Because numerous factors affect spinal cord injury lawsuit values and each case is distinctive, nobody can declare a universal or average settlement amount. However, given the extensive damages associated with spinal cord injuries, these cases have the potential for very high settlements and jury awards—commonly in the millions of dollars.
But exactly how much is a spinal cord injury case worth? The answer depends on the specific facts and losses in your individual situation. Contact a spinal cord injury attorney to seek legal assistance in your case.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
When someone suffers a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another person or party, they may be entitled to substantial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Negligence occurs when an individual or entity fails to exercise reasonable care and caution, resulting in harm or injury to another.
- Car, truck, or motorcycle accidents caused by reckless or distracted driving
- Slip and fall incidents due to unsafe property conditions
- Medical malpractice during surgery or treatment
- Defective products, such as faulty vehicles or malfunctioning equipment
- Workplace accidents due to unsafe conditions or lack of training
- Sports and recreation accidents due to negligent supervision or facility maintenance
- Violent assaults due to negligent security
When a lawyer establishes negligence, the injured person can pursue compensation for the full extent of their economic and non-economic damages related to the spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating types of injuries a person can suffer. Not only do they often result in permanent paralysis, loss of sensation, and other profound impairments, but they also typically require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lifelong care and accommodations.
All of this comes at a tremendous financial cost on top of the physical and emotional suffering.
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or wrongful actions, you may recover substantial compensation through a spinal cord injury lawsuit.
Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
No, you should not accept the first offer from the insurance company without first consulting an experienced spinal cord injury attorney.
Here’s why:
- Initial offers are often lowball: Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not paying out claims. Their first offer is almost always much lower than what your case is actually worth. They’re hoping you’ll accept a quick settlement before understanding the full extent of your damages.
- You may not know the full extent of your injuries and damages yet: Spinal cord injuries are complex, and the full impact may not be apparent right away. It takes time to reach maximum medical improvement and to assess your long-term needs. If you settle too quickly, you may not receive enough compensation to cover your future medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
- You have not calculated your full economic and non-economic damages: To determine a fair settlement amount, your attorney needs to work with experts to calculate all of your damages, including future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. The first offer from the insurance company is likely not to take all of these damages into account.
- You may be entitled to more compensation than you realize: Experienced spinal cord injury attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and how to build a strong claim for maximum compensation. They can often negotiate a much higher settlement than what the insurance company initially offers.
- You may lose your right to sue for further damages: If you accept a settlement offer, you’ll likely be required to sign a release that prevents you from seeking further compensation, even if your condition worsens or you discover additional damages. You want to make sure the settlement fully and fairly compensates you before accepting.
Remember, insurance adjusters train to settle cases as quickly and cheaply as possible. They do not have your best interests in mind. That’s why you must work with a skilled spinal cord injury lawyer who can level the playing field and fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
At the very least, you should consult with an attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Most spinal cord injury law firms offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you have nothing to lose by getting an expert opinion on your case.
If an attorney believes the insurance company offered an unfair settlement, they can take over negotiations and fight for a better outcome.
While the prospect of a quick settlement may be tempting, especially in the face of mounting medical bills, think about your long-term needs. An experienced attorney can ensure you receive a settlement that safeguards your future and provides the financial security you need after a catastrophic spinal cord injury.
Factors That Impact Spinal Cord Injury Settlement Amounts
Every spinal cord injury case is unique.
The value of a particular lawsuit depends on numerous factors, including:
- The severity and level of the spinal cord injury (e.g. complete vs incomplete, paraplegia vs quadriplegia)
- The cause and circumstances of the accident or incident
- The age and overall health of the injured person
- The at-fault party’s degree of negligence or misconduct
- The skill and experience of the spinal cord injury attorney
- The state where the lawsuit is filed
One of the most important factors is the extent of the injured person’s damages—meaning their economic and non-economic losses stemming from the spinal cord injury. In general, the more severe the injury and the higher the associated costs and suffering, the greater the potential value of the case.
Types of Damages in a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit
Spinal cord injury lawsuits seek to recover monetary damages for both the economic and non-economic losses suffered by the injured person.
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:
- Medical Expenses: The costs of medical care for spinal cord injury patients are astronomical and ongoing. A lawsuit can pursue compensation for all injury-related medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, medical equipment, home modifications, and future treatment needs. Over a lifetime, medical costs can easily reach millions of dollars.
- Lost Income: Spinal cord injuries often prevent an individual from working for an extended period or from ever returning to their previous occupation. A lawsuit seeks recovery for the injured person’s lost wages, benefits, and earning potential over their lifetime.
- Pain and Suffering: Spinal cord injuries inflict tremendous physical pain and emotional anguish that no amount of money can ever undo. However, the civil justice system attempts to acknowledge this suffering by awarding compensation for an injured person’s pain, disfigurement and scarring, mental trauma, anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
- Long-Term Care and Disability Costs: Quadriplegia and paraplegia due to spinal cord injury typically require extensive ongoing personal care, medical supplies, and mobility equipment—potentially for the remainder of an individual’s life. A lawsuit pursues monetary damages to help cover these significant long-term costs.
Catastrophic injury life care plans created by medical experts are used to calculate an injured person’s future medical and personal care needs as well as their reduced earning capacity over a lifetime. The lifetime costs reflected in these plans directly impact the value of the spinal cord injury case.
Estimated Settlement Ranges for Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Given the catastrophic nature of spinal cord injuries, the lifelong impacts, and the extraordinary costs involved, spinal cord injury settlements and jury awards are often substantial, commonly reaching into the millions of dollars. However, the outcome of each individual case depends on the unique facts and damages involved.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation estimates the following costs for the first year of treatment alone after a spinal cord injury:
- High Tetraplegia (C1-C4): $1,064,716
- Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8): $769,351
- Paraplegia: $518,904
Each subsequent year of medical care and living expenses is estimated to cost anywhere from $42,000 to $184,000, depending on the severity of the injury. Over a lifetime, costs can reach $4.7 million or more.
Real-Life Examples of Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Outcomes
A look at some real back and spinal cord injury settlements and jury verdicts the personal injury lawyers at Rothenberg Law Firm LLP lawyers have secured in recent years further illustrates the potential value of these cases:
- $25 million settlement for TBI and quadriplegic
- $6.825 awarded to a construction worker in a scaffolding collapse
- $3.5 million settlement for spinal injuries in a trucking accident
- $3 million settlement during trial for a back injury suffered in a construction accident
- $2.6 million verdict for arm and back injuries of pedestrian struck by a bus
- $2 million for back injuries from a motor vehicle collision
- $1.15 million verdict for back injuries in an automobile accident
- $1.05 million verdict for back injuries suffered in intersectional collision
While these cases demonstrate the potential for multi-million-dollar recoveries, it’s important to remember that results vary based on the unique facts of each case. Spinal cord injury victims should focus on retaining an experienced attorney who can build the most robust case for maximum compensation based on their specific circumstances and damages.
The Importance of Experienced Legal Representation
To have the best chance at securing full and fair compensation, it’s crucial that spinal cord injury victims work with a law firm that has proven experience handling and winning catastrophic injury cases.
Spinal cord injury lawsuits are exceedingly complex, both legally and medically. It takes specialized knowledge and extensive resources to properly investigate the accident, prove liability, calculate damages, and negotiate or litigate against deep-pocketed defendants and insurance companies.
At Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, our compassionate attorneys have over 50 years of experience fighting for the rights of catastrophically injured individuals and their families. We understand the immense physical, emotional, and financial toll of spinal cord injuries, and we are dedicated to pursuing the maximum compensation our clients need to move forward with their lives. We are relentless in our mission.
While no amount of money can undo the profound losses of a spinal cord injury, a successful lawsuit can provide vital resources for medical care, rehabilitation, long-term living needs, and financial security. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, please call us for a free consultation.
We will review your case, answer your questions, and discuss how we can help during this difficult time.
The value of your spinal cord injury lawsuit will depend on the unique facts and damages in your case, but our attorneys will fight tenaciously for every dollar you deserve. You pay nothing unless and until we recover money for you. Please reach out today to learn how we can deliver the justice you deserve.
Contact Rothenberg Law Group LLP to Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, don’t settle for less than you deserve. The experienced attorneys at Rothenberg Law Firm LLP are here to fight for your rights and secure the maximum compensation you need to move forward.
Don’t accept the insurance company’s first offer without consulting with us first. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to review your case, answer your questions, and discuss how we can help. You pay nothing unless and until we win your case.
You’ve already endured so much. Let us handle the legal burden while you focus on healing. Call us or fill out our online contact form to get started today. We serve clients in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, and we’re ready to put our 50+ years of experience to work for you.
Remember, you only have one chance to settle your spinal cord injury case. Make sure you have a skilled legal team on your side to fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. Contact personal injury lawyer at Rothenberg Law Firm LLP today at (800) 624-8888 or through our online form, and let us deliver the justice you deserve.
