East Brainerd Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
The injuries common with a spinal cord injury are severe. Whether the consequences of these injuries last for months or result in life-long complications, it is unfair for an injury victim to shoulder the financial burden of a spinal cord injury alone. Fortunately, a personal injury attorney could help a victim file a lawsuit against the person responsible for their injuries in an effort to collect monetary compensation.
From long-term disability care to overwhelming medical bills, the financial burden a spinal cord injury may result in is often steep. Contact an East Brainerd spinal cord injury lawyer to hold the responsible party accountable for your spinal injuries.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a term for the nerves that travel the length of the backbone. These nerves serve the purpose of controlling body movements and transmitting sensations from the skin to the brain. When these nerves are damaged, the ability to transfer sensations or control body functions could be damaged or lost.
Spinal cord injuries could occur anywhere, but it is worth noting that these injuries occur more frequently in certain situations. While motor vehicle accidents are responsible for more spinal injuries than any other cause, there are a number of factors that could lead to spinal cord damage. These include:
Motor vehicle accidents
According to statistics compiled by the Mayo Clinic, close to 50 percent of all spinal cord injuries are the result of a motor vehicle accident. This should come as no surprise given the potential for devastating impact in a vehicle accident.
Falls
Falls are another frequent cause of spinal trauma. The risks increase tremendously when an injury victim falls and lands headfirst. The odds a fall might result in a spinal injury increase dramatically when alcohol is a factor.
Violence
Acts of violence that target a victim’s head frequently increases the potential for damage to the spine. Not only could a blow from an assault cause an injury, but a subsequent fall from an attack also carries the risk of spinal damage.
Sports and Recreation
An unfortunate reality surrounding many sports and recreational activities is the potential for serious injury. Full contact sports like football carry a significant risk of spinal trauma, while recreational hobbies like mountain climbing present unique risks.
Work Injury
Many worksites carry a significant risk of physical injury. Certain types of injuries on the job like a fall from a scaffolding carry a major risk of spinal injury.
Statute of Limitations
The window to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Tennessee is small. Known as the “statute of limitations”, the limited time to file a lawsuit exists to prevent unnecessary delay in the filing of injury cases. According to Tennessee Statute 28-3-104, a plaintiff must bring a lawsuit involving “injuries to the person” within one year of the date of the injury. At one year, the time limit to file in the State of Tennessee is short. In fact, it is approximately half the length compared to most other states.
A lawsuit filed after the expiration of the statute of limitations would likely face dismissal by the court. All legal deadlines are important, and missing even could be fatal to an injury lawsuit. One benefit of putting your case in the hands of seasoned East Brainerd spinal cord injury attorneys is the ability to leave these deadlines to a legal professional.
Schedule a Consultation with an East Brainerd Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Victims of spinal cord injuries deserve the medical care necessary to improve their quality of life. A victim of an East Brainerd spinal cord injury may be able to recover the compensation necessary to pay for that medical care through a lawsuit against the person responsible for the injury. Contact an East Brainerd spinal cord injury lawyer to get your case started.
