Articles Tagged with spinal cord accident

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surgery-resized-600When an incident occurs in the state of Georgia where someone sustains an injury there are two common potential alternatives. In a situation where the injury was the result of an intentional act or violence, the defendant will face criminal prosecution in the form of battery or assault charges. Alternatively, if the injury was caused by an accident, depending on the situation, an individual can face criminal charges, a personal injury lawsuit, or both. Regardless of what side you find yourself on following an accident, it is always critical to seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney. Your attorney’s guidance can be invaluable as the legal proceedings unfold.

 Common Occurrences

 One of the most common examples of a scenario where an individual can face both criminal charges and a personal injury lawsuit is when a drunk driving car accident occurs. This is due to the fact that the individual will likely be subject to criminal drunk driving charges and, if the accident resulted in an injury, the at-fault party will likely be held liable to pay damages for pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.

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ambulance6-resized-600-300x201In 2016 there were 1,130 traffic fatalities in the state of Georgia, a harrowing statistic, however, no number can come close to encapsulating the immense pain and confusion associated with the sudden loss of a loved one. The shock of receiving this kind of news can be unbearable, and the unfortunate reality that the incident may have been caused by someone else can place extraordinary strain on a family. Fortunately, there are laws in place to help hurting families through these tough times. If you find yourself in a situation like this it is imperative that you reach out to a personal injury attorney who will be able to guide you through your situation. An attorney can be a voice of reason and will fight to ensure that you and your family receive the compensation you deserve.

 Wrongful Death Torts

 A wrongful death claim is a situation in which the plaintiff (the accuser) seeks damages from the defendant for causing a fatality. Georgia state statutes describe  “wrongful death” as a personal injury tort where someone’s reckless, negligent, or intentional action resulted in the death of another individual. In most instances a wrongful death is typically the result of a vehicle accident, criminal act, or medical malpractice; however, the claim is not dependent on how the individual died.  

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Xray docSpinal Cord Injury (SCI) happens when the spinal cord is damaged due to a disease of the vertebral column or a traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Most spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord becomes bruised or swollen from the backbone pinching the spinal cord. More serious injuries may actually tear the spinal cord. When injury happens to the spinal cord, the nerves below the injury are unable to send messages between the brain and parts of the body as they did before the injury took place; nerves above the injury, on the other hand, continue working normally.

1. The location of a spinal cord injury is described by medical professionals by referring to the level of the vertebrae supporting the spinal cord. The top of the spinal cord consists of the cervical nerves, which are protected by the C1 through C8 and the T1 vertebrae. Next are the thoracic nerves, which are protected by the T2 through the T12, the lumbar nerves (L1 though L5), and the sacral nerves (S1 through S5).

Because a spinal cord injury affects the nerves below it, injuries higher on the spinal cord affect more bodily functions than lower injuries. An injury located between the C1 and the T1 vertebrae usually causes Tetraplegia (formerly known as quadriplegia) where the damaged cervical nerves affect the head, neck, diaphragm, deltoids, biceps, upper chest, arms and hands. Damage located between T2 and S5 generally causes paraplegia. A paraplegic can have a loss of feeling or not be able to move the chest, stomach, hips, legs and feet. Continue reading →