Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injuries are among the most permanently debilitating injuries we can suffer. From numbness to complete paralysis, spinal cord injuries can affect victims for the rest of their lives, and their families face severe financial and emotional distress while caring for them.

At the Brain Injury Law Center, we are recognized across the nation as leaders in brain and spinal cord injury cases. We strive to get our clients the compensation they need to move on the best they can in life.

Led by internationally recognized trial lawyer Stephen M. Smith, our team focuses specifically on severe neurological and spinal harm. As a leading firm in brain injury litigation, we have recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us online or by calling (757) 244-7000 to learn how a spinal cord injury lawyer can help you.

“Excellent law firm. The staff was courteous and professional. The attorney who handled my case was truly top notch. I strongly recommend the Brain Injury Law Center for your personal injury case.”
- Daniel W. | Client

Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord, which can have a wide range of impacts. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves within the spinal column or backbone. These nerves carry messages between the brain and the body. Damage to these nerves can result in full or partial loss of motor control and sensation, called paralysis.

Spinal cord injuries can leave victims paralyzed in the lower parts of the body. These victims are known as paraplegics. A person who is paralyzed in all four limbs is a quadriplegic. Paralysis is typically permanent, and it is a life-changing injury.

Because the spinal cord is responsible for a range of bodily functions like breathing, body temperature, bladder, and sexual functioning, accident victims can suffer a broad range of permanent and serious health problems.

A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time, but there are certain risk factors that make some groups more vulnerable to these life-changing injuries than others.

For instance, men are at higher risk of suffering a spinal cord injury. In fact, recent data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) shows that roughly 78% of spinal cord injury patients are men.

Also, the majority of spinal injuries occur in early- to mid-adulthood. In the 1970s, the average age at injury was 29 years. However, data shows that the average age at injury has risen to nearly 43 years.

That said, the elderly are also at risk for spinal cord injury due to falls. In the United States, over 14 million, or one in four, adults ages 65 and older report falling each year, significantly increasing the chance of the elderly experiencing a spinal cord injury. Furthermore, seniors are more likely to have a pre-existing condition, such as arthritis or osteoporosis, which can increase the risk of a spinal cord injury should a slip or fall occur.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are typically the result of a traumatic injury or serious impact to the spine, causing the fragile nerves encased in the vertebrae to be stretched, torn, or ruptured in some way. Oftentimes, spinal cord injuries can result from someone else’s negligence, meaning that a person’s reckless or intentional actions caused your injury. Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car crashes, truck accidents, or motorcycle wrecks can cause serious spinal cord injuries, especially when there’s a violent impact or if the person is thrown from the vehicle. These accidents are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries, and many happen because of someone else’s carelessness, like speeding or distracted driving.
• Falls: Slips, trips, and falls are extremely dangerous and can lead to spinal injuries. When a property owner or workplace fails to maintain safe conditions, you may be able to take legal action. ‍
• Recreational Sports Activities: Heavy contact sports, like football, may involve frequent, high-impact collisions or repeated hits to the head and neck, which can increase the risk of spinal cord injuries over time, especially if proper safety protocols aren't followed.‍
• Medical Malpractice: Unfortunately, doctors and other medical professionals make mistakes, and those errors can lead to devastating spinal cord injuries. Whether it’s a surgical error or a misdiagnosis, if medical negligence took place, you could be eligible for a spinal cord injury lawsuit.‍
• Acts of Violence: Violent acts, like shootings or physical assaults, can result in direct injury to the spine. ‍
• Defective Products: A defective medical device can also lead to spinal cord injuries.

When a spinal cord injury occurs because of someone else’s carelessness, there is an extra layer of frustration and betrayal. Knowing your life was upended by a preventable mistake can make the experience feel even more unfair.

You may be worrying about your future and what your life will be like going forward. In moments like these, a spinal cord injury lawyer can walk you through your rights after an accident and give you much-needed clarity on steps forward so you can start rebuilding your life.

Thousands of Americans suffer spinal cord injuries every year. The following statistics give a quick overall picture of spinal cord injuries in the U.S.:

       
• It’s estimated that around 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States.
• Globally, over 15 million people are living with a spinal cord injury.
• There are approximately 305,000 people currently living in the U.S. with an SCI.
• Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries, followed by falls.
• Spinal cord injuries are the second leading cause of paralysis in Americans.
• People with spinal cord injuries are at a higher risk of developing secondary health problems that can be life-threatening and may shorten their life.

Symptoms of spinal cord injuries are sometimes detected immediately following the injury, but it may take days or even months for the scale of the injury to become clear. Symptoms can include:

• Loss of feeling
• Difficulty moving
• Breathing problems
• Pain
• Weakness in muscles
• Spastic muscles
• Heart rate problems
• High or low blood pressure
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Sexual dysfunction
• Digestive problems

If you’ve been in an accident and notice any of these signs, it’s critical to see a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment can make a huge difference in your recovery and overall well-being. Even if the symptoms don’t seem as serious at first, things can quickly change.

Once you’re able to, you should get in touch with a spinal cord injury law firm. They can investigate how the accident led to your injuries and whether you might be able to receive financial support through a claim to help with medical costs, rehabilitation, and other expenses.

The seriousness of a spinal cord injury will determine the appropriate treatment, as well as what sort of compensation you may be able to obtain by hiring an attorney and filing a lawsuit. Spinal cord damage is broadly grouped into two severity levels:

• Complete: The injured person has lost almost all sensory feeling and ability to control movement below the point of injury.
• Incomplete: A person with this category of injury will have some sensory or motor function below the areas affected by the injury.

Beyond these overall levels, medical professionals classify injuries based on the exact spot along the spine where the damage occurred:

• Cervical Spine Injuries: These happen in the neck area (vertebrae C1 through C8). Cervical injuries are usually the most severe because they affect the body from the neck down. They often lead to tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia), which limits movement in all four limbs and the torso.
• Thoracic Spine Injuries: These affect the upper and mid-back (vertebrae T1 through T12). Damage here usually affects the chest and stomach muscles, as well as the legs, often resulting in paraplegia.
• Lumbar Spine Injuries: These occur in the lower back (vertebrae L1 through L5). Injuries to this area generally affect the hips and legs, meaning individuals may need braces or a wheelchair to get around.
• Sacral Spine Injuries: These affect the very bottom of the spine (vertebrae S1 through S5). Damage here mainly impacts the hips, back of the legs, and pelvic organs, though many individuals are still able to walk.

Treatment of spinal cord injury can include a combination of surgery, medication, and ongoing care. The process is often lengthy and proves to be physically and emotionally draining. One of the most essential parts of recovery is physical therapy.

Spinal cord injury treatment is divided into two stages: acute and rehabilitation. Acute is the phase that begins at the time of injury and lasts until the person is stable enough to proceed to the next stage. During the acute stage, doctors focus on preventing further damage and addressing any potentially life-threatening issues.

Next, the rehabilitation phase begins, as the stabilized person is ready to begin working toward independence, focusing on regaining as much function as possible and learning to adapt to new limitations.

The reality is the road to recovery can be long and expensive. It places suffering on victims and their families that they don’t deserve. The financial strain, combined with the heavy mental and physical toll, can be overwhelming.

However, a spinal cord injury attorney can fight tirelessly to ensure you get the compensation you need to access any and all resources needed to assist you in your recovery and adjusting to life after your injury. Contact the Brain Injury Law Center today online or by calling (757) 244-7000 to learn how we can set you on the path toward a more certain and brighter future.

You can file a legal claim if your injury was caused by another person or business acting carelessly or dangerously. In legal terms, this is known as negligence.

Depending on how your injury happened, you may be able to sue several different parties, including:

• Careless Drivers: If a motorist caused a crash by speeding, texting, or driving under the influence.
• Property or Business Owners: If a shop, hotel, apartment complex, or government entity failed to fix broken railings, clean up spills, or maintain safe grounds.
• Medical Professionals: If a doctor, surgeon, or hospital made a preventable medical mistake.
• Product Manufacturers: If a defective auto part, broken tool, or unsafe product led to your injury.

To build a successful case against any responsible party, a spinal cord injury attorney must prove four main points:

1. Duty of Care: The other party had a responsibility to act safely. For instance, drivers must obey traffic laws, store owners must fix slippery floors, and doctors must follow proper medical guidelines.
2. Breach of Duty: That person or entity failed to live up to their safety responsibility. This could mean a driver was texting, a landlord ignored a broken railing, or a surgeon made an avoidable mistake.
3. Causation: That specific mistake directly caused your spinal injury. It is not enough that someone was careless; their exact action or lack of action must be what hurt your spine.
4. Real Damages: You suffered actual losses as a result, such as medical bills, lost wages from missed work, or physical pain.

With your health and future at stake, having your spinal cord injury case in the hands of a capable and reliable legal team can be a massive relief. An experienced spinal cord injury lawyer will do everything in their power to investigate the cause of your injury, gather evidence, and build a strong case to support your claim. Here’s what a lawyer can take care of so you don’t have to:

• Investigating the Root Cause of Your Injuries: Your lawyer will gather important details about the accident, whether it was a car crash, a fall, or a workplace injury, to show how the incident led to your spinal cord injury. They’ll speak with witnesses, review footage, and more to establish who is at fault and if negligence played a role in your injury.
• Filing All Legal Documents: A lawyer will handle all of the paperwork, deadlines, and steps in the legal process, which alleviates the pressure on you as you focus on your recovery.
• Working With Medical Professionals: Your lawyer will work with medical professionals to understand the full extent of your injuries and long-term needs. This includes expenses for surgeries, rehabilitation, and any ongoing care you might need to determine the fair value of your claim.
• Dealing With the Other Side’s Defense: Insurance companies or the other side’s legal team may try to offer you a fast and low settlement, but a lawyer will know when they are trying to take advantage of you. An attorney will negotiate to get the costs to accurately cover what you’ve been through.
• Fighting for You in Court: If the other side won’t agree to meet you at a fair settlement, then your legal team will be ready and able to defend your rights in court.

A lawyer with a background in spinal cord injuries knows the obstacles and challenges that lie ahead. That’s why they’re not just focused on your immediate needs, but they’ll also consider future care, modifications to your home, therapy, and more.

Having a lawyer on your side could be the difference between being financially secure and not having the proper compensation to fund your recovery and care. For example, a Martindale-Nolo study found that more than nine out of ten people with legal representation received a settlement or award, compared to just about half of those who tried to handle their own injury claims.

Insurance adjusters rely on standard formulas and quick payout limits, but spinal damage defies easy estimation. When an insurance company claims your injury was pre-existing or downplays what your ongoing care will cost, medical and financial evidence must prove otherwise.

A spinal cord injury attorney works alongside respected specialists to demonstrate the true lifetime impact of your injury:

• Medical Specialists and Neurosurgeons: These doctors explain the physical mechanics of your injury to a jury or insurance adjuster, proving how the accident caused the harm and why it cannot be reversed.
• Life Care Planners: A life care planner is an expert who calculates every single item you will need for the rest of your life. This includes wheelchair replacements, home renovations for ramp access, prescription drugs, in-home nursing care, and physical therapy sessions.
• Economists: Once a life care planner lays out your future medical needs, an economist calculates what those goods and services will cost decades into the future, adjusting for inflation to ensure you do not run out of funds.
• Accident Reconstructionists: These experts use physical evidence, vehicle damage, and computer modeling to prove exactly how the crash or fall happened and why the other party was at fault.

An experienced spinal cord injury attorney may be able to recover the following damages:

• Past and Future Medical Bills: This can include reimbursement for all medical costs resulting from the injury, including hospital bills, ambulance rides, prescription drugs, doctor visits, and rehabilitation, as well as any future medical expenses.
• Lost Wages: Compensation may cover not only the wages you lost while recovering but also any future loss of earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work or limits your career opportunities. This includes both immediate time away from work and long-term impacts on your income.
• Pain and Suffering: Losing the ability to live your life as you once did due to a spinal cord injury can cause immense lasting physical and emotional pain. Compensation for pain and suffering helps address the ongoing distress, discomfort, and mental anguish that comes with adjusting to a new way of life, including anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment.
• Wrongful Death: When a spinal cord injury results in death, the victim’s family may be able to sue the negligent party. In these cases, the family may be eligible for damages based on their pain and suffering, funeral and burial expenses, and money to ease the financial burden left by their loved one’s absence.

To make sure you are in the best position to get what you need to move forward in life, contact the Brain Injury Law Center today. We have a nationwide reputation for our handling of brain and spinal injury cases. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact our spinal cord injury attorney online or by calling us at (757) 244-7000. Consultations are always 100% free and without obligation.

Most people think of a spinal injury solely in terms of mobility, but the reality is much broader. When nerve signals are disrupted, the effects reach almost every major organ and function in the body. Beyond the immediate physical changes, survivors often face complex, ongoing complications such as:

• Complete or Incomplete Paralysis: Depending on where the spine was hurt, an injury can result in partial or full loss of movement (paraplegia or tetraplegia). Over time, muscles that cannot move may shrink (atrophy) or experience uncontrollable spasms and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity).
• Respiratory Issues: Injuries higher up on the spine, particularly in the neck region, can weaken the chest and diaphragm. This makes it difficult to breathe, cough, or clear secretions from the lungs, leaving survivors prone to respiratory infections. Some individuals may rely on ventilators or daily breathing therapy.
• Chronic Pain and Altered Sensation: Nerve damage often disrupts how the brain receives signals. Many survivors experience burning sensations, sharp phantom pain, or a total inability to feel temperature changes like heat and cold.
• Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction: Because nerve pathways to the digestive system and bladder are disrupted, routine use of catheters, medications, or strict daily bowel management plans are often required.
• Circulatory and Heart Problems: Reduced movement increases the risk of dangerous blood clots in the legs and lungs (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). Sitting or lying down for long periods can also cause severe bedsores.
• Changes in Sexual Health and Fertility: Damage to the spinal cord can alter sexual function, physical sensitivity, and fertility for both men and women.
• Mental Health and Cognitive Shifts: Adjusting to life with reduced mobility can lead to deep grief and anxiety. Additionally, some individuals experience subtle cognitive changes, especially if the event that caused the spinal damage also involved a head impact or loss of oxygen.

The Lifetime Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury

Average yearly health care and living expenses for victims of spinal cord injuries can be monumental. The costs depend greatly on how badly someone was hurt. For some, particularly quadriplegics, this can mean millions of dollars over the course of a lifetime.

Here’s a glimpse into the long-term financial impact from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation:

• High Tetraplegia: The first year can cost over $1 million, with annual expenses of around $185,000 after that. Over a lifetime, this can total nearly $4.7 million at age 25, dropping to $2.6 million at age 50.
• Low Tetraplegia: The first year may cost almost $770,000, with annual costs of around $113,000. Lifetime costs can reach $3.5 million at age 25, decreasing to $2.1 million by age 50.
• Paraplegia: Yearly costs start around $519,000, dropping to about $69,000 annually. Over a lifetime, the costs can total $2.3 million at age 25, going down to $1.5 million at age 50.
• Incomplete Motor Function: First-year costs are about $347,000, with annual expenses of $42,000. Lifetime costs could be $1.6 million at age 25, decreasing to $1.1 million at age 50.

Even when insurance and government assistance are taken into account, there is still often not enough money to cover everything that is needed. That’s why it is important that your family speak to an experienced spinal cord injury attorney about seeking compensation to cover these costs.

On the employment front, only 15.5% of individuals living with paralysis are employed, compared to 63.1% of those without a disability. Additionally, 41.8% of those living with paralysis report being unable to work.

This stark contrast highlights the significant financial challenges that spinal cord injury victims face, making a lawsuit an important step in securing the compensation needed to address lost wages and support long-term recovery.