If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, our personal injury attorneys are here to support you. We know the profound impact these types of injuries can have on your career, your relationships, and your life, and we’ll advocate for you as you recover and seek fair compensation.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know you’re not alone. Our firm is here to listen, understand your situation, and take the financial burden of medical bills and lost wages off your shoulders. While you or your loved one focuses on recovery, we protect your rights, guiding you through every step of the legal process with compassion.
Fill out the form to schedule your free consultation with M. Austin Jackson, or call 706-981-9286 for a friendly and informed walkthrough of your legal options.
The spinal cord is a column of nerve tissue that runs from your brain to your lower back. You can think of it as the highway that connects your brain and body. When a spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs, it blocks the highway and disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Spinal cord injuries can cause temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, and bodily functions below the injury site. Injuries range in severity and location, impacting different areas of the body. While a lower back injury might affect the legs and lower body (paraplegia), a neck injury can cause paralysis in all four limbs (quadriplegia).
Some people experience a complete SCI, which results in a complete loss of muscle movement and sensation. Others experience an incomplete SCI and retain some feeling and control of movement below the injury site.
In the U.S., approximately 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur every year. This translates to about 54 cases per one million people. Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, followed by falls.
Our attorneys at M. Austin Jackson will work hard to maximize your compensation and support you on the path to healing. We’ve recovered millions for our neighbors throughout Georgia and South Carolina—but we know that your case isn’t just about getting a payout, it’s about helping you face the future with renewed strength and resilience.
We understand the challenges TBI victims and their loved ones face, and we know how to secure results on their behalf.
We charge our clients nothing until we secure them a financial recovery.
Not only is our practice based in Augusta, GA, but so are we. We live right where our clients are.
If you or a loved one have sustained a spinal cord injury, contact M. Austin Jackson today for a free consultation.
Just as a highway has different regions, so does the spinal cord. The spinal cord has four main sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Each is associated with different types of injuries and can impact diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The prognosis for SCIs depends on many factors, including:
Of course, for your specific injury, your physician will offer the best guidance on your diagnosis and recovery. From a legal perspective, it’s crucial that you stick to your doctor’s documented treatment recommendations, as that can provide crucial evidence of your injury and strengthen your case later on.
Seeking medical attention immediately following a spinal cord injury is imperative, even if your symptoms seem mild. Delaying treatment can negatively impact the outcome of your injury and treatment.
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms to look out for:
Symptoms may appear immediately or evolve over time as spinal shock subsides. This is why you should treat any spinal injury as a medical emergency that requires immediate professional evaluation and care.
An SCI occurs when the spinal cord sustains trauma. Some of the most common causes include:
Depending on your age and where you live, certain types of SCIs may be more common. For example, falls are the leading cause of SCIs in people over 65 years old. After age 45, falls overtake motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of injury.
If you’re unsure whether you have a spinal cord injury claim, contact M. Austin Jackson. Our experienced Augusta attorneys can help you carefully evaluate your options and determine what damages you may be able to pursue.
In a car accident, evidence like traffic camera footage or police reports often clearly points to a negligent driver. However, incidents like slip and falls or sports injuries can be more complicated. These cases may involve factors like poor property maintenance, equipment malfunction, or the inherent risks of the activity.
Establishing liability requires careful investigation and legal expertise to build a strong case. You’ll need to demonstrate the four elements of negligence:
You must show the defendant owed you a duty of care (e.g. driving the speed limit or maintaining a sidewalk).
Demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care through negligence or carelessness (e.g. by speeding or failing to upkeep sidewalks)
Prove the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused your spinal cord injury.
Document the extent of your injuries and losses resulting from the spinal cord injury. This documentation may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
M. Austin Jackson and his team have represented many of our Georgia and South Carolina neighbors who’ve suffered life-altering spinal cord injuries. Inspired by their strength and resilience, our team works tirelessly to advocate for a full and fair recovery. M. Austin Jackson has recovered millions in damages, handling some of the most complex cases, and we’re here to do the same for you.
A spinal cord injury can cause severe and lasting pain. Some victims regain use and mobility in their bodies, but even in the best circumstances, the road to recovery can be long and costly. Given the severity of SCIs, compensation for these injuries is often higher.
If you or a family member sustained a spinal cord injury in Georgia or South Carolina, you may be able to recover damages for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include anything that’s quantifiable, for example:
Non-economic damages are harder to quantify, but equally important:
In some cases, you may also be able to recover punitive damages. These damages are awarded in cases of gross negligence where the wrongdoer was reckless or careless.
Our personal injury lawyers will carefully review your case to ensure that your payout reflects the full extent of your damages—not just the obvious ones.
Austin is your Aiken-Augusta neighbor and dedicated advocate. A lifelong Augusta resident, Austin established his firm over a decade ago to provide unwavering legal support to those facing life-changing injuries in Georgia and South Carolina.
We believe in transparency and accessibility. It’s why you’ll often speak directly with Austin about your case. Austin’s relentless pursuit of justice has resulted in millions recovered for clients facing complex challenges from their injuries.
Since 2013, M. Austin Jackson has been helping his injured neighbors throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
When medical bills pile up and lost wages take a toll on your financial wellness, you need a local attorney on your side. Here are just a few of the ways we support our clients through a difficult time:
Most importantly, you should select an attorney who specializes in spinal cord injury cases. Attorneys with general personal injury law experience may not know how to properly assess SCI cases and build a rock-solid case. Ask the attorney how many spinal cord injury cases they’ve handled and how many they’ve successfully settled.
Your attorney should also have in-depth knowledge about the types of spinal cord injuries. The better they understand the treatments and short-term impacts, the better they can accurately gauge damages.
Trust your gut. If an attorney doesn’t take the time to listen to your story, they likely aren’t a good fit. Your attorney should make your case a top priority and be responsive to your needs.
In working with a local Augusta attorney like M. Austin Jackson, you’ll have a legal advocate on your side who knows the Aiken-Augusta community. We’re only a phone call or a quick drive away.
Spinal cord injuries are classified based on the location of the injury on the spinal cord and whether the SCI is complete or incomplete.
The four types of spinal cord injuries include:
Cervical injuries involving the C1-C4 generally result in greater medical costs, long-term care needs, and loss of independence, which leads to higher compensation amounts. Complete injuries that cause total loss of function below the injury site often result in more substantial compensation because of the permanence of the disability.
In Georgia, you must file your spinal cord injury claim within two years from the date of the accident or injury. In South Carolina, those injured have up to three years to file an SCI claim within the statute of limitations.
While there are a few exceptions to the rule, it’s always in your best interest to file a claim—and consult with an experienced attorney—as soon as you can.
Spinal cord injuries are often more severe than other types of personal injury cases. Individuals who’ve experienced a spinal cord injury may require extensive medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, and lifelong care. SCIs can result in a permanent disability that causes loss of income and significant lifestyle changes.
As a result, spinal cord injury lawsuits require more specialized legal experience. Insurers use different methodologies to calculate compensation, and you need a trained SCI attorney who can negotiate a fair settlement, or alternatively take a case to trial.
Recovery from a spinal cord injury varies depending on the circumstances of the injury. Most significant recovery occurs within three to six months after an injury. This is when the central nervous system has a heightened state of neuroplasticity, facilitating the repair of neural connections.
The first year after an injury is critical—in the first 12 to 18 months after an injury, many patients experience a plateau in spontaneous recovery. Long-term recovery and rehabilitation may continue for many years.
The costs of healing and recovery following an SCI are monumental. We understand the stress these costs can put on you and your loved ones. Fortunately, you have options to help ease the burden.
Medicaid is generally the primary source of coverage for long-term care. It covers expenses such as in-home care, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living care. To qualify, you typically need to have limited assets and income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is another option. While it doesn’t cover long-term care, it offers a monthly income to offset long-term care costs.
Some other options to consider:
As your local attorney, we’ll help you explore your options. M. Austin Jackson specializes in SCI cases and has recovered millions for his injured Georgia and South Carolina neighbors. We’ll build a case to recover the maximum damages for your injuries so you don’t have to lose sleep over mounting medical bills and care costs.
Your story matters to us, and we’ll do everything we can to support you along your journey to recovery. Reach out to M. Austin Jackson for local, compassionate legal representation with a personal touch.