A spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant, affecting your ability to walk, work, and care for yourself and your family. These catastrophic injuries often result from car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or acts of violence, leaving victims facing a lifetime of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment costs that can reach millions of dollars.
At Hollis Law Firm, we recognize that spinal cord injuries represent some of the most devastating personal injuries a person can suffer. Our personal injury lawyer has spent over 15 years advocating for seriously injured individuals in Kansas City, helping them secure the comprehensive compensation they need to rebuild their lives and access the best possible medical care.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord serves as the body’s primary communication highway between the brain and the rest of the nervous system. When this delicate structure suffers damage, the consequences can be permanent and life-altering. Spinal cord injuries are typically classified as either complete or incomplete, depending on whether any sensation or movement remains below the point of injury.
Complete spinal cord injuries result in total loss of sensation and voluntary movement below the injury site. These injuries often lead to paraplegia when the injury occurs in the lower back, or quadriplegia when the injury affects the cervical spine in the neck area. Incomplete spinal cord injuries allow for some preserved function below the injury level, though the extent of remaining abilities varies significantly from person to person.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents account for the largest percentage of spinal cord injuries, often resulting from high-impact collisions that cause severe trauma to the spine. The sudden forces involved in car crashes, truck accidents, and motorcycle collisions can fracture vertebrae, dislocate joints, or cause herniated discs that compress or sever the spinal cord.
Falls represent another leading cause of spinal cord injuries, particularly among older adults and construction workers. Whether from ladders, rooftops, or slippery surfaces, falls can generate enough force to damage the delicate spinal cord tissue. Sports-related injuries, particularly in contact sports like football or activities involving diving, also contribute to spinal cord trauma.
The Immediate and Long-Term Impact
The moments following a spinal cord injury are critical for preserving as much function as possible. Emergency medical treatment focuses on stabilizing the spine, reducing inflammation, and preventing further damage to the spinal cord. However, even with prompt medical intervention, many spinal cord injuries result in permanent disabilities that affect every aspect of a person’s life.
Beyond the physical limitations, spinal cord injuries often lead to secondary complications, including respiratory problems, blood clots, muscle spasms, and increased susceptibility to infections. These ongoing medical issues require constant monitoring and treatment, adding to the already substantial costs associated with spinal cord injury care.
The Financial Reality of Spinal Cord Injuries
The lifetime costs associated with spinal cord injuries can be staggering, often exceeding several million dollars, depending on the severity and level of the injury. Initial hospitalization and acute care costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first year alone, while ongoing expenses for medications, medical equipment, home modifications, and personal care assistance continue indefinitely.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles, home modifications including ramps and accessible bathrooms, and specialized medical equipment represent significant one-time expenses that insurance may not fully cover. Additionally, many spinal cord injury patients require ongoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling to help them adapt to their new circumstances and maximize their remaining abilities.
The loss of earning capacity represents another substantial economic impact for spinal cord injury victims. Many individuals find themselves unable to return to their previous occupations, requiring career changes or becoming unable to work entirely. This lost income, projected over a lifetime, often represents the largest component of damages in spinal cord injury cases.
Proving Liability in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Successfully pursuing compensation for a spinal cord injury requires demonstrating that another party’s negligence directly caused the accident and resulting injuries. This process involves thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, gathering evidence, and working with medical professionals to establish the connection between the negligent act and the spinal cord damage.
In motor vehicle accidents, liability may rest with distracted, intoxicated, or reckless drivers who failed to operate their vehicles safely. Trucking companies may bear responsibility when their drivers violate federal safety regulations or when mechanical failures result from inadequate maintenance. Property owners can be held liable for spinal cord injuries resulting from dangerous conditions on their premises.
Working with Medical Professionals
Spinal cord injury cases require extensive medical documentation to establish the extent of damage and future care needs. We work closely with neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and life care planners to develop comprehensive projections of your ongoing medical needs and associated costs.
Life care plans serve as roadmaps for your future medical care and associated expenses, covering everything from medications and medical equipment to home health services and facility-based care. These detailed projections help ensure that settlement negotiations or jury awards account for the full scope of your lifetime needs.
Fighting for Maximum Compensation
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize spinal cord injury claims by questioning the severity of the injury, the necessity of certain treatments, or the projected costs of future care. We work diligently to counter these tactics by presenting compelling evidence of your injuries and their impact on every aspect of your life.
Our approach to spinal cord injury cases includes pursuing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the costs of adaptive equipment and home modifications. We also seek damages for the loss of life’s enjoyments and the impact your injuries have on your relationships with family members.
Contact Hollis Law Firm for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
Spinal cord injuries demand immediate legal attention to preserve evidence and protect your rights while you focus on your medical treatment and rehabilitation. At Hollis Law Firm, we have recovered over $100 million in settlements and judgments for our clients, and we understand the unique challenges that spinal cord injury cases present.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case. Our commitment to fighting for maximum compensation stems from our understanding that your financial recovery must account for a lifetime of challenges and expenses resulting from your injury. Don’t face this difficult time alone. Call us at (800) 701-3672 or contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you secure the resources you need for your future.
