Illustration of a human body highlighting the spinal InjuryAccidents like motor vehicle and slip and fall accidents typically result in injury, and with injuries come sometimes life-changing consequences for victims, including costly medical bills and perhaps even permanent disability. The most serious injuries, like spinal cord injuries, can forever change the course of an Atlanta accident victim’s life, possibly preventing them from ever returning to work, earning an income, or even performing everyday tasks like walking up and down the stairs. In addition to the physical suffering that spinal cord injuries inflict, the expenses associated with medical treatment, rehabilitation, and daily assistance can quickly become overwhelming. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by an accident in Georgia, an experienced personal injury attorney at Rechtman & Spevak can help you fight for your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. 

Spinal Cord Injuries in Georgia

Spinal cord injury is a major cause of long-term disability in Georgia and across the United States. Georgia sees a number of devastating spinal cord injuries annually, caused by car accidents and other types of Georgia accidents. In the United States, about 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury are diagnosed each year, a figure that doesn’t even take into consideration spinal cord injury victims who die before reaching the hospital. There are approximately 259,000 Americans currently living with a spinal cord injury, and the average age at the time of injury is 40.2 years, which means these individuals have years of treatment and suffering ahead of them.

Causes of Marietta Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injury typically results from trauma that forces the spinal cord beyond its normal range of motion. The most common causes of spinal cord injury by percentage since 2005 include the following:

Nearly half of all spinal cord injuries in the United States are caused by motor vehicle accidents, including collisions and rollovers, which are usually completely preventable. Distracted driving statistics show that one of the most common causes of car accidents in Georgia is distracted driving, where a person operates a motor vehicle while distracted by a cellphone, a GPS device, or other inattention. Distracted driving is a form of negligence, meaning the at-fault person failed to exercise a reasonable standard of care toward other drivers and pedestrians on Georgia roadways.

Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

There is currently no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord, and spinal cord injury treatment typically focuses on preventing further damage and helping the victim manage the life-changing injury. Unfortunately, the expenses associated with spinal cord injury treatment are typically costly. Initial hospitalization costs following a spinal cord injury amount to about $140,000, while average first-year expenses total approximately $198,000. Even more shocking, the average lifetime costs for quadriplegics is $1.35 million. Fortunately, a spinal cord injury is defined as a “catastrophic injury” in Georgia, which means workers who suffer this type of injury at work can receive income benefits for life instead of for only 400 weeks, which is typical of a temporary total disability workers’ compensation claim.

Long-Term Consequences of Atlanta Spinal Cord Injuries

The long-term effects of spinal cord injuries depend on the type and location of the injury. Unfortunately, severe spinal cord injuries can result in the complete loss of sensation and movement below the level of the injury, and possibly even death. Injuries very high up on the spinal cord can result in the devastating loss of many involuntary bodily functions, including the ability to breathe, to control body temperature and to regulate blood pressure. The leading causes of death for people with spinal cord injuries are pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and blood poisoning.

A Marietta Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help

Spinal cord injuries can change a victim’s entire life in the blink of an eye, often resulting in permanent physical disability, exorbitant medical bills, and emotional pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury resulting from an accident in Georgia, contact us today. An experienced personal injury attorney at Rechtman & Spevak can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries, medical costs, rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, and other damages. Our team is committed to protecting your legal rights and fighting for the fair compensation you deserve.