Spinal cord injuries in the workplace can result in permanent impairments and life-threatening conditions. They can also result in substantial financial losses for workers and their families. If a workplace accident caused your spinal cord injury, you may receive workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, a worker may have a third-party claim for additional damages. An experienced workplace accident attorney can help you file claims seeking workers’ comp benefits and other damages.
At Parsons Law Group, our Georgia workplace injury lawyers have decades of combined experience. Our lead attorney, J. Michael Parsons, has fought for the rights of injured workers for over 27 years. We have a successful track record of recovering the benefits and compensation our clients deserve.
Contact our law office to schedule a consultation with an experienced Georgia spinal cord injury lawyer.
How Our Georgia Workplace Injury Lawyers Help You Recover Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
Thousands of people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Spinal cord injuries are considered catastrophic injuries because the injury can cause a life-long disability. Because of the potential for permanent disability, spinal cord injury claims can be complicated workers’ compensation cases.
Experience matters when you hire a Georgia spinal cord injury lawyer. When you hire our top-rated workplace injury lawyers, you can trust we will:
- Thoroughly investigate your claim to determine who is responsible for causing your spinal cord injury
- Gather evidence proving causation and fault
- Work with leading expert witnesses, including medical specialists, financial professionals, accident reconstructionists, etc.
- Document your damages to assess how much your claim is worth
- Fight allegations of contributory fault and blame
- Handle all matters with the insurance company, including negotiating fair settlements
- Aggressively argue your case in court, if necessary
We understand that you have been through a traumatic experience. Our legal team at Parsons Law Group provides the support and guidance to navigate workers’ compensation and third-party claims.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our Georgia workplace injury attorneys.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in the Workplace in Georgia
Numerous situations could lead to a spinal cord injury at work. Examples of the causes of workplace spinal cord injuries include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Equipment accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Defective products and tools
- Repetitive motions, including twisting and bending
- Lifting heavy objects, overexertion, and improper lifting
- Motor vehicle accidents on the job
- Workplace violence and assaults
- Falling objects
- Lack of safety training and safety protocols
- Failing to use personal protective equipment (PPE)
Spinal cord injuries occur in all types of industries and workplaces. However, some industries may have a higher risk of spinal cord injury because of the work performed or the environment the worker must perform their job. Workers in the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries have a high risk of sustaining a spinal cord injury. Workers in other industries may be at risk of spinal cord injuries, including hospitality and professional services.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury can occur anywhere along the spinal column. The four types of spinal cord injuries are cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injury symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Breathing problems
- Loss of movement
- Pressure or pain in the neck, back, or head
- Unnatural positions of the neck or head
- Changes in or loss of sensation in the feet or hands
- Problems walking
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Changes in sexual function
- Numbness or tingling
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Inability to move a part of the body
Doctors use various diagnostic tools, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. The treatment depends on the severity and type of injury. Prompt medical care can reduce the risk of permanent impairments.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Georgia for a Spinal Cord Injury at Work
Most employers in Georgia are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation provides benefits to injured workers. It is a no-fault system, so workers do not need to prove negligence or other wrongdoing to receive benefits.
Workers’ compensation benefits for a spinal cord injury include:
- Medical Benefits – Payment for reasonable and necessary medical care and treatment for a spinal cord injury caused by a workplace accident. You must choose a doctor from the Panel of Physicians chosen by your employer for workers’ compensation to cover the costs.
- Temporary Disability Income – If you cannot work because of a spinal cord injury, you can receive weekly income benefits to replace some of your wages. Generally, the amount is two-thirds of your average weekly wages.
- Permanent Disability Income – If your spinal cord injury causes a permanent impairment, you may receive permanent disability income. The amount you receive for permanent disability depends on your average weekly wages and the severity of your disability.
Workers’ compensation claims are not always straightforward. The workers’ compensation insurance company or employer may dispute your claim. Our workers’ compensation lawyers can help you with your claim, including appealing denials and taking cases to court if necessary.
Can I Sue a Third Party for a Workplace Spinal Cord Injury?
Georgia personal injury laws allow injured parties to seek compensatory damages for their monetary losses from the party who caused their injury. They can also receive compensation for the suffering caused by their injuries.
Generally, employees covered by workers’ compensation insurance cannot sue their employers for negligence. However, if a third party caused your injury, you could have a third-party personal injury claim.
For example, a defective product caused a workplace accident that resulted in your spinal cord injury. You could sue the manufacturer for a product liability claim. Likewise, if you fall on someone’s property while performing job-related tasks, the property owner could be liable under premises liability laws.
Third-party claims can result in economic damages, including compensation for the total loss of income and other monetary losses. In addition to the financial damages, you can recover compensation for your non-economic damages or pain and suffering damages. Workers’ compensation does not compensate you for pain and suffering damages.
Learning to live with a debilitating spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. Workers often deal with depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems. Extensive counseling is often added to physical treatment to help injured workers adjust to limitations caused by a spinal cord injury.
Contact Our Georgia Workplace Injury Lawyers for More Information
At Parsons Law Group, our legal team handles all aspects of your claim so you can focus on your recovery. Call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our Georgia spinal cord injury lawyers. You deserve to be compensated fairly for the harm and damages you have suffered.