estimated lifetime costs for someone injured at age 50 ranges from $1.4 to $3.3 million. And these estimates  do not include any indirect costs such as losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity.

Atlanta Spinal Injury Claims

1. Do I have spinal cord injury claim?

Determining the validity of your claim depends on various factors, such as the details of the accident, the severity of your paralysis, and circumstances of the accident. The experienced Atlanta spinal injury lawyers at DRS Law will review the specifics of your case to see if you have grounds for a lawsuit.

Proving fault in a spinal injury case depends a great deal on the ability of your Atlanta personal injury attorney to thoroughly investigate the incident and apply Georgia’s law of “negligence” to the facts of your case. The spinal injury lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience handling a wide variety of accidents, including truck wrecks , workplace incidents , and medical malpractice.

Our four-attorney team of dedicated lawyers will work tirelessly to investigate your case. We will also consult with medical experts to maximize the value of your spinal injury claim. These experts are crucial to the success of your claim because you will need expert proof to establish damages for future medical care, long-term care, and diminished earning capacity.

DRS Law has a network of reputable medical experts that we routinely use in spinal injury cases to ensure that clients get the best result possible.

2. What compensation can I expect?

Victims of spinal cord injuries may be eligible to recover various types of damages, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future care expenses
• Past and future loss of income/earning capacity
• Past and future pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Punitive damages (in cases of particularly egregious conduct)

3. How long do spinal injury cases take to settle?

Most spinal injury cases take between one and three years to reach a final settlement. Because of our deep knowledge of Georgia negligence law, thorough investigations, and strong negotiation skills, many of our cases settle without proceeding to court. The length of a particular case varies depending on the complexity of the case, the defendant, and the number of medical experts required to prove your case.

4. What should I do after a spinal cord injury to begin my lawsuit?

After receiving medical treatment, it’s crucial to contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney. They can advise you on necessary steps, which may include:

• Hiring a private investigator to assess the accident scene
• Gathering witness testimonials
• Collecting and preserving evidence
• Working with medical experts to document your injuries and prognosis

5. What is the attorney fee for a Atlanta spinal injury case?

DRS Law accepts spinal injury cases on a contingency basis. This means that we never recover any fee unless we win.

Submitting your spinal injury case to our team of knowledgeable personal injury lawyers is easy. Click Submit a Case at the top of our website and answer a few short questions about your case. Our attorneys review these submissions daily, and one of them we will contact you if we can help.

Once we take your case, you will have a dedicated attorney advising you from start to finish. You will always speak directly with the attorney handling your case. And he will give your case the time and attention it deserves.

Our attorneys will thoroughly review of your medical records, investigate all other important evidence, and determine how to get you maximum compensation for your damages. We will discuss your case with our network of medical experts  paying the up-front cost of this consultation.

We will be with you at every stage of the process.

6. How do I pick a Atlanta spinal injury lawyer?

Unlike some Atlanta personal injury lawyers, the attorneys at DRS Law focus on cases involving catastrophic injury and medical malpractice. Given that experience, our attorneys have a specialized knowledge of medicine and injuries. This allows them to:

• Understand the complex medical aspects of spinal cord injuries, including long-term prognosis and potential complications for tetraplegia, paraplegia, and paralysis.
• Accurately assess the full extent of damages, including future medical needs, adaptive equipment, and long-term care requirements.
• Work effectively with medical and damages experts to obtain the best result possible.
• Anticipate and counter defense strategies commonly used in heavily-defended cases, such as spinal cord injury and medical malpractice cases.
• Properly value non-economic damages like pain and suffering, which can be substantial in spinal cord injury cases.
• Understand the nuances of spinal cord injuries that may not be immediately apparent, ensuring no aspect of the injury is overlooked in seeking compensation.

This specialized expertise can make a significant difference in the outcome of a spinal cord injury case, potentially resulting in a more comprehensive and just compensation for the victim.

7. How Will My Case Be Proven?

Any person or entity whose negligent or intentional misconduct caused the injury can be held responsible. This may include vehicle drivers, product manufacturers, construction site operators, property owners, and others. The key is establishing fault on at least one party who caused the spinal cord injury.

Your lawyer will gather evidence such as medical records, witness statements, expert testimony, and accident reports to build a strong case proving the other partys liability.

8. Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the incident?

Yes, in Georgia, you can still recover damages from a spinal cord accident even if you were partially at fault. This concept is known as comparative fault. It means that if you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. And you can recover so long as you are at 50 percent or more at fault for the incident.

Watch this video to learn about comparative fault and how it might affect your Atlanta spinal injury claim.

9. How can I support my spinal injury claim?

It’s important to follow your lawyers advice, keep detailed records of your medical treatments and expenses, and avoid discussing your case publicly or on social media. These actions will help support your case.

10. How important is insurance coverage in a spinal cord injury case?

Insurance coverage is critical in spinal cord injury cases. The damages in these cases are often substantial, and it’s unlikely that an individual defendant will have sufficient personal assets to cover them. An early and thorough investigation is crucial to identify all potential defendants and their insurance coverage.

Remember, every spinal cord injury case is unique, and it’s essential to consult with an experienced attorney for personalized legal advice tailored to your specific situation.