Spinal cord injuries can be life-changing. When your spinal cord injuries were caused by someone else’s negligent actions, you could be entitled to financial compensation.
Bringing your spinal cord injury case to court and dealing with the insurance company can be intimidating. With an experienced Augusta spinal cord injury lawyer at Barrios & Virguez by your side, you can recuperate from your injuries while we handle the legal details of your case. Schedule your free consultation today to find out what your spinal cord injury claim could be worth.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can take many forms. The ways in which these injuries occur can give your attorney a better understanding of how your accident happened and who could be responsible for causing your injuries.
With that in mind, there are some causes of spinal cord injuries we see more frequently than others. These include vehicle accidents, which involve not only passenger vehicles, but also trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, and pedestrians. Additionally, some of the other main causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Work-related accidents
- Construction accidents
- Factory accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Other premises liability incidents
- Malfunctioning products
- Medical malpractice and negligence
- Birth injuries
- Nursing home abuse
These are only a few of the more common ways in which spinal cord injuries occur. Were you involved in another type of accident that was not listed above? If so, you could still have grounds for a claim. Explore your legal options in greater detail when you reach out to a spinal cord injury lawyer in Augusta for help.
For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving Augusta, call 678-888-2222
Recovering Total Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury Damages
If you hope to recover maximum compensation for your spinal cord injuries, you should be prepared to pursue all avenues. Many injury victims are hesitant to move forward with their case if they believe they have to go to court. Others dread the thought of dealing with a profit-focused insurance company.
However, filing insurance claims and bringing your case to court may be the best way to get the most out of your case. When you have an experienced legal advocate backing you up, you may feel more confident in your decision to pursue your case.
File an Insurance Claim
Filing a claim with the insurance company is one of the most common ways to recover damages following a spinal cord injury. Georgia is a fault state for accidents and insurance purposes. This means when you are injured in an accident, you will file a claim with the liable party’s insurer.
No matter how your accident occurred, the at-fault party will generally have purchased insurance coverage to protect themselves. This might be:
- Auto insurance
- General liability insurance
- Business insurance
- Malpractice insurance
- Renters insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Property insurance
Once you file a claim with the insurance company, you can expect to move forward with negotiations. Do not expect the insurance company to settle your claim fairly. They will lose money by paying out on your claim.
Make sure you have an Augusta spinal cord injury lawyer on your side who will ensure the insurance company does not take advantage of you during this difficult time in your life.
How Insurance Settlements Work
It is important to know how insurance settlements work. Since your payout is dependent on the types and amounts of coverage the liable party purchased, you may find that your insurance settlement does not adequately cover your damages.
Insurance settlements are designed to cover medical expenses and property damages in most cases. They are rarely, if ever, required to compensate spinal cord injury victims for their non-economic damages and a variety of other types of economic damages.
Failure to secure an insurance settlement that covers your damages in full is one of the top reasons spinal cord injury victims find it necessary to file a lawsuit against the liable party. In court, you can recover total compensation for your suffering.
File a Civil Lawsuit
Filing a civil lawsuit for your spinal cord injury may be your best option if your insurance settlement does not cover your damages entirely. Remember, you have the right to be repaid for every loss.
You should not be stuck dealing with the fallout of your injuries if someone else is responsible. At trial, you can recover a variety of damages. Some of the more commonly awarded include:
- Non-economic damages – These might include pain and suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, loss of consortium, skin scarring and disfigurement, and compensation for any other way your life has been affected by your injuries or the accident itself.
- Economic damages – These include your financial losses, including loss of income and diminished earning potential, the cost of higher insurance premiums, remaining medical expenses and property damages, loss of household services, and any other monetary loss.
Augusta Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me 678-888-2222
Statute of Limitations for Augusta Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Under O.C.G.A. §9-3-33, it is critical that you get your spinal cord injury claim filed before the statute of limitations expires. This law allows for a maximum of two years to pass before your right to pursue your case in civil court will run out. If your claim is not filed in time, the court will no longer hear your case.
It is easy to confuse the exact date on which the statute of limitations for your spinal cord injury claim will run out. Does it expire two years from the date of the accident? Will it expire two years from the day you were diagnosed with your spinal cord injury? What if those dates are different? You can get the clarity you need when you contact your Augusta spinal cord injury attorney for help.
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Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Augusta for Help Today
When you have suffered a severe spinal cord injury, you should not be stuck dealing with the ramifications if another party is responsible. Do not let cost stop you from getting legal help. Reach out to an Augusta spinal cord injury attorney at Barrios & Virguez for a no-cost, risk-free consultation today.
Our firm is proud to offer complimentary case reviews to spinal cord injury victims across Augusta and surrounding cities. Claim yours by completing our convenient contact form or calling our office.
Call or text 678-888-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form