Woodland Hills Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spine injuries are one of the scariest and most devastating types of injuries a person can sustain in an accident. These types of injuries can not only potentially alter a person’s life permanently, but they can also be sustained from a number of potential sources. From car accidents, bike accidents, scooter accidents, and even pedestrian accidents, the chances of sustaining a serious spine injury is very likely and recovery is often a costly process.

Unfortunately, Woodland Hills has had its issues of accidents that have resulted in victims suffering from critical conditions. In fact, many victims end up in a financial burden from having to pay off current and future medical bills to continue treating their spinal cord injury. If you or a loved one are a victim of a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another individual, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of personal injury attorneys are ready to take on your case and fight for you. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience and our attorneys understand the complexities of a spinal cord injury claim and the life altering injuries that may arise. As such, our attorneys handle every case with the respect and compassion that it deserves. Due to our expertise and dedication, we are confident that we can get you the just 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 hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. Whether you have sustained a spinal 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.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines a spinal injury as a direct injury to the spinal cord or to the tissue and nerves surrounding the spinal cord. As a result, any injury that is strong enough to damage the nerves can potentially affect how the spine sends and receives signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Due to the nature of this injury, they can be categorized as either Complete or Incomplete based on the severity.

Complete

A complete injury is when there is a completely severed nerve connection between the spine and the brain and, as a result, there is a complete loss of muscle control and feeling. This classification is the worst kind of spinal cord injury victims can face, because complete injuries are permanent and the chances of recovering from one are extremely rare and very costly.

Incomplete

An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord has lost some nerve connections, but it is still able to send partial messages and commands from the brain to the rest of the body. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, those who have suffered incomplete spinal cord injuries would lose partial functionality on certain body parts and organs. In terms of recovery, spinal cord injury victims have a better chance at recovery compared to those with complete injuries.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury

While the severity of a spinal cord injury is dependent on whether it was complete or incomplete, the location of the injury is another huge factor that can ultimately affect how a victim recovers or needs to be adjusted. With that in mind, the most common type of spinal cord injuries are cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral and each type is based on their location on the spine and it can drastically affect certain parts of the body and organs. So if you have sustained a spinal cord injury, it is important that you understand the differences between each type so you can discuss it better with a personal injury attorney.

Cervical

The cervical section consists of seven vertebrae (C-1 to C-7) and it is located in the neck. Due to its close proximity to the brain, any injury to that portion of the spine can be fatal, however, it can also result in quadriplegia, which is one of the most severe injuries a person could experience. With that in mind, spinal cord injury victims with a cervical injury would require constant medical care and treatment. Should the victim perish from that injury, then a personal injury attorney and the victim’s family would be able to file for a wrongful death claim in order to recover compensation for the unfortunate passing of the victim.

Thoracic

The thoracic section consists of twelve vertebrae (T-1 to T-12) and is located in the upper and middle portion of the spine. Within that section, the upper half is responsible for sending signals to the muscles and organs in your upper chest and mid-back, meanwhile, the lower half is responsible for the abdominal and back muscles. Any injury in that section will result in a loss of organ and muscle function which can be problematic and drastically affect people’s lifespans and quality of life.

Lumbar

The lumbar section consists of five vertebrae (L1-L5) and is located at the lower portion of the spine. This section sends and receives signals to the abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs. With that in mind, any injury to this section can potentially result in a loss of motor functions and feelings in the lower half of your body and can affect organ functionality such as your bowels and bladder control.

Sacral

The sacral section of the spine consists of five vertebrae (S-1 to S-5) and is located right above the tailbone. This section controls and manages signals to your pelvic organ system such as thighs, feet, and genital organs. Any sacral injuries can result in loss in feeling and control which can become an inconvenient experience, but when compared to the other areas of the spine, it is considered to be one of the least severe.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Car accidents, falls, and violent assaults are some of the leading causes of spinal cord injury cases, especially in the Woodland Hills area. While each spinal injury case is different from one and another, it is important to understand the differences between each cause so you know what kind of damages you can be entitled to and what kind of details to provide to your personal injury attorney.

Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries because the amount of force and impact that can occur in a car accident can easily injure a person’s back. The NSCISC has reported in a 2024 infographic that about 37.5% of all car accidents have caused a severe spinal cord injury. While car manufacturers are doing their best to add as many protective measures to prevent spinal cord injuries from occurring, the chances of sustaining a spinal injury from a car accident is almost inevitable depending on the nature of the accident.

Fall Accidents

The NSCISC 2024 infographic has reported that accidental falls account for about 31% of all traumatic spinal cord injuries and in an adjacent 2023 annual statistical report the chances of people sustaining traumatic spinal injuries dramatically increase as people get older. With people around the 46-60 year old range becoming more susceptible to spinal cord injuries, any slip and fall accidents due to someone’s negligence can become a very long lasting and costly medical expense that can be very troubling.

Violent Assaults

Violent assaults are defined as any physical altercation that is caused either by ill intent or by an intense spur of the moment reaction. From what is typically seen in spinal cord injury cases, assaults with a weapon such as a gun or knife increase the chances of sustaining spine injuries due to the damage they can cause. While the chances of receiving a spinal injury from a violent assault is not as high compared to others, the chances of obtaining an injury with long-term complications is high when it does happen. So it is important that you seek out personal injury lawyers who are experienced handling these types of cases because it ventures between criminal law and personal injury.

What Kind of Damages are Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims?

Generally, in these types of cases, a victim can receive economic and non-economic damages depending on the severity, scale, and the chances of recovery. However, in some of the most severe cases, punitive damages may be awarded as well. As sustaining a spine injury can permanently change your entire life, it is vital that you understand what kind of damages you can recover from your injuries.

Economic

Economic damages are defined as calculable losses that have accumulated as a result of an accident. For example, lost wages, physical therapy, property damages, and medical treatment costs are all things that arise in personal injury claims and they can be recovered for a definitive sum. Due to the exorbitant amount of costs associated with a spine injury, accident victims can recover all of these costs, especially if they have sustained permanent paralysis or catastrophic injuries.

Non-Economic

Non-economic damages are defined as subjective and incalculable losses that have occurred in an accident. For example, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are all things that are very difficult to place a definitive value on and due to the subjective nature of these damages the value will vary from person-to-person. As such, accident attorneys will need to prove that the accident in question has had a profound impact on the victim and require compensation in order to help them move on from the incident.

Punitive

Punitive damages are a rare form of damages designed to punish the at-fault party for their actions. There is no monetary amount awarded to the injured party, but instead it serves as a means of serving justice to those responsible and to deter any possible incidents that may be similar by design. However, for punitive damages to be served, the accident in question must have been conducted with extreme recklessness or ill will.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

By hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case, they can process and submit all of the necessary documents required in order to file for a personal injury claim. Throughout the length of your claim, personal injury lawyers become your legal representation for your personal injury lawsuit and they will offer their legal guidance and recommendations to ensure that you are making the best choices for your case.

In addition, they can negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel on your behalf to ensure that you receive the best settlement offer possible. While you can pursue and file personal injury cases on your own, the chances of receiving a lower compensation sum is significantly higher compared to those who hire an attorney to represent them.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here To Help

If you or a loved one has sustained 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 vital that you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who will fight for you and watch 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 handle every case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves and are confident that they can get you the maximum 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 fight for their best interests to ensure they receive a full and fair compensation. Our team of spinal cord injury attorneys understand how difficult recovering from a spinal cord injury can be and they 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 Woodland Hills

How Much Compensation Will I Get for a Spinal Injury?

The amount of awarded compensation you can receive will be dependent on the nature of the injury and the severity of it. However, generally speaking, serious spinal cord injury cases are valued around the six to seven range in order to accommodate necessary treatment, surgery, and quality of life adjustments. With that in mind, it is important to consult with a personal injury lawyer to get a better understanding of the value of your case.

Can You Fully Recover From a Spinal Cord Injury?

Your ability to recover from a spinal cord injury will be dependent on the severity and location of the injury. However your chances of recovering from an incomplete spinal cord injury is significantly higher than a complete spinal cord injury, because a complete injury is irreversible damage and all effort and focus would be geared towards improving quality of life rather than full recovery.

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

Personal injury lawyers typically operate under a contingency fee system where they charge a flat fee for their legal services only if they win or receive a settlement offer opposing counsel. Should they achieve either scenario then the fee can range anywhere between 25% to 40%, but most would average around 33%. With that in mind, it is important to consult with your personal injury attorney to understand what their rates are going to be.