Spine Injuries
Experienced Atlanta Spine Injury Lawyer
Main: 770-717-5100
Toll Free: 1-866-972-5287
See Also: How a Personal Injury Case is Handled
When the spinal cord is damaged, the result is catastrophic injury. The spinal cord is a thick cord of nerve tissue contained and protected by our spines and vertebrae; it serves as the brain's control and communications center and can perform many basic physical functions without consulting the brain at all. When it is injured, communications with the brain are simply lost, usually forever. Like brain tissue, the spinal cord cannot heal itself the way other tissues can. For the most severely injured victims of a spinal cord injury, that means paralysis, paraplegia or quadriplegia (also called tetriplegia), which are permanent disabilities requiring lifelong accommodation in a wheelchair.
The seriousness of a spinal cord injury depends on (mainly) two things: where the injury is located and how badly the cord is damaged. The higher the injury is located on the victim's back, the more movement and sensation the victim is likely to lose. Spinal cord injuries can also be classified as complete or incomplete, depending on whether the cord is completely severed at the point of injury. Practically speaking, this means that some victims of spinal cord damage are more severely affected than others -- but all can expect at least some loss of movement and sensation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11,000 Americans suffer a spinal cord injury every year, and about 200,000 live with a disability related to spinal damage. The most common causes of spinal cord injuries reported by the CDC are:
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents;
- Falls, especially in people over age 65;
- Gun violence;
- Premises Liability;
- Products Liability;
- Drunk Driving accidents;
- Boating Accidents;
- Sports, including diving as well as football and other contact sports.
Because a spinal cord injury is usually a dramatic, life-changing event, Georgia spinal cord injury claims are complex, legally and emotionally difficult cases. In addition to the disability itself, pain, suffering and increased risk of medical complications, victims frequently face an unexpected career change or a sudden inability to work at all because of their injuries. They may also be entitled to compensation for loss of other important life activities, such as the full ability to be a spouse or parent. All of this takes time, research and expertise to correctly value, which is why experts recommend that victims hire an experienced Georgia spinal cord injury attorney.
If you or someone you love has sustained a serious spinal cord injury because of another person's carelessness, you have the right to hold that person responsible for the results. The Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle can help. Based in Gwinnett County, Buckhead and the Perimeter, he serves clients throughout Metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia. For a free, confidential consultation on your case, please contact Charles Scholle online, Email, or call 770-717-5100 locally or toll-free at 1-866-972-5287.