Spinal Cord Injuries In Georgia
A spinal cord injury can fundamentally change the way you live your life. Your spinal cord helps your brain communicate with the rest of your body, playing a crucial helping hand in everything from mobility to feeling sensations as basic as temperature. An injury can cut off that communication either partially or completely. If you or a loved one has experienced this kind of injury, the spinal cord injury lawyers at The Ransom Firm know how much stress can come with it. We proudly represent spinal cord injury victims in the greater Atlanta area and want to help you recover physically and financially.
What Are Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can occur in a variety of ways:
- Car accidents: Combining high speeds with a sudden stop significantly increases the risk of severe spinal cord injuries.
- Contact sports: In sports such as football, rugby or diving, taking a hit from an opposing player or entering the water at an awkward angle can change your life in an instant.
- Violence: Physical assaults, as well as shootings, claim a share of spinal cord injuries every year.
- Medical malpractice: You wouldn’t expect to leave the hospital with a new problem, but surgical issues or even a doctor’s misdiagnosis can do just that.
It is all too easy to look at the above list and cross off particular causes in your head, assuming that they wouldn’t happen to you. That is often part of the shock for spinal cord injury victims. At The Ransom Firm, we take the time to listen to our clients about the events before and after their lives changed so drastically. We know many Georgians had enough to worry about before their injury even happened.
What Are The Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries?
There are two key types of spinal cord injuries based on how functional your body is below your injury site.
- Complete injury: All function is lost below the area of impact.
- Incomplete injury: You retain some of the function below the area of impact.
Many have questions about what “some of the function” looks like. The answer will depend on the circumstances of your injury, as there can be a very wide range of functionality. At The Ransom Firm, our spinal cord injury lawyers always aim to gain a greater understanding of the injuries our clients face.
What Are The Symptoms Of Spinal Cord Injuries?
With spinal cord injuries, some symptoms will be evident immediately, while others may take time to show. Symptoms can include:
- Difficulties with mobility
- Loss of sensation
- Issues with bladder or bowel control
- Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
- Loss of sexual function
To diagnose and gain a deeper understanding of the extent of the damages, there are a variety of tests that can be done. This includes a physical exam, X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. Doctors may wish to conduct an EMG test to determine what nerve function remains. These tests often provide a more educated view of what treatment may suit you, and at The Ransom Firm, we’re ready to advocate for it too.
The Impact Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Living with a spinal cord injury can be a very isolating experience. You deserve a support system to help you get through this difficult time, and it can be important to address potential issues before they even occur:
- Physical impact: This is what comes to mind first for many Georgia residents, realizing all the routine actions that will now be more difficult if not impossible.
- Emotional and psychological impact: This should never be underestimated. Even if treatment is proving successful in any way, you may face anxiety and depression, which can have an effect on your personal relationships. Taking care of yourself, setting boundaries and asking for help can be vital.
- Financial impact: Medical bills can put excess stress even on those who are able to return to work soon after an injury. You may have to leave your job or even your current career. The daily costs can add up significantly.
At The Ransom Firm, we want spinal cord injury victims to know that we are aware of the tidal wave of stress and worry that they have to deal with. That’s why we fight so hard for our clients.
Legal Rights And Compensation
If your spinal cord injury was caused by someone’s negligence, you have a right to seek compensation in the state of Georgia. As mentioned in the section above, the financial impact of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. The compensation you seek can cover items like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
Whether inside or outside of the courtroom, your insurance may try to argue for a lower settlement cost. At The Ransom Firm, we have experience dealing with insurance companies and are ready to represent your best interests.
Importance Of Specialized Legal Representation
Getting in touch with legal representation that has experience with spinal cord injury cases can be enormously beneficial. You deserve legal representation that can fight hard for you, whether it’s in bringing together evidence surrounding your injury, applying relevant personal injury law to your case and handling insurance negotiations. Your legal representation should be willing to look far and wide for any aspect of your life that has changed because of your injury.
You can reach us by phone at 404-882-3198 or by sending a message through our contact form.