Seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem mild at first — some spinal cord injuries aren’t fully apparent until swelling develops. Once medical needs are addressed, preserve any evidence you can, including photos, witness contact information, and accident reports, and avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.

Most personal injury cases, including spinal cord injury claims, settle before trial. However, insurance companies are far more likely to offer a fair settlement when they know a law firm is fully prepared to take the case to court if needed. Our attorneys build every case as if it may go to trial, which strengthens our negotiating position even in cases that ultimately settle.

In many states, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, though the amount may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility under a legal principle called comparative negligence. The rules vary significantly by state, so it’s worth having an attorney evaluate your specific situation rather than assuming a partial-fault accident disqualifies a claim.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs and no attorney’s fees at all unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial case review is free and carries no obligation.

involving accidents in different jurisdictions than where a client resides, often working with local co-counsel to ensure the case is filed correctly and handled by attorneys familiar with that state’s laws.

Insurance companies frequently make early settlement offers that undervalue a spinal cord injury claim, particularly before the full extent of long-term medical needs is known. It’s important to have an attorney review any offer before accepting it, since accepting a settlement can limit your ability to pursue further compensation later, even if your condition worsens. Accepting a settlement from one minor defendant can also affect your ability to pursue the party with the most fault and the deepest pockets, and in some cases can affect whether your case proceeds in state or federal court.

Compensation is generally based on the full scope of damages, including past and future medical costs, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the cost of long-term care and equipment. Because spinal cord injuries often require decades of care, an experienced attorney will typically work with medical and financial experts to calculate the true lifetime value of a claim rather than relying on current bills alone.

Not necessarily, and we understand this is one of the biggest practical concerns for spinal cord injury clients. We regularly meet with clients by phone or video call, and when a deposition is needed, it can often be videotaped remotely from your own home rather than requiring travel to an office. If a case goes to trial and a client is unable to attend in person, or can only attend for a limited time, that videotaped testimony can be played back for the jury. We’ve handled these situations many times, and we know how to work through the logistics, the stress, and the physical limitations involved — your medical needs and comfort come first, and we build the legal process around that, not the other way around.

Generally, you have a case if another party’s negligence played a role in causing your injury — a distracted driver, a defective product, an unsafe property, or a negligent employer, for example. The clearest way to find out is a free consultation, where an attorney reviews the facts of your accident and your medical situation and tells you honestly whether pursuing a claim makes sense. There’s no cost or obligation to find out.

It’s worth having an attorney review any communication or paperwork before you sign anything further, but an early conversation with an insurance adjuster doesn’t necessarily end your ability to pursue a full claim. Insurance companies sometimes ask injured people to sign authorizations or give statements that can limit a claim later, so if you’ve already been in contact with an insurer, it’s a good idea to loop in an attorney sooner rather than later.

It depends heavily on the complexity of the case and whether it settles or goes to trial. A straightforward claim may resolve in several months, while catastrophic spinal cord injury cases involving multiple defendants, extensive medical documentation, or a trial can take a year or more. Because so much of a fair outcome depends on fully understanding the long-term medical picture, our attorneys generally won’t rush a settlement before your future care needs are clear — even if that means a longer timeline.

A settlement is a negotiated resolution with the insurance company or defendant, reached without a judge or jury deciding the outcome — most personal injury cases resolve this way. Going to trial means the case is presented to a judge or jury, who then decide liability and, if applicable, the amount of compensation. Settling can resolve a case faster and with more certainty, while trial is sometimes necessary when a fair settlement isn’t offered.

It helps to have any accident or police reports, medical records or discharge paperwork, insurance information, and photos of the accident scene or injury if you have them — but don’t wait to gather everything before reaching out. Our team can help identify and request the records needed as part of the case evaluation, so the most important thing is simply starting the conversation.