New Orleans Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

What Compensation Can I Recover in an SCI Claim?

A spinal cord injury can create expenses that continue for years or even a lifetime. Depending on the circumstances, compensation for a spinal cord injury may include medical treatment, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, home modifications, personal assistance, and other future care needs. 

You may also be able to pursue damages for lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of independence, and changes to your quality of life. We can help you document these impacts and pursue a settlement that reflects the true extent of your losses.

How the Level of Spinal Cord Injury Affects a Claim 

The location of an SCI can have a major effect on mobility, independence, medical care, and employment. That difference matters when evaluating the scope of a legal claim. We work with medical and life care professionals to connect the level and severity of your injury to your future treatment, equipment, independence, and ability to work.

SCIs generally affect four primary regions:

• Cervical injuries (neck). These are often the most severe and result in quadriplegia (tetraplegia). Victims may require 24/7 care, breathing assistance, and financial support for basic living.
• Thoracic injuries (mid or upper back). Damage usually affects the chest and legs. Victims may retain arm and hand function, but can also require a manual wheelchair and modified living spaces.
• Lumbar injuries (lower back). This type of SCI impacts the hips and legs. Patients might use a wheelchair or walk with braces, necessitating compensation for mobility aids and ongoing physical therapy.
• Sacral injuries (pelvic area). Damage at the base of the spine can cause loss of bowel and bladder control and some loss of function in the hips or legs, requiring specialized medical supplies and continuous care.

Who Is Liable for a Spinal Cord Injury?

The party responsible for an SCI depends on how the injury occurred. In some cases, more than one person or company may share responsibility. Some potentially liable parties include: 

Negligent Drivers

A driver may be liable when speeding, distraction, impairment, failure to yield, or other negligent conduct causes the crash. 

Trucking Companies

A trucking company may face liability when unsafe hiring, scheduling, supervision, maintenance, or other company practices contribute to a collision. 

Property Owners

A property owner or custodian may be responsible when an unsafe condition causes a fall or other accident resulting in spinal cord damage.

Employers & Third Parties

Workplace injuries can involve an employer as well as contractors, equipment owners, or other third parties, depending on what caused the accident. 

Manufacturers

A manufacturer may be liable when a defective product or component causes or contributes to the accident.

How Do You Prove a Spinal Cord Injury Resulted from Negligence?

A spinal cord injury claim requires more than showing that you have medical problems. The evidence must connect the negligent conduct to the accident and resulting injury. Imaging studies, emergency room documentation, and rehabilitation records can serve as vital evidence to establish the nature of the injury and its progression. 

Insurance companies often argue that SCIs are the result of a preexisting condition or age-related degeneration rather than the traumatic accident itself. Standing up to aggressive adjusters requires skilled legal guidance. Our attorneys can develop a compelling case to push back against these bad-faith tactics while you focus on healing.

Defending Against Unfair Blame Under Louisiana’s Comparative Fault Rules

Because spinal cord injury claims carry significant payouts, insurance adjusters will use every trick available to protect their profit margins, including leveraging the state’s comparative fault rules to shift a percentage of the blame onto you. If an insurance company can convince a court that you were partially responsible for the accident, they can slash your financial recovery by that same percentage. 

Our firm refuses to let insurers get away with these victim-blaming strategies. We can gather dashcam footage, witness statements, and expert analysis to prove that the other party was at fault and protect the maximum value of your settlement. By preparing every case for trial, we show insurers from the outset that your claim is backed by the preparation, evidence, and resources needed to take the fight all the way to trial.