The symptoms of a spinal cord injury can range from tingling and muscle weakness to paralysis and loss of bodily functions. These catastrophic injuries often leave victims facing permanent physical limitations, extensive medical treatment, and significant financial burdens.
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence in Atlanta, Georgia, Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers can pursue compensation for your losses. With over 50 years of combined experience, our team understands the challenges families face after serious injuries and is committed to helping them rebuild their lives.
Contact us at (770) 390-7550 for a free consultation with an experienced Atlanta spinal cord injury lawyer to learn how we can assist you.
How Can Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers Help With a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Atlanta, GA?
When a serious neurological injury results from an accident or medical negligence, determining exactly what happened can be complicated. The circumstances may involve a traumatic event, a delayed diagnosis, or a failure to provide appropriate treatment.
Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys can help by:
- Investigating the incident or medical care that caused or worsened the injury
- Reviewing medical records, diagnostic imaging, and treatment histories
- Consulting neurologists, spinal specialists, and other qualified medical experts
- Identifying negligent individuals, healthcare providers, or other responsible parties
- Documenting current medical expenses and anticipated long-term care needs
- Calculating lost income, diminished earning capacity, and other damages
- Negotiating with insurance companies and pursuing litigation when necessary
You can trust us to use our extensive experience and resources to investigate your claim and pursue full compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. Reach out to Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers today for a free case review.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
The symptoms of a spinal cord injury depend on the location and severity of the damage. Because the spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, an injury can affect movement, sensation, and essential bodily functions.
Common symptoms include:
- Numbness or tingling: Unusual sensations in the hands, arms, legs, feet, or other parts of the body
- Muscle weakness: Difficulty lifting objects, standing, walking, or controlling certain movements
- Loss of sensation: Reduced ability to feel touch, temperature, or pain below the affected area
- Severe neck or back pain: Persistent pain or pressure, particularly following a traumatic accident
- Muscle spasms: Involuntary movements, stiffness, or abnormal reflexes
- Loss of coordination: Problems maintaining balance or performing movements that were previously routine
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction: Difficulty controlling urination or bowel movements
- Breathing difficulties: Respiratory problems associated with injuries affecting the upper spinal cord
- Paralysis: Partial or complete loss of movement in affected parts of the body
These symptoms do not necessarily indicate a spinal cord injury, but they should never be ignored. Seek medical attention to ensure you are properly diagnosed and treated.
Can Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms Be Delayed After an Accident?
Yes. Although some symptoms appear immediately, others may emerge or become more severe over the hours or days following an accident.
Bleeding, inflammation, and swelling around the spinal cord can increase pressure on sensitive nerve tissue. Someone who initially experiences mild weakness or tingling may later develop more serious neurological problems, including loss of movement or sensation.
A person with a suspected spinal cord injury needs immediate emergency medical evaluation, even if they can still move their arms and legs. Avoid unnecessary movement until medical professionals can assess the injury.
How Can Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms Affect Long-Term Health?
Some spinal cord injuries cause lasting neurological problems that require extensive rehabilitation, assistive equipment, or ongoing medical care.
Depending on the severity of the injury, long-term complications may include:
- Chronic nerve pain
- Muscle spasticity
- Limited mobility or permanent paralysis
- Persistent bowel and bladder problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Respiratory complications
- Increased dependence on caregivers
- Emotional and psychological difficulties
The level of the spinal cord injury plays an important role in determining which bodily functions may be affected. However, the extent of the damage and the person’s response to treatment also influence their long-term prognosis.
Can Medical Malpractice Cause or Worsen a Spinal Cord Injury?
Yes. Medical negligence can cause spinal cord damage or worsen an existing condition. Potential examples include surgical mistakes, anesthesia errors, failure to diagnose spinal injuries, and inadequate treatment of infections or tumors.
Not every medical complication constitutes malpractice. However, when a healthcare provider fails to meet the applicable standard of care and that failure causes harm, the patient may have grounds for a legal claim.
What Compensation Can I Recover in an Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Case?
If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury in Atlanta, you may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills and rehabilitation
- Future medical care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Assistive equipment and home modifications
- Long-term caregiving expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our attorneys can evaluate your current and anticipated future losses to determine what compensation may be available.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers for a Free Initial Consultation
The consequences of spinal cord damage can extend far beyond the initial hospitalization, particularly when a person experiences permanent neurological limitations. If negligence caused your injury or allowed your condition to worsen, you may be able to pursue compensation from the responsible party.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers has spent decades representing seriously injured people throughout Georgia. Contact our Atlanta spinal cord injury attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll review your circumstances, explain your legal options, and determine how we can help.
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