If you are a victim of a spinal cord injury, then you know how devastating they can be. At their most serious, they can damage the ability to think, walk, use limbs, speak, take care of everyday needs, and truly live your life. Additionally, they can impact your ability to work, leaving you seemingly helpless as you face exorbitant costs, including mounting medical and rehabilitation bills and long-term care. The most serious of spinal injuries may lead to death.
Unfortunately, many spinal injuries are the result of the negligent actions or inactions of another person or organization. If this was the case in your accident, you may be able to recover damages in a personal injury lawsuit. The best way to do this is to contact a spinal cord injury lawyer in Atlanta.
Of course, no amount of money can adequately compensate you for the extreme pain and suffering you have had to endure, but a financial settlement can help you manage the aftermath. The money you receive can reimburse you for your medical expenses, pay for ongoing rehabilitation and care, and compensate you for pain and suffering. Spinal injury settlements help protect the future for both you and your family.
Most spinal injury cases are challenging to win. Georgia personal injury laws are complicated, and negotiating mistakes can be costly. It is important to understand that insurance companies are represented by high-powered, experienced lawyers whose goals are to convince you to settle for as little as possible. Many will offer to settle quickly.
Accepting these fast offers can be a terrible mistake. These settlements often will not appropriately compensate you for all you have lost and will ultimately leave your financial future in a perilous position.
You should not accept any settlement offers, or even engage with an insurance company representative, without consulting a spinal cord injury attorney.
Fortunately, the Atlanta injury attorneys at The Stoddard Firm know the tactics insurers use; we understand the courts and the system and how to fight to get you just compensation for your injuries.
Our Atlanta team offers a free no-cost consultation so we can learn more about your specific situation and explain how we would best support you. Additionally, we work on a contingency fee basis — unless we win, we don’t get paid. Our fee would be a predetermined percentage of the settlement. Contact us today at 470-467-2200 and learn how we can help you.
Our Atlanta Spinal Injury Attorney Works for You
Why Choose Us
Spinal cord injury cases are typically extremely complicated, and hiring the right attorney can make a very real difference in your settlement. The Stoddard Firm is your best choice because of our . . .
Experience: Attorney Matthew Stoddard began his career defending corporate interests; he knows how corporations and their attorneys operate and is fully prepared to oppose them. He has represented people harmed by the negligence of others since 2011.
Proven Success: We get results, such as the $24,500,000.00 verdict for a woman burned in a lypogenic massage or the $15,950,000 verdict for a young man who lost his eye. You can read our client testimonials to find out more.
Abilities: We are skilled negotiators who often reach appropriate settlements without having to go to trial.
Size and Structure: We intentionally keep our firm small and personal so we can provide great customer service; we are available 24/7 for client emergencies.
Reputation: Mr. Stoddard leads continuing education seminars for other attorneys, and some of our firm’s high-profile trials have been featured on Courtroom Viewing Network.
Resources: We have a skilled legal team including investigators and expert witnesses to testify for our clients in lawsuits with large medical institutions and insurance companies
Fee Structure: We offer free initial consultations to better understand you, your accident and your losses. Additionally, we work on a contingency basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we win your case.
Our firm’s name is synonymous with quality personal injury services. Not only are we well-versed in Georgia personal injury law, but we also have extensive experience dealing with local insurance companies and the Atlanta, GA brain injury law firm court system. We bring the whole package to all of our clients.
How We Can Help You
The tasks associated with filing a personal injury lawsuit in Atlanta are complicated and time consuming. This is not a road you should travel on your own. Engage an Atlanta spine injury attorney to help protect your best interests.
When you hire The Stoddard Firm, we will get to work for you immediately. We will:
Meet with you to discuss how your injuries occurred, understand the extent to which they affect your life, determine whether you have a valid case, and estimate what a fair settlement might be
Ensure that you have accurately documented all of your symptoms and that you are working with the right medical professionals
Investigate the accident to identify the at-fault parties and gather evidence from a broad range of sources including photos and videos, police reports and medical documentation
Interview eyewitnesses and first responders
Hire experts to reconstruct the accident and testify as to fault, as well as those who can testify as to how your injuries affect your life now and in the future. They will also be able to offer cost projections and what your costs are likely to be as time passes.
File all required paperwork and make court appearances in a timely manner
Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement
Build your case and take it to trial if necessary.
We handle everything from beginning to end, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery. Call us today at 470-467-2200 to get started while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found.
Proving Negligence Is the Key to Winning Your Case
Our Back Injury Lawyers in Atlanta Know What to Do
Simply experiencing a back injury is not enough to win a personal injury lawsuit. In order to be successful, our spinal injury attorneys need to show that another party, the defendant in the case, was negligent and at fault for causing your injuries. To do this, we would gather evidence, utilize investigators and expert witnesses, and build a case to demonstrate the following elements:
Duty: The defendant had a duty of care not to cause harm.
Breach: The defendant breached this duty by acting or failing to act.
Cause: This wrongful act, neglect, or default caused the accident that led to your injuries.
Damages: You suffered damages as a result.
The circumstances surrounding your accident determine who can be held liable.
You are not limited to identifying one responsible party.
In fact, in many cases, multiple parties could be at fault. Since each of them may have insurance and assets to go toward a settlement, our attorneys would name them all as defendants in the case.
Our Goal Is to Obtain Compensation for All of Your Losses
Understanding Personal Injury Damages in Georgia
If your spinal cord injury was the result of another person or entity’s negligent action or inaction, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Your Atlanta spinal cord injury attorney will work closely with you, leveraging the full resources of our firm to accurately calculate and substantiate your damages, important steps in helping you get the settlement you so desperately need. You only have one opportunity to get an appropriate settlement, it is critical that we make sure your settlement requests accurately represent all your losses — past, present and future.
In personal injury cases in Georgia damages are divided into three segments: economic, non-economic and punitive. Economic damages are quantifiable. They may include:
Medical, rehabilitation, and continuing care costs
Wage losses, past and future
Costs to modify a home or vehicle to accommodate a disability
Property damage from the accident.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, can be more challenging to determine. How can you assign a dollar value to something like pain and suffering? However, these losses are very real, and should be accounted for with regard to compensation. Other non-economic damages include:
Permanent disability and disfigurement
Emotional distress and mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life, companionship, and consortium.
Finally, in some cases punitive damages may also be awarded. These are assessed only rarely, when the negligent actions were extraordinary or purposeful. Punitive damages are designed as a punishment to the responsible parties and a deterrent to others who may exhibit similar actions in the future.
Damage Award Amounts
There is a broad range of damages that can be awarded for spinal injuries, based on the circumstances of your injuries and the specific case. Since spinal injuries can be so catastrophic and even cause death, some awards can reach the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, and juries tend to be sympathetic. Factors that will be considered in determining damage award amounts include:
the extent, severity, and permanence of your injuries
whether you need continuing care
the costs involved
whether you can go back to work and what your earning potential would have been
your age and family situation
whether the injuries led to death
the skill of your attorney to negotiate with insurance and argue your case in court.
Our team is well-versed in personal injury law and experienced in handling spinal injury cases. We will leverage the resources of our entire firm and work tirelessly on your behalf to maximize your settlement.
Atlanta Back Injury Lawyers Address Your Most Common Concerns
After a serious back injury, it’s natural to have questions and concerns. While these are best addressed at your free consultation, to get you started here are some answers to questions our attorneys are often asked:
Are there time limits for filing?
Yes, in Georgia the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is generally two years from the time the injury was suffered. If you miss this deadline, the courts are likely to refuse to hear your case. However, there are exceptions that might change the amount of time allowed, and in some cases the time can be as little as six month or as great as eight years, so consult with your Atlanta back injury lawyer to see how this applies to you.
How long will my back injury case take?
The length of time it takes to resolve a back injury case can vary from a few months to a few years. In general, cases that are relatively simple or that can be resolved through negotiation take less time than those that go to court or are complicated. It’s always best to talk to a spinal injury lawyer as soon as possible, as sometimes waiting to file a claim can affect your ability to get adequate compensation.
Should I speak to insurance companies?
No, the less you say to insurance companies the better. Insurance companies are out for profit and want to pay out as little as possible. They may use tactics such as getting you to accept a quick settlement for less than your case is worth or trying to get you to admit something that indicates you were at fault for your injuries. Tell the insurance company to speak to your attorney and let The Stoddard Firm back injury lawyers handle all dealings and negotiations with insurance companies.
What if a loved one died from a spinal cord injury?
If a family member has died from a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, fault, or reckless action, we can help you pursue a lawsuit for wrongful death. According to Georgia’s Wrongful Death Act the surviving spouse or child of the person who died can make a claim for compensation for:
the person’s pain and suffering and medical expenses leading up to the death
funeral expenses
loss of future earnings
loss of companionship, comfort, and guidance from the deceased.
At The Stoddard Firm, we have wrongful death attorneys to help you pursue your claim.
How much does it cost to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer?
The good news is that it costs nothing up front to hire our Stoddard spinal cord injury lawyers. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and there are no fees to you unless and until we win a settlement for you. At that time, costs are taken out of the award.
At The Stoddard Firm, we will be there to answer your questions and address your concerns throughout the entire legal process. Call us today at 470-467-2200 to get started.
Call Our Atlanta Spinal Injury Attorneys for Help
The Stoddard Firm Is Ready to Go to Work for You Today
After a catastrophic spinal injury, your priority should be focusing on your recovery. In the end, your health and well-being are most important. That said, medical care is costly and your life may be irreparably altered, resulting in additional financial implications. A personal injury suit may help you address these issues. Reaching out to experienced Atlanta spine injury lawyers, as soon as possible, is a wise decision. These professionals can help determine if you have a viable case and tell you what forms of compensation may be available.
The team at The Stoddard Firm has an outstanding reputation for successfully managing spinal injury cases.
We are known for our compassionate approach to client service, our exceptional legal knowledge and our successful results.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury of any kind, please call us at 470-467-2200 to schedule a free and confidential initial consultation to discuss your individual situation. Reach out to us at The Stoddard Firm today to learn more about how we can help you.
Attorney Matt Stoddard
Matt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ Attorney Bio ]
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You’re going about your day, trying to get to work, or back home, or wherever your current destination might be. Maybe you’re checking your email, or thinking through your to-do list. Your commute is so routine that it barely demands any attention.
But then, every so often, you glance over the edge of the platform while waiting for your train, and you realize how easy it would be to slip and...
Matt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ 
