What Qualifies as a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury occurs when trauma damages the spinal cord, affecting movement, sensation, or other body functions. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, a spinal cord injury may cause temporary, long-term, or permanent changes in movement, sensation, and other body functions.
Spinal cord injuries are generally classified as either complete, meaning significant or total loss of feeling and movement below the injury site, or incomplete, meaning some function remains.
Are All Spinal Cord Injuries Eligible for a Lawsuit?
Not every spinal cord injury results in a lawsuit. To have a legal claim, another person’s negligence or wrongful conduct generally must have caused the injury.
Our team can review what happened and explain whether you may have a case. Call us today at 956-855-5555 to discuss your claim.
Signs and Symptoms of a Serious Spinal Injury
Symptoms of a spinal injury may not be obvious immediately after an accident. Some signs to watch for after an accident include:
- Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
- Weakness or paralysis in any part of the body
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing
- Intense pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back
- Loss of balance or coordination
- An oddly positioned or twisted neck or back
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after an accident should seek emergency medical care immediately, even if the injury seems minor at first. Some spinal cord injuries worsen significantly if not treated promptly.
What Types of Spinal Injuries Can Our Lawyers Help With?
Our firm handles a wide range of spinal injury cases, including:
- Complete spinal cord injuries resulting in total loss of function below the injury site
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries with partial loss of movement or sensation
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Fractured or dislocated vertebrae
- Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Nerve damage resulting from spinal trauma
- Spinal cord injuries requiring surgical intervention or long-term rehabilitation
Every case is different, and the severity of the injury plays a major role in determining both the necessary treatment and the value of a potential claim.
Common Accidents That Cause Spinal Cord and Spine Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result from a wide variety of accidents, including:
- Car accidents involving high speed collisions or rollovers
- Truck accidents where the size and force of the impact are significant
- Motorcycle accidents where riders have little protection
- Slip and fall accidents, particularly among older adults
- Workplace accidents involving falls or heavy machinery
- Sports and recreational accidents
- Acts of violence
- Pedestrian accidents
Regardless of how the injury occurred, determining who is legally responsible is a critical part of pursuing compensation.
Who May Be Liable for a Spinal Cord Injury?
The person or company responsible for a spinal cord injury depends on how the accident occurred. A careful investigation may identify more than one party whose negligence contributed to the harm.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- A negligent driver who caused a car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident.
- A trucking company, commercial driver, cargo loader, maintenance provider, or another company involved in an 18-wheeler accident.
- An employer or third party whose unsafe conduct contributed to a workplace accident.
- A property owner, business, or property manager that failed to correct a dangerous condition.
- A manufacturer, distributor, or retailer that placed a defective vehicle, safety device, or other product into the stream of commerce.
Identifying every responsible party matters because a spinal cord injury can create substantial present and future needs. The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can investigate the facts, preserve available evidence, and assess the legal options available to you and your family.
What Compensation Can I Get for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury victims may be entitled to compensation for the physical, financial, and emotional effects of their injuries. Depending on the circumstances of the case, compensation may cover:
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization.
- Surgeries and other necessary medical procedures.
- Physical, occupational, and vocational rehabilitation.
- Ongoing medical treatment and assistive care.
- In-home nursing care or long-term care facility expenses.
- Medical equipment and prescription medications.
- Home modifications, such as wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms.
- Vehicle modifications and transportation needs.
- Lost wages and income during recovery.
- Diminished future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress and mental anguish.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Other expenses related to long-term or lifelong care.
- Wrongful death damages in fatal spinal cord injury cases.
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can work with appropriate medical, vocational, and economic professionals to assess the full impact of a spinal cord injury. We pursue compensation that reflects your present losses and the future care and financial support you may need.
Evaluating the Full Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury claim may involve losses that are not fully apparent immediately after an accident. Future treatment, rehabilitation, assistive technology, in-home support, home or vehicle modifications, and reduced earning capacity can significantly affect a person and their family.
When appropriate, The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can consult medical, vocational, and economic professionals to help evaluate anticipated care needs and the financial effects of the injury. For a free consultation about a spinal cord injury claim in McAllen, Mission The Rio Grande Valley or anywhere in South Texas, contact The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm at 956-855-5555.
Future Care and Long-Term Needs
Some spinal cord injuries require care and support for years or for the rest of a person’s life. The extent of those needs is not always clear in the days or weeks after an accident. A person may face additional surgeries, physical or occupational therapy, medication, mobility equipment, home health care, or long-term care services as their condition develops.
Long-term needs can also include wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, vehicle modifications, and other changes that allow an injured person to live as independently as possible. When an injury prevents someone from returning to their prior job or from working at all, the financial impact can extend far beyond immediate lost wages.
Before accepting an insurance settlement, it is important to understand how the injury may affect your future medical care, household needs, and ability to earn an income. The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can help evaluate these losses and pursue compensation that accounts for the full impact of the injury.
What You Should Do After a Spinal Cord Injury Accident
After a spinal cord injury, your health must come first. If you are physically able, or if a trusted family member can help, take steps to preserve information about the accident:
- Seek emergency medical care right away if you have not already done so.
- Photograph the accident scene, vehicles, hazards, and visible injuries.
- Collect the names and contact information of witnesses.
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, prescriptions, therapy recommendations, and other treatment-related documents.
- Save employment records and documentation of time missed from work.
- Write down how the injury affects your mobility, daily activities, work, sleep, and family life.
- Avoid posting details, photographs, or updates about the accident or your recovery on social media.
Be cautious when an insurance company contacts you. You may be asked to provide a recorded statement or accept an early settlement offer before the full impact of your injury is known. You are not required to make important claim decisions before you understand your rights and future medical needs.
Contact The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm at 956-855-5555 before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement offer. Our team can investigate the accident, preserve available evidence, communicate with insurers on your behalf, and help you pursue compensation that accounts for the full impact of your spinal cord injury.
The Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Process
Pursuing a spinal cord injury lawsuit typically involves the following steps:
- Investigation into the cause of the accident: Our team works to determine exactly how and why the accident happened, and identify parties who may be responsible.
- Gathering of medical records and expert opinions: We collect comprehensive medical documentation and consult with specialists who can explain the injury’s impact.
- Negotiation with insurance companies: We handle all communications with insurers to pursue a settlement that appropriately accounts for the losses supported by the evidence.
- Filing a lawsuit and proceeding to trial, if necessary: If a fair resolution cannot be reached, we can discuss whether filing a lawsuit and pursuing litigation may be appropriate.
Because these injuries often involve lifelong consequences, building a strong case usually requires input from medical experts who can speak to the long-term prognosis and care needs of the injured person.
How Long Does a Spinal Cord Injury Case Take?
The timeline for a spinal cord injury case varies widely depending on the severity of the injury, the liability disputes, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Some cases resolve within several months, while more complex cases involving severe or lasting disability or disputed liability can take a year or more.
Because the full extent of a spinal cord injury may not be known immediately, it is often necessary to wait until a victim’s condition has stabilized before pursuing a final settlement, which can extend the timeline.
How Much Does a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Cost?
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm handles spinal cord injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. This generally means you do not pay attorney fees upfront, and attorney fees are paid only if the firm obtains a recovery through a settlement or verdict. Case expenses may be handled separately, and we can explain the terms of the fee agreement during your consultation.
A spinal cord injury can create substantial medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and long-term care needs. A contingency-fee arrangement allows injured people and their families to pursue a claim without adding immediate legal-fee pressure during an already difficult time.
During a free consultation, The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can explain how the contingency fee works, discuss potential case expenses, and answer questions about your legal options. Call 956-855-5555 to get started.
When Should I Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?
Speak with a spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident. Early legal guidance can help with investigating the scene, preserving available evidence, identifying potentially responsible parties, and addressing insurance communications before important information is lost. Waiting too long can affect your rights. In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date the claim accrues, although exceptions may apply.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Spinal Injury Attorney?
An experienced spinal injury attorney can handle communications with insurance companies, help gather evidence, consult appropriate professionals when needed, and evaluate damages that may include future medical needs and reduced earning capacity. This allows you to focus on recovery and rehabilitation while your legal team handles your case.
Why Choose The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
A spinal cord injury can affect nearly every part of your life, including your ability to work, care for your family, live independently, and plan for the future. These catastrophic injury cases require careful preparation, a thorough investigation, and a legal team prepared to stand up to insurance companies and other responsible parties.
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm represents injured people and families throughout McAllen and South Texas. We investigate how the accident happened, identify the individuals and companies that may be responsible, preserve available evidence, and evaluate the full impact of the injury on your life.
Our team works to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation, future care needs, pain and suffering, and other losses available under Texas law. When appropriate, we consult medical, vocational, and economic professionals to help demonstrate the long-term effects of a spinal cord injury.
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm at 956-855-5555 for a free consultation. We can answer your questions, explain your options, and help you take the next step.
Spinal Cord Injury Questions and Answers
What should I do if my spinal cord injury has caused me to become disabled?
If a spinal cord injury has caused a disability, seek ongoing medical care and follow your treatment plan. Keep copies of medical records, bills, prescriptions, therapy recommendations, and documents showing missed work or changes in your ability to perform daily activities.
You should also be cautious about accepting an early settlement offer before the full effects of the injury are understood. A serious injury may create future medical, personal-care, and income-related needs that are not clear immediately after the accident.
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can review the facts of your case, explain potential legal options, and help you understand what information may be important to a claim. Contact us online or by calling 956-855-5555 for a free consultation.
Who can I sue for my spinal cord injury?
The parties who may be responsible depend on how the injury occurred. For example, a negligent driver may be liable after a car or truck accident, while a property owner or business may be responsible when an unsafe property condition contributes to a fall.
In cases involving defective products, a manufacturer, distributor, seller, or another party in the chain of distribution may be implicated. Workplace injury cases may involve an employer, a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or another third party, depending on the circumstances.
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can investigate the facts, identify parties who may be responsible, and explain the options available to you. Call 956-855-5555 to discuss your spinal cord injury claim.
What damages could I receive if I make a spinal cord injury claim?
The damages available in a spinal cord injury claim depend on the facts of the accident, the severity of the injury, available insurance coverage, and the evidence supporting the claim. Potential damages may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and expenses related to future care.
In severe cases, damages may also account for assistive equipment, in-home support, long-term care, and necessary home or vehicle modifications. A claim may include wrongful death damages when a spinal cord injury results in a fatal accident.
The Osiris A. Gonzalez Law Firm can evaluate the circumstances of your injury and explain which categories of damages may be relevant to your case. Contact us at 956-855-5555 for a free consultation.
