What is a spinal cord injury?
A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that disrupts the flow of signals between the brain and the body, often resulting in permanent loss of movement, sensation, or bodily function. These injuries range widely in severity, and the outcome depends on where the damage occurs and how much of the spinal cord is affected.
Spinal cord injuries generally fall into two categories:
Complete spinal cord injuries
With complete spinal cord injuries, the spinal cord is fully damaged at the point of injury, resulting in total loss of movement and sensation below that point. Depending on where the injury occurs, this can mean paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) or tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia (paralysis affecting all four limbs).
Incomplete spinal cord injuries
With incomplete injuries, the spinal cord retains some ability to send signals, meaning victims may keep partial movement, sensation, or function below the injury site. The severity varies enormously from person to person, and some incomplete injuries improve over time with treatment, while others do not.
Doctors typically use the ASIA Impairment Scale to classify the severity of a spinal cord injury, ranking it from A (complete) to E (normal function). This classification plays a major role in determining long-term prognosis and the future medical costs your case needs to account for.
What is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries?
Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, followed by falls, acts of violence, and sports or workplace accidents. In Houston specifically, our congested highways and heavy truck traffic make vehicle collisions an especially frequent cause of catastrophic spinal trauma.
Common causes of spinal cord injuries we see in our Houston cases include:
Car and truck accidents: High-speed collisions and head-on collisions generate enough force to fracture or dislocate the vertebrae, crushing or severing the spinal cord.
Falls: Falls from height, whether on a construction site or a poorly maintained property, are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries among older adults and workers alike.
Workplace and industrial accidents: Houston's oil, gas, and manufacturing industries expose workers to heavy machinery, falling objects, and other hazards capable of causing severe spinal trauma.
Sports and recreational accidents: Diving into shallow water, contact sports, and other recreational activities can result in sudden, violent impacts to the spine.
Acts of violence: Gunshot wounds and physical assaults are, unfortunately, a significant cause of spinal cord injuries nationwide.
No matter the cause, if someone else's negligence played a role in your injury, you have the right to hold them accountable. As a spinal cord injury lawyer in Houston, Mark Thiessen investigates every angle of your accident to determine exactly who is responsible and how many parties may share liability.
What makes spinal injury lawsuits different from others?
Spinal cord injury lawsuits require a level of resources, expertise, and long-term planning that most personal injury cases don't demand. Unlike a straightforward injury claim, these cases hinge on projecting decades of medical care, lost income, and life-altering consequences, which means the margin for error is enormous if your attorney gets it wrong.
Here's what sets spinal cord injury cases apart:
Lifetime care costs
A spinal cord injury doesn't end when your medical treatment does. Many victims require ongoing care for the rest of their lives, including physical therapy, assistive equipment, home health aides, and home modifications. Calculating these costs requires working with life care planners who can project decades of expenses with precision.
Extensive expert testimony
Building a strong spinal cord injury case means bringing in medical experts, vocational experts, and economists who can testify to the severity of your injury, your diminished earning capacity, and the true financial toll of your condition over your lifetime. Insurance companies will challenge every one of these projections, so the strength of your experts matters enormously.
Higher stakes, harder fights
Because the compensation at stake is so much higher in these cases, insurance companies fight spinal cord injury claims more aggressively than nearly any other type of case. They know that a fair settlement could mean millions of dollars, and they'll use every tactic available to minimize what they pay. This is why working with an experienced Houston catastrophic injury lawyer matters so much. As a spinal cord injury law firm in Houston, we understand what's required to take on these fights and win.
In the most tragic cases, a spinal cord injury proves fatal or contributes to a loved one's death. If you've lost a family member this way, a Houston wrongful death lawyer at our firm can help you pursue justice and the compensation your family deserves.
What damages can you receive in a spinal cord injury lawsuit?
Victims of spinal cord injuries can pursue both economic and non-economic damages under Texas law, covering everything from medical bills to the profound impact the injury has had on their quality of life. Because these injuries are catastrophic and often permanent, the damages available typically far exceed what's seen in a standard injury claim.
Economic damages
Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and all future medical care related to your injury.
Lost wages and earning capacity: Compensation for income lost during recovery, as well as diminished or eliminated ability to earn a living going forward.
Assistive equipment and home modifications: Wheelchairs, mobility aids, and renovations needed to make your home accessible.
Long-term care costs: In-home nursing, physical therapy, and other ongoing care needs projected over your lifetime.
Non-economic damages
Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain endured, including the chronic pain that often accompanies spinal cord injuries for the rest of a victim's life.
Mental anguish: The emotional toll of living with a catastrophic injury, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Loss of enjoyment of life: When your injury prevents you from participating in activities, hobbies, and relationships that once defined your life.
Loss of consortium: Compensation your spouse may be entitled to for the impact your injury has had on your relationship.
Calculating pain and suffering damages and other non-economic losses requires an attorney who understands how to translate the true weight of a spinal cord injury into a number insurance companies can't ignore. As an injury law firm in Houston with decades of combined trial experience, we know how to build cases that reflect the full scope of what you've lost.
How we fight insurance companies to get you what you deserve
We fight insurance companies by combining insider industry knowledge, independent investigation, and trial-ready preparation to force fair settlements or take your case to court. Insurance adjusters count on catastrophic injury victims being overwhelmed and desperate, and we make sure that strategy doesn't work.
Here's how we take on the giants:
Insider expertise |
Our team includes attorneys who spent years working inside the insurance industry, learning exactly how major carriers evaluate catastrophic injury claims and where their tactics fall apart. We use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses from day one. |
Relentless investigation |
We don't rely on the police report or the insurance company's version of events. Our team works with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and industry specialists to build a complete picture of how your injury happened and who's responsible. |
Trial-ready preparation |
We prepare every spinal cord injury case as if it's headed to trial, because insurance companies pay closer attention to attorneys who are willing to go the distance. When they know we won't back down, they take our demands seriously. |
Aggressive negotiation |
Armed with strong evidence and expert testimony, we negotiate from a position of strength. We don't accept lowball offers, and we won't let adjusters minimize the lifelong impact of your injury. |
If you're searching for a top-rated Houston spinal cord injury lawyer, don't settle for a firm that treats your case like just another file.
FAQs
What spinal injuries qualify for disability?
Most spinal cord injuries causing lasting paralysis, loss of sensation, or major functional limits qualify for Social Security Disability, including complete spinal cord injuries and many severe incomplete injuries. The Social Security Administration bases approval on the vertebrae affected and how much the injury limits your ability to work.
How much is a spinal cord injury case worth?
Case value depends on injury severity, liability clarity, available insurance coverage, and the strength of your legal representation. Because these injuries often require lifelong care, settlements can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
What percentage do lawyers take for a spinal cord injury case in Texas?
Most spinal cord injury attorneys in Texas, including Thiessen Law Firm, work on contingency, typically charging 33% to 40% of the final recovery. You pay nothing up front, and the fee is only owed if we win your case.
How long does a spinal cord injury lawsuit take?
Most spinal cord injury cases take one to three years to resolve, depending on the severity of the injury and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases often take longer because attorneys wait until you reach maximum medical improvement before valuing the claim, ensuring all future costs are properly accounted for.
What is the average settlement for a spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injury settlements vary widely, often ranging from several hundred thousand dollars to well over a million, depending on the severity of the injury and its lifelong impact. Complete spinal cord injuries and cases involving permanent paralysis typically settle for significantly more due to the extensive future care they require.
Who is liable for a spinal cord injury caused by a car accident?
Liability for a spinal cord injury caused by a car accident typically falls on the driver who caused the crash, though other parties like a trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, or government entity responsible for road maintenance may also share fault. Identifying every liable party is critical, since it can mean the difference between a limited settlement and full compensation for your injury.
What is the statute of limitations for a spinal cord injury claim in Texas?
Texas law generally gives spinal cord injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to recover compensation, so it's important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
Up against giants? The Houston spinal cord injury lawyers at Thiessen Law Firm can beat them.
A spinal cord injury changes everything, but it shouldn't cost you your future twice, once to the accident and again to an insurance company determined to pay you as little as possible. Insurance giants want you to feel powerless. They're counting on you not knowing what your case is truly worth or not having the resources to fight back.
At Thiessen Law Firm, we built our reputation on doing exactly that. As a Houston spinal cord injury lawyer, Mark Thiessen brings the same relentless, trial-ready approach to every catastrophic injury case that's earned our firm a track record of major victories against corporate giants. We investigate exhaustively, work with the right experts, and refuse to settle for less than what your future is worth.
If you or someone you love is facing life with a spinal cord injury, don't face the insurance companies alone. Call Thiessen Law Firm today at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
