Marietta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injuries could happen anywhere: at work, on the way home, or in a motor vehicle accident. Regardless of how they happen, these injuries may cause long-term physical impairment and even paralysis. If you or a loved one is suffering from a spinal cord injury that you believe was due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Marietta spinal cord injury lawyer today.
With the right legal help, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, injuries, pain, and suffering. While the time period following an injury may be confusing and difficult, an experienced catastrophic injury attorney could help you navigate the options available to you and identify the best steps forward.
What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
Medical literature defines a spinal cord injury as anything that causes bruising, a partial tear, or a complete tear of the spinal cord. These injuries may cause both short-term and long-term damages to the body and often result from:
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Sports injuries
- Falls
- Diving accidents
- Acts of violence
Many spinal cord injuries require medical attention and could even cause a partial or complete loss of bodily function below the site of the injury. No matter the nature of the damage, putting together a spinal cord injury case with a Marietta spinal cord injury lawyer may be your best next step for if the injury was due to someone else’s negligence.
Laws Governing Spinal Cord Injuries
Per Official Code of Georgia §9-3-33, any individual suffering from a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence or against the state has only two years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit. For claims made against a county or city, the statute of limitations is six months.
Once the case reaches the court, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was either wholly or partially at fault for the accident. Recoverable compensation may be adjusted based on the injured person’s proportion of fault, so defense lawyers typically try to argue that the plaintiff was at least partially at fault for their injuries.
Someone hit by a driver who ran a red light might ask for damages from that driver. If the defense successfully argues that the victim was 20 percent responsible for the accident, the injured person’s final damage award would typically be reduced by 20 percent.
Since courts are required to follow this law, insurance companies may bring it up in negotiations outside of the court. It may be best to for you to approach these lawsuits with assistance a spinal cord injury attorney in Marietta who has experience handling both defense attorneys and insurance agents.
Compensation Caps
While some states put damage caps on the compensation that might be earned from personal injury lawsuits, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that such caps violate the state constitution back in 2010. Now, Marietta residents suffering from spinal cord injuries could ask for as much money as they want for lost income, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more, so long as they can prove they are entitled to it.
Speak With a Marietta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Dealing with a spinal cord injury could make life painful and difficult, but as much as you might be suffering and reluctant to fight another battle, pursuing compensation may be able to help you close this chapter of your life. Contact a Marietta spinal cord injury lawyer today to begin compiling your case and discussing your options.
