Exceptional Houston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord runs from the base of the brain down through the spinal canal to the tailbone, with nerve roots branching off along the way. It is the main pathway the brain uses to control movement and receive signals from the body. It also plays a role in sensory function, bladder control, pelvic organs, and even sexual function. When the cord is damaged, any of these systems can be affected.

The spinal column protects the cord from everyday wear, but it cannot always withstand the force of a serious accident. A traumatic blow to the back or neck can fracture vertebrae, sending bone fragments into the cord. This kind of damage can disrupt motor or sensory function instantly and permanently.

Not all spinal cord injuries are the same. The location and severity of the damage determine what a person loses and whether any recovery is possible. Injuries higher up on the cord, particularly in the cervical spine, tend to cause the most severe and widespread loss of function.

What Are Common Spinal Cord Injuries?

The spinal cord runs from the base of the brain to the tailbone, with nerve roots branching off from it. Traumatic injuries can shatter the protective vertebrae and damage the cord, leading to following injuries:

• Incomplete spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is nicked, torn, bruised, or shredded, but it is not completely cut in two. Because some of it remains intact, a patient can try to recover movement and sensation below the site of injury. Nonetheless, impairment of varying severity is common.
• Complete spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is cut into two pieces. In this situation, complete paralysis is permanent below the site of injury.
• Brown-Séquard syndrome. An injury on one side of the spinal cord manifests as loss of sensitivity or movement on one side of the body.

Complete injuries and incomplete injuries differ greatly in terms of long-term outlook. With incomplete injuries, patients sometimes regain partial function through physical therapy and rehabilitation. Complete spinal cord injury cases, however, leave the victim with permanent loss of function below the injury site.

Both types are considered catastrophic injury cases in the legal world. The costs are high, the impact on daily life is enormous, and the need for extensive medical care lasts a lifetime. A complete spinal cord injury or severe incomplete spinal cord injury can qualify a victim for significant compensation.

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury

You might not immediately know you have suffered a spinal cord injury after an accident. Pay attention to the most common symptoms:

• Difficulty walking
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Intense back pain
• Back and neck stiffness
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
• Paralysis
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chronic pain at or below the injury site

You should immediately go to the hospital to discuss your symptoms with a doctor. Spinal injuries are diagnosed by using various imaging tests, as well as direct observation. Getting checked out right away also creates a medical record that can support your spinal cord injury claims later.

Some symptoms may not appear for hours or days after the accident. If you feel any physical pain, weakness, or numbness after a serious accident, do not wait to seek care. Early treatment can sometimes reduce the long-term effects of a spinal cord injury.

Accidents Which Cause Spinal Cord Injuries

Our spinal cord injury attorney in Houston has helped people injured in a wide range of accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of spinal cord injuries in the United States. High-speed collisions put tremendous force on the neck and back, which can cause the cord to be damaged in an instant.

Our law firm handles spinal cord injury cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian collisions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Slip and falls
• Premises liability accidents
• Defective products
• Workplace accidents

The Stano Law Firm has deep experience in personal injury law. We know how to find the evidence you need for use in your case and how to piece together an accident to uncover what happened and who is to blame. Our law firm has handled everything from single-vehicle car accidents to complex multi-party spinal cord injury cases.

A car accident can happen in a split second, but its effects can last a lifetime. The same is true for fall accidents and workplace accidents. No matter how your spinal cord injury accident occurred, our team is prepared to investigate and build a strong case on your behalf.

Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries require expensive medical care. Accident victims usually need immediate surgery to stabilize their spines, and they might spend weeks in the hospital for monitoring. Physical therapy helps patients maintain and possibly regain movement, if they suffered an incomplete injury. Others will need at-home help with daily tasks.

According to estimates from the University of Alabama, medical expenses for these injuries are incredibly high but vary based on the type of injury:

• High tetraplegia: $1,102,403 in the first year, and $191,436 each year after
• Low tetraplegia: $796,583 in first year and $117,437 each year after
• Paraplegia: $537,721 in the first year, $71,172 each year after
• Motor function impairment: $359,783 in the first year, $43,700

Given the skyrocketing cost of medical care, these estimates are already out of date. But they give you some idea of how much care will cost. The financial burden of a spinal cord injury goes far beyond the first year. Victims may need assistive devices, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and ongoing physical therapy for the rest of their lives.

Other financial losses include property damage and lost income. Someone who suffers a permanent injury might never work a job again. These financial losses make it harder for people to continue to stay in their homes or pay other bills. Lost wages and loss of future earning power are major parts of most spinal cord injury claims.

With spinal cord injuries, victims should also seek compensation for future losses, including loss of earning capacity. Contact our firm to discuss today.

Types of Damages Available in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

A successful spinal cord injury claim can include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the losses you can count in dollars, such as medical bills, lost wages, medical expenses for future care, and the cost of assistive devices and adaptive equipment. Non-economic damages cover the more personal losses that are harder to put a number on.

Non-economic damages include physical pain, emotional distress, emotional challenges related to the lifestyle changes caused by the injury, and loss of enjoyment of life. Spinal cord injury victims often experience profound emotional distress as they adjust to life with limited mobility and independence. These losses are real and deserve compensation.

In some cases, punitive damages may also be available if the responsible party acted with extreme recklessness. Our law firm will review every possible source of compensation to make sure you recover the maximum compensation available under the law.

The Ongoing Need for Extensive Medical Care

A serious injury to the spinal cord does not end when the person leaves the hospital. Most spinal cord injury victims need extensive medical treatment for months or years after the initial accident. This includes surgeries, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and mental health support.

Many patients also need assistive devices like wheelchairs, walkers, or braces. Some need adaptive equipment for their homes and vehicles. Others need around-the-clock care. All of these costs should be included in your spinal cord injury claims against the liable parties responsible for your accident.

The financial burden of extensive medical care can be staggering. Medical bills and ongoing medical expenses pile up fast, and insurance companies do not always pay what they should. Having an experienced cord injury lawyer makes sure nothing gets left out of your claim.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Many spinal cord injury cases happen because of someone else’s negligence. Drivers who speed or run red lights, property owners who leave floors wet without warning signs, and employers who ignore safety rules can all be held responsible for the injuries they cause. Identifying the liable parties is one of the first steps in the legal process.

In some cases, a medical error during treatment can make an existing spinal injury worse, or even cause a new one. When a healthcare provider makes a serious mistake, the victim may have a separate claim against the medical professional or facility. Our law firm has the extensive knowledge needed to handle these overlapping claims.

Our spinal injury lawyers will investigate your accident, gather evidence, and identify every party whose actions contributed to your spinal cord injury. You deserve to hold the right people accountable for what happened to you and your family.

How to Negotiate a Settlement

Accident victims should hire an experienced spinal cord injury attorney in Houston for assistance. Even relatively minor injuries will sideline someone, and it is hard to pull together enough information to bring a successful injury claim. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to limit what they pay out. You need someone fighting just as hard on your side.

If hired, our legal team will immediately:

• Review evidence known about the accident;
• Work with medical experts to fully understand your prognosis;
• Interview witnesses and collect other information for use in your claim;
• Identify the correct defendant to sue for your spinal cord injury;
• Negotiate for financial compensation with the defendant;
• Protect you from insurance companies so you can focus on recovery;
• File a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.

Our goal is to reach a fair settlement that covers all of your losses, both now and in the future. If the other side refuses to offer fair value, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial to recover compensation for everything you have been through. We handle the entire legal process so you can focus on healing.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront costs and no hidden fees. Our law firm only gets paid when you get paid, so we are fully invested in your outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries

What is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries?

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injury in the United States. Car accidents, truck crashes, and motorcycle collisions together account for nearly half of all new spinal cord injury cases each year. Fall accidents are the second most common cause, particularly among older adults. Other causes include workplace accidents, sports and recreation injuries, and acts of violence. No matter how the injury happened, if it was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.

What is the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?

A complete spinal cord injury means the cord has been fully severed or so severely damaged that no signals can pass through it. This results in complete paralysis and total loss of sensory function and the ability to control movement below the injury site. A complete spinal cord injury is permanent. An incomplete spinal cord injury means some nerve pathways are still intact. The injured person may retain partial movement, sensory function, or both below the injury. Recovery is possible with physical therapy and time, though outcomes vary widely.

How much does it cost to treat a spinal cord injury?

The cost of treating a spinal cord injury is enormous. First-year costs can range from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars, depending on the severity. Ongoing medical expenses continue for the rest of the person’s life, covering everything from physical therapy to assistive devices and in-home care. These costs create a serious financial burden for victims and their families. A strong spinal cord injury claim can help cover current and future medical care, lost wages, and other damages so the victim can get the care they need without going broke.

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Texas?

Texas law gives most injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Missing it typically means losing your right to seek compensation entirely. There are exceptions that can shorten or extend this window, such as claims involving government entities or cases where the injured person is a minor. Speaking with a Houston spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident is the best way to protect your rights and your claim.

Can I seek compensation if my spinal cord injury was caused by a workplace accident?

Yes. If a workplace accident caused your spinal cord injury, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. If a third party, such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, contributed to your injury, you may also have the right to file a separate spinal cord injury lawsuit to seek compensation for damages that workers’ compensation does not cover. Our spinal injury lawyers can review your situation and explain all of your legal options. In some cases, combining both types of claims results in a much better overall recovery for the victim.

What should I look for in a spinal cord injury lawyer?

Look for a spinal cord injury attorney who has handled spinal cord injury cases before and understands the medical side of these claims. Extensive knowledge of both the legal process and the medical realities of such an injury makes a real difference when building your case and negotiating with insurance companies. You also want a law firm that will keep you informed throughout the process and treat you with respect. Our legal team is committed to fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve while guiding you through every step of the legal process.

Talk with a Houston Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

The Stano Law Firm understands how difficult it is for accident victims to come back from a serious injury like a spinal cord injury. These are life-altering events that affect every part of a spinal cord injury victim’s life. The road ahead is long, and the costs are real. You deserve a law firm that takes your case seriously.

We offer a free consultation and a free case evaluation with no obligation. There is no cost to speak with one of our Houston spinal cord injury lawyers and learn about your options. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing up front and nothing at all unless we win.

If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, do not wait. Call us today to speak with our Houston spinal cord injury lawyer and take the first step toward the financial compensation and justice you deserve.