A spinal cord injury (SCI) often devastates the patient and their family, with consequences ranging from discomfort and chronic pain to paralysis and even death. Any damage to the spinal cord or vertebrae of the spinal column may create financial hardship for those affected. When an accident caused by negligence has resulted in a traumatic spinal cord injury, an experienced attorney is there to help obtain a fair settlement or verdict on behalf of the injured party and their family.

If you sustained a spinal cord injury in Modesto and would like to discuss your case with a lawyer, call our law firm today to schedule a free consultation at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. Our SCI attorneys can provide free, friendly advice on how to move forward with a personal injury claim.

Our Modesto spinal cord injury attorneys have decades of experience handling SCI cases at our law firm and have worked diligently to obtain fair compensatory damages for those we represent. In addition to immediate concerns and medical needs, SCI patients may require long-term rehabilitation and medical treatment. We understand the hardships and challenges accompanying these types of personal injury cases. Our legal team will ensure that any spinal cord injury settlement or trial verdict takes these damages into full consideration.

An SCI involves trauma to any part of the spinal cord. The nature of spinal cord damage will depend upon the injury site, and its severity is classified accordingly. Spinal cord injuries are divided into two types of trauma, complete and incomplete:

• Complete Spinal Cord Injury: An SCI classified as complete is one in which the patient has lost the ability of voluntary movement and has no sensations in the affected sites. This may include areas below the injury location or one side of the body.
• Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: An incomplete SCI is one in which the patient has experienced a limited ability to move and feel but has not suffered a complete loss of mobility and sensation.

While the spinal column’s vertebrae protect the spinal cord, blunt force trauma may injure the spinal cord and impact the spinal column. Such damage may sever or damage critical nerve structures and affect physical capabilities.

While most spinal cord injuries may present immediate symptoms, there may be a delay between the loss of function and trauma. Because of this, it is essential to seek immediate medical treatment after an accident involving trauma to the spinal cord. Some of the common signs and symptoms of a traumatic injury to the spinal cord include:

• Difficulty with balance, breathing, standing, or walking
• Loss of sensation or numbness in the toes, hands, or fingers
• Paralysis
• Pressure in the back, head, or neck
• Significant pain in the back

Watch the following video for an overview of spinal cord injuries and potential complications.

An injury to the spinal cord is one of the most catastrophic types of trauma an individual may experience, often resulting in permanent disability. About 294,000 people in the United States live with spinal cord damage, ranging from 250,000 to 368,000 individuals. According to a 2020 report by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC):

• Approximately 17,810 new spinal cord trauma cases are reported each year
• Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of SCI, closely followed by slip and falls
• The current average age at the time of SCI is 43 years old

The average annual living expenses and medical treatment costs directly attributable to spinal cord trauma are generally based on education, employment history before the SCI, and neurological impairment, the NSCISC reported. Indirect costs of an injury to the spinal cord, including productivity, fringe benefits, and lost wages, averaged over $77,000 yearly in 2019 dollars.

Holding the negligent individual or entity that caused the SCI financially accountable for settling insurance claims and paying spinal cord injury lawsuit judgments often makes the difference between struggling to make ends meet and living as well as possible. A claimant may have legal recourse to seek compensatory damages for financial and intangible losses because of an SCI, including:

• Medical expenses for emergency transportation services, hospital stays, SCI surgeries, prescription medications, nurse care, and other healthcare costs
• Costs of future medical treatment, including in-home care, wheelchair for future surgery, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages because of missing time at work to recover from spinal cord damage or attending medical appointments for SCI treatment
• Diminished earning capacity that is a direct result of a traumatic spinal cord injury
• Out-of-pocket expenses for renovations to the home or medical appliances to accommodate an SCI patient
• Loss of consortium may be brought on behalf of an uninjured spouse for marital relationship damage and fertility issues because of the spinal cord trauma.
• Pain and suffering for the permanent and life-changing effects spinal cord trauma has had on the injured party

Our Modesto spinal cord injury attorneys have decades of experience handling SCI cases. A free consultation with one of our injury lawyers may change your perspective of what is possible after spinal cord damage and how a successful SCI lawsuit will benefit your quality of life. You owe it to yourself and your family to obtain this critical information on your legal options for recovery.

Following a catastrophic accident, filing a personal injury claim for an SCI as soon as possible is critical. Claimants must abide by a statute of limitations or legal deadline for filing a lawsuit in court for a traumatic spinal cord injury case. In California, a spinal cord injury lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the traumatic accident. If the claimant fails to file a lawsuit before the two-year statute of limitations expires, the court will most likely not hear the SCI case, and they will not be able to claim compensatory damages.

At our spinal cord injury law firm, we handle SCI cases under a contingency fee arrangement. Our legal team will front all costs related to the investigation, negotiation, litigation, and other processes involved in your spinal cord injury case. Attorneys’ fees for your spinal cord injury case will only be due if we obtain fair compensation on your behalf through an SCI verdict or settlement. Our Modesto spinal cord injury lawyers represent residents in Stanislaus County and throughout California.

A catastrophic injury like an SCI may constitute grounds for a personal injury accident case. Such traumatic injuries may take a significant emotional and financial toll on the SCI patient and their family. For this reason, it is essential to work with an experienced attorney who can gather and present compelling evidence and formulate the best strategies to obtain full and fair financial compensation. By hiring a top-rated spinal cord injury attorney in Modesto, you can count on their experience, skills, and resources to obtain a successful outcome in your case. With so much on the line, retaining an SCI lawyer with the right resources and experience is necessary to ensure you receive the compensatory damages you rightfully owe.

A Modesto spinal cord injury lawyer can handle all aspects of your case, including:

• Analysis of your traumatic spinal cord injury and medical record.
• Investigation of the catastrophic accident that caused the SC.
• Assessment of economic and non-economic damages in your spinal cord injury claim.
• Devise strategies to overcome the defense tactics insurance companies use to downplay the value of an SCI claim or deny it altogether.
• Estimates of future medical expenses and needs after consulting with a medical expert.
• Compile compelling evidence to build a strong SCI case to present in court, if necessary.

At our law firm, we provide compassionate representation for those who have suffered spinal cord trauma from many types of accidents caused by negligence. Depending on which part of your spine was damaged, you may require months or even years of recovery. In some extreme SCI cases, paralysis or wrongful death may occur. No matter what circumstance caused the traumatic spinal cord injury, our attorneys will be on your side until the end. Contact our legal team at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a free consultation at our Modesto office.

1015 12th Street, STE 7
Modesto, CA 95354

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 5.21.21] Photograph Attribution: By “Jesper Aggergaard” via Unsplash ds [cs 1474]}