Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Each year over 10,000 Americans suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury. Most of these injuries come from car accidents. Other major causes include slip and falls, work related injuries, and sports injuries. If you have been injured by another’s negligence, call us at 404-975-1775. Meeting with an experienced Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer as quickly as possible is one of the most important steps you can take toward recovery.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has successfully represented many clients in all types of severe injury cases, including many spinal cord injury claims. We know the challenges the victim of this type of injury will face and the many legal issues they will need to address to recover compensation for their damages. Our firm is ready to provide the guidance and support you need for your upcoming injury case.

Understanding Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord injury victims are often faced with life-long injuries with a lifetime of medical and rehabilitation expenses, loss wages, and pain and suffering. Because of the severity of these types of accidents, victims should select an Atlanta spinal cord injury attorney that has expertise, resources, and staff with a proven track record of results. The right attorney can be invaluable for proving fault and helping the victim recover maximum compensation for their injury.

The Merritt & Merritt Law Firm represents clients in Atlanta, and throughout Georgia. For a free consultation, please contact us via phone at 404-975-1775 or fill out the free case review form at the bottom of this page. During your initial consultation with our team, we will answer your questions, listen to your story, and provide our initial interpretation of your case. This consultation is an opportunity for you to determine whether we’re the right fit as your legal counsel.

Client Review:

“I was hit from behind on the interstate and there wasn’t much damage to my car. I hit my head pretty hard on the steering wheel and had severe back pain. The attorney made sure he got me a great settlement offer even though my car wasn’t totaled. The staff found me a chiropractor near me and answered all of my questions. One thing I like best about this firm is how well they communicate. They kept me updated every step of the way and explained everything so that I could understand. Hopefully I never get in a car accident again but I will be sure to tell my friends and family to use this firm if they ever get in an accident.”

-Nikki T.

About the Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord runs from the brain, down the center of the back, and ends slightly above the waist. The spinal cord consists of nerves that send information between the brain stem and the rest of the body. The spinal cord is one of the most important structures of the human body, but it cannot repair itself like the rest of the body. Any injury to the spinal cord is permanent, and the damaged nerve tissue will never recover.

The spinal cord is also protected by 33 ring-shaped bones, or vertebrae, making up the spinal column. Any sudden, serious blow to the spinal column can dislocate or fracture the vertebrae, damaging the surrounding nerves in the spinal cord. Most spinal cord injuries reported in Atlanta result from blunt force trauma, such as the impact of a car accident. This type of injury will usually entail damage to the vertebrae as well as the nerve tissue in the spinal cord.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are classified as partial or complete depending upon the severity of the damaged nerves

• Partial: There is minimal function and feeling below the injury. The victim may be able to move one limb a little more than the other or have more sensation on one side than the other.
• Complete: There is no sensation at the point of injury and practically not able to move their limbs. The severity of a complete spinal cord injury depends on the location of the injury. The higher the injury is on the victim’s spine, the greater the effects on their body.

Whether an injury is complete or partial may determine the outcome of your case. Many individuals with a partial spinal cord injury may experience a significant physical recovery meaning they may recover fully while injury victims with a complete spinal cord injury will be totally paralyzed.

It’s important to choose the right attorney

Many times these cases require large sums of money to prosecute and you will need a law firm that has the resources to handle such cases. Our law firm is staffed with spinal cord accident lawyers that can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Once you choose our team to represent you, we can immediately start gathering evidence you may need to firmly establish liability for your damages.

Once fault is determined, the next major issue you must address is your damages. You need to not only prove the extent of the damages the defendant caused but also establish causation. This means you need to prove that your claimed damages resulted solely from the defendant’s actions and not from any other cause. Depending on how your injury occurred, you may be able to file an insurance claim prior to filing your personal injury suit with the court.

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of spinal injuries in Atlanta, and if you were injured in such an accident, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. Every driver is legally required to have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements. However, your auto insurance claim against another driver is unlikely to cover the extent of damages that a spinal cord injury may entail.

Damages You Could Claim in Your Personal Injury Case

If you have grounds to file a personal injury suit against whoever caused your spinal cord injury, you could potentially recover full compensation for any economic losses related to your injury as well as compensation for your pain and suffering. A spinal cord injury is likely to require extensive ongoing medical care and rehabilitative treatment, and the victim may not be able to work anymore due to the severity of their injury.

A spinal cord injury can easily result in a severely diminished quality of life for the victim. They may struggle to cope with a permanent disability, loss of the ability to work and earn income, or they may be unable to live independently. Your Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer will be an essential asset for holding the defendant accountable for the harm they have done and maximizing your total recovery.

FAQs

Q: How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: The amount of compensation you could get for a spinal cord injury depends on the scope of the economic losses you suffered and whether the injury has resulted in permanent disability. You have the right to claim full repayment of your economic damages, including future economic losses that have not yet materialized, and you have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of your condition.

Q: How Is Compensation for Pain and Suffering Calculated?

A: Pain and suffering compensation can be calculated in various ways. Georgia law does not limit the amount of pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff may seek, but the amount sought should be a reasonable reflection of the overall severity of their condition. There is no set formula you will need to use to calculate pain and suffering. Your Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer can help determine a suitable amount that reflects the harm you suffered.

Q: What Happens if I Share Fault for My Accident in Atlanta?

A: If you share fault for your accident in Atlanta, the modified comparative fault rule will apply to your case. You will lose a percentage of your case award to reflect your level of liability. For example, if you are found 25% at fault, you will lose 25% of the case award won from the defendant. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you cannot claim compensation from any other party.

Q: Why Do I Need an Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

A: You need an Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer if you want to reach the optimal outcome for your recovery efforts. An experienced attorney can assist you with gathering evidence to prove liability for whatever incident caused your injury and help establish the full range of your claimable damages. You are more likely to win a personal injury case and more likely to maximize the compensation you obtain if you have legal representation on your side.

Q: What Will It Cost to Hire an Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire an Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer will depend on the attorney’s billing policy. Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can provide legal counsel at no financial risk to you because of our contingency fee policy. We take a percentage of whatever compensation we secure for you as our fee, but only if we win your case. There is no fee if we are unable to secure compensation for you.

Contacting a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm is a respected and well-established law firm with a 40-year track of successes in catastrophic injury cases in Georgia, including neck, back, and spinal cord injuries.

Please call us for a free and immediate consultation regarding your spinal cord injury case. Contact us today via phone at 404-975-1775 or fill out the free case review form at the bottom of this page.