Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney for Victims of Serious Spine Damage

Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Representing Victims of Severe Spine Damage

Stephen D. Apolinsky and our Atlanta spinal cord injury attorneys have successfully recovered compensation for individuals who sustained serious injuries to their spine. Over the past 32 years, we have recovered over $60 million for our clients and their families, including many cases involving clients who suffered spinal cord injuries and paralysis due to the negligence of others.

We understand the overwhelming pain and suffering (both physical and mental) that comes with a spinal cord injury. If you have been hurt, our firm will work tirelessly to secure the financial compensation you and your family need to begin moving forward from this life-altering event.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is the body’s “command center,” sending messages throughout the body. It’s protected by the spine and a series of vertebrae, forming a hard, protective cover against the soft interior. Damage to this spine or spinal cord can cause debilitating injuries that lead to partial or complete disability. The messages can’t travel to the rest of the system correctly, leaving a person partly or wholly paralyzed.

Even with great advances in medical treatment, most spinal cord injuries have no cure. This means that a victim will have to live with the repercussions for the rest of their lives. They may never be able to return to their former way of life, including returning to work.

If you sustained a serious spinal cord injury, you are entitled to financial compensation for the full value of your damages. Our legal team can help you secure compensation. As leading spinal cord injury attorneys in Georgia, Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, offers free and confidential consultations to those interested in more information about their legal rights after a spinal cord injury.

Long-Term Impact of Spinal Cord Injury

Any injury to the spinal cord directly impacts a person’s mobility and other essential functions, including:

  • Employment
  • Everyday activities such as eating, driving, and personal care

Most people consider the immediate impact of this injury, such as paralysis. But over time, a spinal cord injury victim can develop secondary conditions, such as:

  • Bladder and other infections
  • Kidney stones
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Digestive impairment
  • Loss of sensory and motor control
  • Osteoporosis
  • Muscle spasticity
  • Syringomyelia, numbness, and weakness in the extremities caused by a cyst or cavity forming inside the spinal cord
  • Mental conditions such as depression or anxiety exacerbated by paralysis and other illnesses

These conditions can add to the already high cost of care throughout the victim’s lifespan. Without compensation, a spinal cord injury patient may never have any type of treatment or recovery available.

If you or a loved one have suffered spinal cord injuries in Georgia and would like to know what damages you may recover as part of your case, contact Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, for a free case evaluation.

Proving Negligence & Causation in Spinal Cord Injury Cases in Georgia

The first step after any accident involving the spinal cord is to seek immediate medical attention. Documenting your injury from the earliest stages, from the initial emergency assessment to follow-up care, is crucial to supporting your case.

Under GA Code § 9-3-33, the statute of limitations holds that injured parties have two years to bring personal injury claims forward. After two years, a court will dismiss your claim. Oftentimes, insurance companies will engage in stalling techniques to avoid paying you anything. It is important to begin working with a Georgia personal injury attorney experienced in dealing with spinal cord injury claims as soon as possible to build your case.

Regardless of the accident that caused you to suffer a spinal cord injury, proving your case is essential to winning and getting fair compensation. In order to do so, you will need to establish negligence by showing that:

  • A duty of care existed, and the defendant owed you a level of responsibility
  • The defendant breached the duty of care and responsibility
  • That breach directly caused your spinal cord injuries
  • You suffered damages that resulted from the breach of care

The evidence you present in your spinal cord injury case, including medical records, should prove all four of these elements. Photographs, police reports, earnings statements, and other relevant documentation should demonstrate the defendant’s breach of duty. Forensic evidence, such as video surveillance and witness statements from the scene of the accident, will support your case as well.

Compensation & Damages Recoverable for Victims of Spinal Cord Injuries

For those suffering from a spinal cord injury, claims will often focus on the long-term effects as well as the individual’s ability to continue working and lead an independent life. Your Atlanta spinal cord injury attorney will work with you to fight for compensation for the full value of your losses, including financial recovery for:

  • Current medical bills.
  • Future medical costs.
  • Any in-home care that may be required.
  • Physical rehabilitation.
  • Required medical equipment and devices.
  • Long-term disability.
  • Lost wages.
  • Loss of future earning potential.
  • Mental anguish.
  • Loss of lifestyle enjoyment.

For your surviving spouse, there may be a viable claim for loss of consortium. This is a type of claim meant to provide compensation for the damage to a married couple’s quality of life due to the serious injury or death of a spouse.

This falls into the general damages category of a case, and is based on the claimant’s right to the companionship, love, society, affection, services, and intimacy of the marital relationship. It is common to claim loss of consortium in Georgia spinal cord injury cases.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle

  • Car Accidents Case Icon
    Car Accidents

    Car accidents often result in spinal cord injuries, leading to significant pain and medical expenses. Thankfully, Georgia law allows anyone injured by an unsafe driver to pursue civil litigation and obtain financial compensation for those losses.

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  • Motorcycle Accidents Case Icon
    Motorcycle Accidents

    Spinal cord injuries can often result from motorcycle accidents. Victims of spinal cord injuries in motorcycle accidents can pursue civil litigation and obtain financial compensation for those losses.

    Read More

  • Bicycle Accidents Case Icon
    Bicycle Accidents

    If you’ve suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury from being hit by a negligent or reckless driver while riding your bicycle, you may be entitled to recover compensation.

    Read More

  • Physical Assault Case Icon
    Physical Assault

    According to the state’s Uniform Crime Reports, an aggravated assault happens every 25 minutes and 34 seconds in Georgia. Victims of spinal cord injury caused by physical assault should consult an attorney.

    Read More

  • Premises Liability Case Icon
    Premises Liability

    O.C.G.A. 51-3-1 stipulates that landowners accept the legal duty of care to those they invite onto their property. As such, victims of spinal cord injuries caused by a dangerous property may be liable for damages.

    Read More

  • Negligent Security Case Icon
    Negligent Security

    If there is evidence that a property owner knew or should have known the risk of a criminal attack was unreasonably high and failed to address it, victims of spinal cord injury may be able to receive compensation.

    Read More

  • Truck/18-Wheeler Accidents Case Icon
    Truck/18-Wheeler Accidents

    A dedicated legal team can help victims of spinal injury due to trucking accidents hold responsible parties liable for actions that led to the crash.

    Read More

  • Violent Crimes/Assault & Battery Case Icon
    Violent Crimes/Assault & Battery

    Gunshot wounds, stabbings, physical assault, and battery are all violent crimes that can lead to spinal cord injuries. Victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

    Read More

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle

  • Car Accidents Case Icon
    Car Accidents

    Car accidents often result in spinal cord injuries, leading to significant pain and medical expenses. Thankfully, Georgia law allows anyone injured by an unsafe driver to pursue civil litigation and obtain financial compensation for those losses.

    Read More

  • Motorcycle Accidents Case Icon
    Motorcycle Accidents

    Spinal cord injuries can often result from motorcycle accidents. Victims of spinal cord injuries in motorcycle accidents can pursue civil litigation and obtain financial compensation for those losses.

    Read More

  • Bicycle Accidents Case Icon
    Bicycle Accidents

    If you’ve suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury from being hit by a negligent or reckless driver while riding your bicycle, you may be entitled to recover compensation.

    Read More

  • Physical Assault Case Icon
    Physical Assault

    According to the state’s Uniform Crime Reports, an aggravated assault happens every 25 minutes and 34 seconds in Georgia. Victims of spinal cord injury caused by physical assault should consult an attorney.

    Read More

  • Premises Liability Case Icon
    Premises Liability

    O.C.G.A. 51-3-1 stipulates that landowners accept the legal duty of care to those they invite onto their property. As such, victims of spinal cord injuries caused by a dangerous property may be liable for damages.

    Read More

  • Negligent Security Case Icon
    Negligent Security

    If there is evidence that a property owner knew or should have known the risk of a criminal attack was unreasonably high and failed to address it, victims of spinal cord injury may be able to receive compensation.

    Read More

  • Truck/18-Wheeler Accidents Case Icon
    Truck/18-Wheeler Accidents

    A dedicated legal team can help victims of spinal injury due to trucking accidents hold responsible parties liable for actions that led to the crash.

    Read More

  • Violent Crimes/Assault & Battery Case Icon
    Violent Crimes/Assault & Battery

    Gunshot wounds, stabbings, physical assault, and battery are all violent crimes that can lead to spinal cord injuries. Victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

    Read More

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Georgia Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit FAQs

How Common are Spinal Cord Injuries?

Sadly, severe spinal cord injuries occur far more frequently than many people realize. Spinal cord damage can happen in a wide variety of situations, from automobile accidents to workplace falls. According to research conducted by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 17,000 Americans suffer devastating spinal cord injuries on an annual basis.

The NSCISC estimates that there are currently nearly 300,000 Americans who are living with a debilitating spinal cord injury. Researchers from the NSCISC have also determined that a spinal cord injury results in an average of 12 days worth of hospitalization, and many additional months of intensive recovery. Tragically, these types of injuries can be very difficult to recover from. Indeed, in many cases, the effects of a serious spinal cord injury can last for many years, and the damage could even be permanent.

What are the Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Due to its central role in running the body, any damage to the spinal cord can significantly impair a person’s life. As with most injuries, spinal cord injuries can vary widely in their level of severity. Specifically, spinal cord damage can result in:

  • Personality changes.
  • Immense pain and suffering.
  • Loss of muscle control.
  • Cognitive difficulties.
  • Loss of sexual function.
  • Loss of bladder and bowel control.
  • Partial or total paralysis.

Individuals affected by spinal cord injuries may find it difficult or impossible to return to work. In especially difficult cases, individuals with spine injuries may even require around-the-clock medical care and physical assistance. The stress, emotional turmoil, and financial strain stemming from the spinal cord injury can also take an immense toll on the physical and mental health of the victim’s family members.

In the most severe cases, spinal cord injuries can lead to the death of your loved one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently estimates that the yearly cost of a spinal cord injury to be close to $30,000. This means that over a lifetime, a victim and their family may be forced to pay up to $3 million in medical expenses, therapy, and lost wages. Nationally, these costs average almost $10 billion annually.

I Have Suffered a Spinal Cord Injury: What Can I Do?

The fact of your spinal cord injury alone is insufficient to secure compensation. To be successful in most Atlanta spinal cord injury cases, it will be necessary to establish negligence. This is a legal term that refers to the required exercise of a certain amount of reasonable care in order to minimize the risk of injury to others.

O.C.G.A. 51-1-2 spells out that “ordinary negligence” is the amount of care we would expect a discerning person to exercise in circumstances that are the same or similar. If a person does not use this degree of care when they have a legal responsibility to do so and the result is someone is hurt, it is considered negligence.

If you are suffering from a spinal cord injury, it is important to consult with a dedicated and experienced attorney proficient in such injury cases. At Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, our Atlanta spinal cord injury attorneys will work with you to fight for compensation for the full value of your losses.

What Compensation is Available to Victims With Spinal Cord Injuries?

For those suffering from a spinal cord injury, claims will often focus on the long-term effects as well as the individual’s ability to continue working and lead an independent life. Your Atlanta spinal cord injury attorney will work with you to fight for compensation for the full value of your losses, including financial recovery for:

  • Current medical bills.
  • Future medical costs.
  • Any in-home care that may be required.
  • Physical rehabilitation.
  • Required medical equipment and devices.
  • Long-term disability.
  • Lost wages.
  • Loss of future earning potential.
  • Mental anguish.
  • Loss of lifestyle enjoyment.

For your surviving spouse, there may be a viable claim for loss of consortium. This is a type of claim meant to provide compensation for the damage to a married couple’s quality of life due to the serious injury or death of a spouse. This falls into the general damages category of a case, and is based on the claimant’s right to the companionship, love, society, affection, services, and intimacy of the marital relationship. It is common to claim loss of consortium in Georgia spinal cord injury cases.

What Should I Look For In An Attorney For Spinal Cord Injury Cases?

Victims need to work with an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer who fully understands the special considerations that come along with spinal cord injury cases.

As with other types of catastrophic injury claims, spinal cord injury cases come with unique challenges. This is because your spinal cord is essentially the path that allows information to get from your brain to all other parts of your body. Even a small amount of damage to your spinal cord can result in severe damages. In the most minor cases, a spinal cord injury may only result in the victim feeling some temporary tingling or numbness in their extremities. However, it does not take much damage at all for a spinal cord injury to become catastrophic. This can lead to:

  • Paraplegia (lower body paralysis).
  • Quadriplegia (full body paralysis) throughout the four limbs.
  • Loss of control over bodily functions.
  • Severe brain damage.

All are extremely severe spinal cord injuries that can require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury victims must be fully compensated in a way that accounts for these future needs. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, spinal cord victims are offered far less compensation to which they are entitled.

If you sustained a serious spinal cord injury, you are entitled to financial compensation for the full value of your damages. Our legal team can help you secure compensation. As leading spinal cord injury Attorneys in Georgia, Apolinsky & Associates, LLC offers free and confidential consultations to those interested in more information about their legal rights after a spinal cord injury.

What Is The Georgia Statute Of Limitations For A Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?

Essentially, the statute of limitations means the amount of time you have from when the act causing a spinal cord injury occurs until you must file a lawsuit.  Your case does not have to conclude by the end of the statute, it just has to be filed before.

In Georgia (under GA Code § 9-3-33), the statute of limitations holds that injured parties in Georgia have just two years to bring personal injury claims forward. After those two years, a court will dismiss your spinal cord injury claim. It is important to remember that when dealing with insurance in your injury claim, the insurance companies will often engage in stalling techniques in order to run out the clock and avoid paying you anything.

There are a number of factors that apply to the statute of limitations in any individual case, so if you want to pursue a civil claim for a catastrophic spinal cord injury, you are advised to contact a personal injury lawyer experienced in spinal cord injury cases to build your case.