Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Nashville

An accident that damages the spinal cord may result in paralysis, limited mobility, chronic pain, and the need for extensive medical treatment. When someone else’s negligence causes a spinal cord injury, an experienced Nashville spinal cord injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and potential options for pursuing compensation.

At Wettermark Keith, our attorneys understand that the effects of a spinal cord injury can continue long after an accident occurs. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we have the knowledge and resources to pursue compensation for the losses you and your family have suffered. Schedule a free case review with a Nashville personal injury lawyer today.

How Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Serving Nashville Can Help

Spinal cord injuries can happen in many types of accidents, including motor vehicle collisions, falls, workplace incidents, and other preventable events. Depending on what caused the injury, an individual, business, property owner, employer, or another party may potentially be responsible.

Our attorneys will begin by examining the circumstances surrounding the accident. We’ll work to determine how the injury occurred, identify potentially liable parties, and gather evidence supporting your claim. An attorney can work to document how your injury has affected your life, both now and in the future. 

Our lawyers can also handle communications with insurance companies and opposing parties on your behalf. We will work toward a resolution that accounts for the full scope of your losses. If the parties cannot reach a fair settlement, our Nashville spinal cord injury attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial.

Tennessee Time Limits for Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Tennessee generally gives injured individuals one year from the date of an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, per Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you fail to file a lawsuit within the applicable period, you may lose your ability to pursue the claim.

However, exceptions may apply to your case that affect when a claim must be filed or impose additional requirements before a lawsuit can proceed. Claims involving government entities, for example, can involve different procedures and shorter deadlines. Special considerations may also apply when a minor is injured.

Speaking with a Nashville spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as reasonably possible can help you identify the deadlines applicable to your circumstances. An attorney can also determine what evidence may be necessary, identify potentially responsible parties, and take steps to protect your ability to pursue compensation.

Establishing Negligence in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

To successfully pursue compensation in many spinal cord injury claims, you generally must establish that another party acted negligently and that this negligence caused your injury and resulting losses. The evidence needed to establish these elements will depend on the facts of the accident.

Our legal team will investigate and collect evidence such as:

• Accident reports and reconstruction findings
• Medical records, imaging, and diagnostic testing
• Statements from eyewitnesses
• Photographs and surveillance footage
• Vehicle, property, or equipment records
• Applicable safety rules and regulations
• Testimony from medical professionals
• Evidence concerning your employment and earning capacity
• Documentation of rehabilitation and future care needs

After suffering a spinal cord injury, the insurance company may attempt to dispute liability or argue that you were partially responsible for the accident. Our attorneys will work to anticipate these arguments and develop evidence that supports the severity and long-term consequences of your injury.

Tennessee uses a modified comparative negligence system. In general, an injured person’s recovery may be reduced based on their percentage of fault. However, a plaintiff who is found to be 50% or more at fault generally cannot recover damages.

Because assigning fault can have a major effect on a claim, insurance companies may have an incentive to shift responsibility onto an injured person. A Nashville spinal cord injury attorney from Wettermark Keith can communicate with the insurer, investigate the evidence, and challenge attempts to unfairly place blame on you.

Compensation Available in Nashville Spinal Cord Injury Cases

The damages you can recover after a spinal cord injury depend on the circumstances of the accident and the nature of your injuries. Spinal cord damage can range from temporary symptoms to permanent paralysis, and the costs associated with treatment and long-term care can vary significantly.

A claim may seek compensation for financial losses, as well as the physical and emotional effects of the injury. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical costs
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning ability
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Home or vehicle modifications
• Loss of independence
• Reduced quality of life

Punitive Damages

Some cases may involve conduct that is sufficiently egregious to support a claim for punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to address an injury victim’s losses, punitive damages are designed to punish particularly wrongful conduct and discourage similar behavior.

Punitive damages are not available in every Tennessee personal injury case. Whether they may be pursued depends on the specific circumstances and the requirements of Tennessee law.

Finding a Nashville Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me

A spinal cord injury can affect virtually every area of your life. If another party’s negligence caused your injury, you may have the right to seek compensation for these losses. Wettermark Keith has recovered more than $1.5 billion for clients. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to pursue compensation based on the circumstances of your case.

You do not have to handle the legal process alone while dealing with the consequences of a spinal cord injury. Contact our firm today for a free case evaluation with a Nashville spinal cord injury lawyer. We can listen to what happened, explain your potential legal options, and discuss the steps that may help protect your interests and your future.