Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Chattanooga, TN
Spinal injuries are often traumatic and life-altering, particularly when severe pain or paralysis result from the damage. When a spinal injury is caused by the actions or negligence of another party, you need to know your legal rights. You and your family may be entitled to compensation.
You need the Chattanooga spinal injury lawyers from Davis Firm, LLC. Attorney Scott Davis is a respected personal injury lawyer with over 15 years of litigation experience, having tried over 200 cases to verdict. Attorney Davis has spent much of his legal career working as a defense lawyer for insurance companies – an experience that gave him a unique insight into how insurance companies fight personal injury claims. He now uses that knowledge to advocate for personal injury victims. A former judge advocates for the U.S. Air Force, Attorney Davis strives to uphold the values of service, integrity, and respect through his practice of law.
Contact Davis Firm, LLC today to learn more about your legal rights and what kind of recovery you may be entitled to.
How Our Chattanooga Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Can Help with Your Case
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, your sole focus should be on your physical recovery and getting back to life normal. If your injury was caused by the negligent acts of someone else, you may not have the time and energy to pursue a legal personal injury claim against that party to obtain recovery for medical expenses, lost income and other losses.
That’s why you need the Chattanooga spinal cord injury lawyers from Davis Firm, LLC. Attorney Scott Davis can take on the burden of investigating your accident, collecting your medical and financial records to calculate your damages, negotiating with insurance companies, and, if necessary, prosecuting your case in court to pursue the recovery you deserve.
Compensation for Victims of Spine Injury Accidents
The monetary damages that the victim of a spine injury may be entitled to receive fall into four basic categories:
- Medical expenses – Past and future hospital bills, doctor’s visits, physical/occupational/speech therapy, and medication all fall under medical expenses.
- Lost income – This includes income you’ve lost while out of work recuperating from your injury, as well as future income if you’re unable to return to work or must return to work part time or to a job with a lower rate of pay.
- Pain and suffering – The pain and suffering you endured as a result of your spinal cord injury.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – An inability to participate in the activities you did before your injury. Depending on marital and family status, loved ones may also have a claim for the loss of an injured family member’s companionship and services to the family.
Contact Davis Firm, LLC today to learn more about the monetary compensation you and your family may be entitled to recover.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal cord injuries have both traumatic and nontraumatic causes. A traumatic blow to the spine can fracture, dislocate, crush, or compress the vertebrae. The spinal cord can be severed by a knife or a gunshot wound. Additional damage can be caused over subsequent days and weeks from bleeding, swelling, inflammation, and fluid buildup in and around the spinal cord.
Common causes of a spinal cord injury include:
- Motor vehicle accidents — The leading cause of spinal cord injuries
- Falls — The cause of more than 15 percent of spinal cord injuries
- Violent encounters, such as assault, stabbing, or gunshot wounds — Acts of violence account for around 12 percent of spinal cord injuries
- Sports or recreational activities — The basis for 10 percent of spinal cord injuries
- Alcohol use — A factor in approximately 1 in 4 spinal cord injuries
- Diseases — Such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and inflammation of the spinal cord can also cause spinal cord injuries
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries often present the following signs or symptoms:
- Extreme back pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
- Loss of movement, or weakness, incoordination, or paralysis
- Numbness, tingling, or loss or altered ability to feel touch, heat, or cold
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
- Changes in sexual function or sensitivity
- Pain or intense stinging sensation
- Difficulty breathing or clearing of secretions from the lung
If you’ve experienced significant trauma to the head or neck, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. The extent and severity of complications and the expected recovery can hinge on getting medical attention quickly.
Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, treatment of spinal cord injuries should begin before a patient is even admitted to the hospital. Emergency medical personnel should immobilize the patient’s spine at the scene if a spinal injury is suspected.
Once admitted to the hospital, victims of spinal cord injuries are often placed in an intensive care unit (ICU). The patient may be placed in traction to bring the spine into proper alignment, while the ICU will monitor the patient’s cardiovascular function and lung function and treat any infections or complications from the injury.
In certain cases, victims of spinal cord injury may undergo surgery to treat a herniated disc, blood clot, or lesion. Surgery may also be required to stabilize the spine to prevent future pain or deformity.
Recovery of physical function depends on the severity of the initial injury. It is unlikely that someone with a complete spinal cord injury will regain function below the level of damage. If there is any improvement in function, it will usually manifest itself after the first few days.
Once stabilized, a patient’s treatment focuses on rehabilitation, using physical and occupational therapy to improve the mobility, fine motor control, and bladder and bowel control to try to give the patient the ability to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Contact the Spinal Injury Lawyers in Chattanooga at Davis Firm, LLC Today
Suffering a spinal cord injury or other serious injuries like fractured sternum, broken bones and brain injury is a life-changing experience. In addition to the burden of physical recovery, a spinal cord injury also can impose serious financial burdens on you and your family.
If you or your loved one’s spinal injury was caused by the careless actions of another party, you need an experienced Chattanooga injury lawyer at Davis Firm, LLC to fight for you. Money can’t undo the trauma of a spinal injury, but it can provide some measure of stability as you and your family adjust to and recover from your injury.
Don’t wait another day to start the process of seeking the financial recovery you deserve. Contact Davis Firm, LLC today by phone or online for a free consultation and claim review.