Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury accidents often have a devastating effect on a person and their family. Huge medical bills, time off work, trauma, and lengthy rehabilitation create tremendous strain and uncertainty for you and your loved ones.

Whether the injury was due to a vehicle accident, workplace fall, medical malpractice, or various other causes, you have a legal right to seek compensation if you suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence.

For a spinal cord injury claim to be successful, you need an attorney with extensive knowledge of medicine and torts. The attorneys at Prieto, DelCampo, Lopez, & Marigliano LLC are aggressive in representing clients who have suffered spinal cord injuries, and we know how to build a powerful legal case.

We have a large and experienced network of consultants, including physicians, therapists, engineers, economists, and others, who are available to assist us in accurately assessing your claim and evaluating supporting evidence. We are not afraid to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies on a client’s behalf.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are various types of spinal cord injuries, which are defined by their severity. These include:

Complete Spinal Cord Injury: This occurs when the spinal cord is completely severed or crushed, resulting in no feeling or movement below the injury site.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: This occurs when the spinal cord is damaged but not completely severed, allowing some movement and sensation below the injury site.
Quadriplegia: This is when all four limbs of the body are rendered unmoving and unfeeling due to a spinal cord injury.
Paraplegia: This is when only the lower half of the body and legs are paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury, typically in the mid to lower back.

Compensation Available to Spinal Cord Injury Survivors

Georgia law allows spinal cord injury survivors to seek various compensation from at-fault parties. These include economic damages, which are made up of financial losses resulting from an accident, and non-economic damages, which are the intangible losses suffered.

Examples of Economic Damages

Past and future medical expenses (hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing care)
Cost of long-term care and personal care attendants
Adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs and assistive technology
Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
Transportation expenses related to medical care
Home and vehicle modification costs

Examples of Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering (past and future)
Loss of enjoyment of life
Mental anguish and emotional distress
Permanent disability and disfigurement
Loss of consortium (available to spouses)

Medical Facilities in Georgia Where Spinal Cord Injuries Are Treated

Georgia is home to some of the most respected spinal cord injury rehabilitation facilities in the nation. Some of these include:

Shepherd Center – Atlanta

Address: 2020 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Consistently ranked among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
152-bed inpatient facility treating approximately 900 spinal cord injury inpatients annually and more than 8,000 outpatients per year.
Services include acute care, rehabilitation, research, and peer support programs.

Emory University Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

Address: 1441 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
56-bed inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facility on the Emory University Hospital campus.
Teaching and research facility offering interdisciplinary care for spinal cord and brain injury.

Rehabilitation Hospital of Augusta

Address: 1355 Independence Drive, Augusta, GA 30901
Significant brain injury rehabilitation program. Also provides spinal cord injury inpatient and outpatient care for adolescents and adults.

Statute of Limitations and Negligence Laws in Georgia

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Georgia is two years from the date of the injury accident (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). There are limited exceptions. A spouse has four years to file a loss of consortium claim after their loved one suffers a spinal cord injury. It’s important to contact a Georgia spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident so they can preserve evidence, investigate the injury scene, and file a claim before the statute of limitations expires.

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence system with a 50% bar rule. This means the injured party can receive financial damages only if they are less than 50% at fault for the injury accident. If the injured person is found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident, they are barred from recovering any financial compensation. (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33)

Support Groups in Georgia for Spinal Cord Injury Survivors and Their Families

The following organizations provide peer support, advocacy, and resources for spinal cord injury survivors and their families in Georgia:

United Spinal Association of Georgia

Services include peer mentoring (in-person and virtual), monthly support group meetings, weekly online game night, and an adaptive video gaming/esports program.
Free membership is open to those with spinal cord injuries, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Shepherd Center — Peer Support Groups (Atlanta)

This group, led by former patients, is the longest-running spinal cord injury support group at Shepherd Center and is open to current and former patients and community members.
The Family and Caregiver Peer Support Group connects family members and caregivers of individuals with spinal cord or brain injuries.
The R.I.S.E. Program (Resilience, Independence, Support, Empowerment) provides peer mentoring for adolescents and young adults ages 13–23 with spinal cord or brain injuries.

Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

Georgia’s only state agency offering dedicated funding and resources for spinal cord injury survivors.
Provides direct grants and connects survivors with state and community resources.

Where Do Spinal Cord Injury Accidents Happen Most Often in Georgia?

Atlanta’s high traffic volume, dense network of highways, and urban roadways put the metro area at heightened risk for the kinds of serious crashes that can cause spinal cord injuries. These injuries commonly tend to occur in the following areas across the state.

Highways and Interstates

A study by MoneyGeek based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) data found that these were the most dangerous roadways in Atlanta:

Moreland Avenue from S. River Industrial Blvd. to Wylie Street
Georgia Highway 85 from I-75 to Springdale Drive
I-285 from the Bouldercrest Road exit to the I-20 interchange
I-285 between the Camp Creek Parkway interchange and the Riverdale Road exit
I-20 from Panola Road to Candler Road

Construction and Workplace Settings

Falls at construction sites remain a significant cause of spinal cord injuries statewide. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, rooftops, and other building structures are common.

Swimming Pools and Recreational Areas

Diving into shallow water in pools, rivers, and lakes leads to spinal cord injuries, particularly during the summer months across Georgia’s large number of recreational parks and lakes.

Rural Highways in Georgia

Single-vehicle crashes and high-speed collisions on rural two-lane highways throughout Georgia also cause spinal cord injuries, often involving roadside hazards and rollover events.

Contact Us To Discuss Your Case In A Free Consultation

At Prieto, DelCampo, Lopez, & Marigliano LLC, our attorneys are committed to providing effective legal representation to clients who have suffered serious spinal cord injuries. We can assess your situation and explain your legal options. Our compassionate and caring team treats clients with respect and understanding.

Call us at +1-404-882-5115 or by email to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.