Spinal cord injuries can leave victims with long-term or permanent disabilities that could completely alter their lives. Victims typically face long-term medical treatment, mobility issues, and even paralysis. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s reckless or careless actions, you have the right to demand financial compensation for your treatment, lost income, and other losses. A spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue some measure of justice for the harm you suffered.
At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys in Albany understand the challenges you are facing. We will be by your side through every step of your case, working tirelessly for the full financial compensation you need to move forward. We can take the burden of dealing with insurance companies, at-fault parties, and defense lawyers off your shoulders, so you can focus on your treatment and rehabilitation.
Contact us now for a free consultation to learn how we can help if you’ve been the victim of a spinal cord injury in Albany. There is no charge and no risk for us to start work on your claim. You only pay us if we secure payment for you.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury
Depending on the circumstances of the accident that caused your spinal cord injury, you might have multiple opportunities for pursuing compensation. These include:
A Personal Injury Claim
If you were injured in an accident that was caused by somebody else’s negligence or recklessness, you might have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. In these cases, compensation can cover:
- Medical expenses
- Long-term care expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
A Workers’ Compensation Claim
If you suffered a spinal cord injury while at work or due to your employment, you might be entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim. Unlike a personal injury claim, which requires proof of another party’s fault, you’re entitled to workers’ compensation benefits so long as your injury or illness occurred due to your work. Workers’ compensation benefits can include:
- Payment for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment
- Partial wage replacement if you have missed a certain amount of time from work
- Disability benefits if your spine injury has caused permanent partial or total disability
- Vocational rehabilitation training
At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., we have extensive experience with workers’ compensation claims and personal injury cases. Our Albany spinal cord injury lawyers will explore all your options for pursuing the maximum compensation you need to recover.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are often caused by a traumatic blow to the back or neck that fractures vertebrae and damages or even severs the spinal cord. Examples of accidents that can lead to spinal cord injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
Accident victims may experience a range of symptoms that indicate a spinal cord injury, including:
- Severe back pain
- Significant pressure in the head, neck, and/or back
- Weakness
- Coordination problems
- Difficulty with walking or maintaining balance
- Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the hands and/or feet
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
Some of the long-term or permanent symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of motor function
- Altered or lost sensation or ability to feel touch, cold, or heat
- Exaggerated reflexes or muscle spasms
- Changes in sexual function or feeling
- Difficulty with breathing or coughing to clear the lungs
- Intense pain or stinging in the back near the area of the spinal cord injury
Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
Unfortunately, most spinal cord injuries are permanent. Treatment is intended to prevent further damage and help an accident victim return to a more normal life.
Immediate treatment following a spinal cord injury aims to prevent the injury from worsening. A spinal cord injury sufferer might have his or her neck and back stabilized until transportation to the hospital. At the hospital, early treatment focuses on helping victims breathe, preventing shock, and reducing the risk of complications.
Surgery may also be required to repair physical damage to the spine and spinal cord. This may include repairing fractured vertebrae and herniated discs, removing foreign objects, and installing plates and rods to stabilize the spine.
Long-term treatment for spinal cord injuries starts with rehabilitation. Spinal cord injury victims often undergo physical therapy to help rebuild and maintain strength, range of motion, and fine motor skills. Occupational therapy can help a person develop adaptive techniques to accommodate permanent disabilities.
Doctors might also prescribe medications to help reduce muscle loss, prevent spams, reduce the risk of blood clots, treat bladder and bowel control problems, and restore sexual function.
Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
In many cases, serious spinal cord injuries cause some degree of paralysis. Those who suffer an incomplete spinal cord injury can retain some feeling or function in the affected areas. A complete spinal cord injury results in the total loss of feeling and function in the affected parts of the body.
In addition to the physical disabilities caused by paralysis, spinal cord injuries can pose an ongoing risk of complications, such as digestive or urinary tract issues, blood clots and pressure ulcers in immobile parts of the body, and respiratory difficulties and infections.
Time Limit for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
The Georgia statute of limitations gives you only two years from the date that you suffered a spinal cord injury to file a lawsuit to recover compensation. If you wait until after this two-year deadline passes, your case could be permanently dismissed. That could mean losing the opportunity to recover the compensation you need to treat your injury.
The deadline for workers’ compensation is even shorter. You have only 30 days to report your injury to your employer. You have one year from the date of your injury to file a workers’ compensation claim.
All spinal cord injury cases require extensive documentation and investigation. It’s in your best interests to contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney in Albany as soon as possible to discuss your options.
How an Albany Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help
An Albany spinal cord injury lawyer from our firm can help you pursue financial relief after a serious accident. Our legal team can take the pressure off you by:
- Investigating the accident that caused your spinal cord injury to recover critical evidence
- Identifying the party or parties that bear legal responsibility for your injury
- Working with your medical providers to determine what future treatments and care you need to help us pursue maximum compensation for you
- Filing insurance claims and managing all communication and negotiations on your behalf
- Taking your spinal cord injury lawsuit to trial, if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Contact the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., today to learn how we can help you move forward after a debilitating accident. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney from our firm will review the details of your case for free and answer all your questions.
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