Riverside Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating injuries a person can ever receive in an accident due to the high possibility of sustaining long-term health complications. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC)has reported in a fact and figure report that there is an average of 302,000 people in the United States who are living with a severe spinal cord injury. In addition, the average cost of treatment for any spinal cord injury that has affected their motor function costs around $445,000 for the first year and about $54,000 each following year.

With such a high cost of recovery for a back injury, it can push a person’s finances to their absolute limits and places a huge emotional toll on them and their immediate family. So if you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Filing a personal injury claim can be a difficult process if you are not familiar with the legal process, so it is highly recommended to hire an experienced lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to take on your case and fight for you. With over 20 years of legal experience, our attorneys understand the complexities of a spinal cord injury claim and they handle every case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves. Due to our expertise and knowledge of personal injury law, we are confident that we can get you the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we will continue to fight for their rights and help them recover a fair compensation for their injuries. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury from a car accident or due to a person’s ill intent, our legal team is available 24/7 to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

Common Causes of a Spinal Cord Injury

Car accidents, falls, and violent assaults are some of the most common causes of spinal cord damage in the Riverside area. While installing and following proper safety measures can prevent spinal injuries from occurring from these causes, depending the severity and nature of the accident, it may not even matter. Which is why it is important to understand the differences between each cause to have a better grasp of your situation should you choose to file a personal injury case against a liable party.

Falling

The NSCISC has reported in a 2024 infographic that accidental falls account for about 31% of all traumatic spinal cord injuries. Meanwhile in an adjacent 2023 annual statistical report, the chances of people sustaining traumatic spinal injuries dramatically increase as we get older, specifically around the 46-60 year old range. This is due to people becoming more susceptible to injuries as we get older and while falls due to your volition and clumsiness does not meet the standards of spinal cord injury claims, any falls due to the negligence of a property owner are. Should you have experienced a slip and fall due another party’s negligence then it is important to consult with an attorney to get started on the process.

Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accidents are without a doubt one of the most serious accidents that can lead to a variety of injuries with high medical expenses. A 2024 infographic conducted by the NSCISC reveals that about 37.5% of all car accidents have caused severe spinal cord injuries. While the cause of a car accident can vary from distracted driving to faulty mechanical problems, the chances of sustaining any injury to the spinal column is never zero. It is important to seek compensation either from the at-fault party or their insurance company in order to help start your path to recovery.

Physical Violence

Violent assaults are referred to as any physical altercation that may or may not include a weapon. The NSCISC 2024 infographic indicates that about 15% of spinal cord injury victims have received their injury from a violent assault. While the chances of sustaining a severe injury is not as high compared to falls and car accidents, it still stands as the third highest cause of spinal cord injuries. Should you sustain a spinal cord injury due to the ill intent of another party, it is vital that you seek legal representation immediately in order to get compensation and justice.

Types of Spinal Injuries

While the severity of a spinal cord injury is going to be dependent on the nature of the accident, it can also be dependent on which section of the spine is damaged. The spinal cord consists of four distinct areas: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. As each section of the spine is responsible for sending and receiving signals, getting injured in one section may either affect that one or affect the others by cause. By understanding each section of the spine, you can properly assess the extent of the damage and how much compensation you can recover from the parties responsible.

Cervical

The cervical section of the spine is located at the very top encompassing the neck area. This section comprises seven vertebrae (C-1 to C-7) and serves as the first and main connection hub that sends signals from the brain to the rest of the body. As such, any damage inflicted to this area can be fatal and can even potentially leave victims with catastrophic injuries and possibly in a quadriplegic state.

Thoracic

The thoracic section is located right underneath the cervical section, taking up the upper half of the spine and consisting of twelve vertebrae (T-1 to T-12). This section of the spine is responsible for sending signals to the organs and muscles around the chest and abdominal area of the body. Spinal cord victims with injuries to this section can potentially have a dramatic effect on their motor functions, specifically their hands, arms, chest, and any organs around the chest/abdominal area.

Lumbar

Following the thoracic section, the lumbar section consists of five vertebrae (L1-L5) and is responsible for sending signals to the lower parts of the abdomen, back, buttocks, and some parts of the leg and external genital organs. Any spinal injury to this section can affect motor function in the hips, legs, and even controls of the bowels and bladder. In some of the most severe cases, victims may lose all control and feeling in their lower half and become paraplegic, which can accrue a variety of future medical treatment costs.

Sacral

At the very bottom of the spinal cord is the sacral section and it consists of five vertebrae (S-1 to S-5). This section of the spine sends and receives signals to parts of the leg muscles such as the thighs, feet, and even the muscles surrounding the bladder. Should anyone receive any serious injuries to this section of the spine, it may result in a loss of motor functions in your legs, feet, and some of your organs around the pelvic area.

Proving Liability for a Personal Injury

To prove liability in a spinal cord injury case there needs to be evidence of alleged cause and/negligence for the accident in question. For example, if you have sustained a spinal cord injury from a car accident due to a distracted driver, then the distracted driver would become liable for your injuries and other damages you may have sustained. However, it is important to note that you would require evidence to support your claim and this can come in the form of police reports, medical records, witness statements, and photos/videos of the accident.

However, if the victim was partially responsible for the accident then according to California Civil Code 1431.2, a portion of their total awarded compensation will be subtracted in order to cover the damages that they were partially responsible for. For example, if the victim was 20% responsible for causing an accident, then 20% of their total awarded sum will be taken away to hold them accountable for the damages they have caused. With that in mind, it is vital to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer to represent you and help determine liability in your case.

How Can a Riverside Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help Me?

A spinal cord injury attorney can help you file and process your claim appropriately and they will provide you with legal guidance and assistance throughout the entire process. Depending on the severity of the injury and the nature of the accident, there may be several interviews and negotiations required with different parties and a spinal cord injury attorney can speak on your behalf and represent your best interests objectively.

Victims can choose to file a personal injury claim without the assistance of an attorney, however, they would become more vulnerable to insurance adjusters and opposing counsel taking advantage of their situation and lack of legal expertise. This can potentially result in the victim receiving a lower compensation offer for their injuries and this can drastically affect their chances of making a full recovery.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here To Help

If you are a victim of a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence then you may be entitled to receive compensation. As spinal cord injuries can take a huge physical and emotional toll on a person, filing a personal injury claim on your own may prove to be challenging especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal system. Which is why it is imperative that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney who can look out for your best interests.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of spinal cord injury attorneys are ready to take on your case and serve as your personal representative during this stressful time in your life. With over 20 years of legal experience, our attorneys have handled every case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves and are confident that they can get you the financial compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty and guide them throughout the legal process. Our team of spinal cord injury attorneys are well versed in California law and will be there every step of the way just to address any question or concern you may have regarding your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by completing our easy online contact form.

Most Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries in Riverside

Can You Fully Recover From a Spinal Cord Injury?

Your ability to recover from a spinal cord injury will be dependent on the severity of the injury, because whether it is an incomplete or complete spinal cord injury will ultimately affect your chances. Any permanent damage to the spine and to any of the nerves within the spine is irreversible and all costs would be focused towards improving the victim’s quality of life.

Meanwhile there is a higher likelihood of recovering from an incomplete spinal cord injury, however, it will be a long and costly process. Even if you receive proper treatment, there might be a possibility of sustaining long-term health complications.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Riverside Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?

Generally, Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers operate under a contingency system where they would only charge a flat fee for their services. However, they can only charge this fee unless they either win their case or receive a settlement offer from opposing counsel. Should they achieve either scenario then the fee can range anywhere between 25% to 40%, but most would average around 33%.

What Is the Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury?

The average cost of recovering from a spinal cord injury will vary on the severity and scale, because paralysis of any kind will dramatically increase the cost by surgery, treatment, and quality of life adjustments. With these things in mind, any non-permanent damage to the spine can average anywhere within the four to five figure range, however, paralysis of any kind will automatically cost anywhere between the five to six figure range. It is important that you pursue legal representation so you won’t have to face these costs out-of-pocket.