There are many types of serious accidents in Gwinnett County that can lead an accident victim to develop a severe spinal cord injury. Spinal cord damage can result from:
Slip and fall accidents. When an accident victim lands on their back or tailbone in a slip and fall accident, especially on a hard surface like concrete, the accident victim can suffer a spinal cord injury. Slip and fall accidents can occur both indoors and outdoors and often happen when a premises owner fails to ensure that the property is free from spills, defects, and other hazards.
Property owners have a duty to warn about, correct, or repair any known dangerous conditions that exist on their property at a given time. They also have a duty to inspect their properties for potential unknown hazards that might exist, and if there are any, to warn about them or repair them promptly.
Workplace injuries. Many individuals who work in construction and similar industries have to climb ladders, work on top of scaffolds, and use dangerous pieces of equipment. When a worker falls from one of these pieces of equipment, they could sustain a debilitating spinal cord injury. If a worker is injured while completing a job duty, the worker can pursue a claim for benefits through the Georgia workers’ compensation system.
As part of a workers’ compensation claim, the injured work might recover compensatory benefits for all of their medical treatment and bills, a portion of lost wages for missed work time, and permanency benefits, if applicable.
If the worker’s spinal cord injury occurred because of defective equipment or defective parts, the worker could potentially file a third-party claim for damages against the product manufacturer, distributor, or some other person or entity that is in the chain of product distribution.
Car and truck collisions. Serious motor vehicle accidents that occur at high rates of speed and caused by another driver’s negligence can also bring about traumatic injuries, including back and spinal cord injuries. When a motor vehicle driver or passenger is involved in a car collision, their body can snap backward and forward in a very short amount of time. In the worst car accident scenarios, the driver or a passenger can be ejected from the vehicle onto the ground, sustaining a spinal cord or paralysis injury as a result.
Motorcycle, bicycle, and scooter accidents. Motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters are unique in that they offer their operators and riders very little protection in the way of an outer shell or covering. These vehicles leave their riders exposed to the elements and the ground. When a serious traffic accident occurs, there is a strong likelihood that the impact throws the rider from the vehicle onto the ground. Moreover, if the rider lands on their neck or back, there is a good chance that a back or spinal cord injury will result, leading to potential lifelong consequences.
Sports injuries. Sports always come with the risk of injuries, such as pulling a muscle or spraining an ankle while running. However, some injuries happen due to negligence or misconduct, and this can include spinal injuries. In contact sports, there are rules meant to prevent trauma to the spine, though other players might break those rules, and coaches might not enforce the safety rules. This can result in a hit to an athlete that causes spinal injuries.
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of any of these occurrences, then the skilled Gwinnett County spinal cord injury lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can assist you with filing a personal injury claim, personal injury lawsuit, or workers’ compensation claim against the appropriate parties.
