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While any injury in an accident can be severe, it is especially catastrophic when trauma occurs to your back. A damaged spinal cord can result in body function becoming impaired, resulting in partial or full paralysis. Oftentimes, these injuries are permanent.
If you are involved in an accident caused by someone else’s reckless act, and you suffered blunt force trauma to your spine, a Murfreesboro spinal cord injury lawyer could help. A seasoned injury attorney could help you seek compensation for the losses you have suffered.
Vehicle and motorcycle collisions cause more spinal cord injuries than any other accident. However, many incidents can cause trauma to the neck and back, such as severe falls, acts of violence, sports injuries, or surgical errors.
It is imperative for someone who suffers severe harm to their back to seek prompt medical care. Medical professionals must first pinpoint where the damage occurred along the spinal cord, as well as determine the completeness of the spine injury.
While an incomplete spine injury can allow the injured party some function and mobility below the injury, that is not the case for a complete spinal cord injury. A complete spinal cord injury results in the individual becoming paralyzed. This paralysis can affect their whole body or only certain limbs. A Murfreesboro attorney could take into consideration the future implications of a spinal cord injury when seeking compensation on behalf of the injured claimant.
Tennessee law allows people who suffer severe harm due to the negligence of another seek financial compensation from the responsible party. A local lawyer representing someone who suffered spinal cord damage could seek compensatory damages and may be able to make an argument for punitive damages in order to punish a wrongdoer whose actions are malicious, intentional, fraudulent, or reckless, as per Tennessee Code § 29-39-104.
Compensatory damages include both economic and non-economic compensation. Economic damages are easily measured and include financial losses, such as lost wages and the cost of medical care. Non-economic damages are subjective and determined by the jury to compensate a claimant for pain and suffering, loss of the enjoyment of life, and mental anguish.
Punitive damages are capped in Tennessee at two times the amount of compensatory damages the jury awards or $500,000, whichever is more. However, conditions negating the cap include a defendant who intentionally set out to harm a plaintiff. A hardworking lawyer in the area could explain if punitive damages are available to a person who sustained a spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injuries can drastically change your life. If someone else’s reckless or careless actions caused you to suffer damage to the spine, state law allows you to seek legal restitution.
A Murfreesboro spinal cord injury lawyer at our firm could help you. Our legal staff could assess your case and design a personalized claim for the compensation you deserve. Call today to schedule a consultation.