Get Compensation for Lifelong Care Nationwide
It can happen in an instant: a car accident, assault, sports injury, or even a fall down the stairs can result in a spinal cord injury. The effects can range from a lack of coordination to complete paralysis. A severed spinal cord cannot be cured. It’s a life-changing event, and the recovery and rehabilitation process is long and expensive. Expenses can exceed $1 million in the first year alone.
Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to fight hard to limit your compensation. The catastrophic injury attorneys at Fieger Law are not afraid to go head-to-head with insurance companies to fight for you. We know how to outsmart and out-fight the people who would deny responsibility for your injury.
The Fieger team has won millions for spinal cord injury victims and their families. We won’t settle with your future. We’ll fight for you.
If you or a loved one is living with a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, call Fieger Law today for a free consultation.
Types and Levels of Spinal Cord Injuries
The severity and physical consequences of a spinal cord injury depend heavily on both the completeness of the damage and where it occurs along the spine.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
A complete injury results in a total loss of motor and sensory function below the point of damage. An incomplete injury leaves some pathways intact, allowing for partial movement or sensation. Insurance companies often try to minimize compensation by labeling injuries “incomplete,” even when the long-term limitations are profound.
Levels and Effects of a Spine Injury
Where the spinal cord is damaged matters as much as how severely. Injuries are described by the section of the spine affected:
- Cervical Spine (C1 to C7): Damage to the upper spine affects all four extremities. This can result in Tetraparesis/Quadriparesis (partial paralysis of all four limbs) or Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia (complete paralysis of all four limbs) and may require ventilator support.
- Thoracic Spine (T1 to T12): Mid-spine injuries affect the lower half of the body, leading to Paraparesis (partial paralysis of the lower extremities) or Paraplegia (complete paralysis of the lower extremities), resulting in limited mobility from the chest down.
- Lumbar Spine (L1 to L5): Lower-spine injuries primarily affect the hips and legs, causing partial or complete loss of function in the lower extremities. Because these nerves control the lower abdomen and pelvic organs, lumbar damage frequently results in a full or partial loss of bowel or bladder control, as well as sexual dysfunction.
From muscular pain to nerve damage requiring lengthy medical treatment, the physical consequences vary from patient to patient. Higher-level injuries inherently lead to higher lifetime costs. If your paralysis was caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Fieger Law today for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Common causes of spinal cord injuries our team handles include:
- Motor vehicle and motorcycle crashes
- Truck and commercial vehicle collisions
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Sports injuries, including diving, football, hockey, and rugby
- Workplace falls from scaffolding, ladders, and cranes
- Defective products and machinery
- Medical malpractice, including mismanaged spinal fractures and surgical errors
- Acts of violence
If your injury was caused by someone else’s carelessness, contact Fieger Law for a free consultation.
The Lifetime Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing care, equipment, and adaptation. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, lifetime costs for the most severe injuries can exceed several million dollars. Insurance companies push to settle quickly and cheaply, often before the full picture of long-term care is understood.
True lifetime costs include:
- Surgical care and rehabilitation
- Long-term and 24/7 nursing care
- Home modifications, ramps, and lifts
- Specialized vehicles and adaptive equipment
- Assistive technology and mobility devices
- Vocational retraining and lost earning capacity
- Mental health and counseling
Accepting a settlement before understanding your long-term needs can create serious financial challenges later. Call Fieger Law to make sure your future is fully protected.
Michigan No-Fault and Third-Party Claims
Michigan’s auto insurance system is complex, and a catastrophic spinal cord injury changes how it applies to your case. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits cover medical bills and wage loss regardless of fault, but PIP alone often falls short of what a lifetime of spinal injury care actually costs.
When an injury rises to the level of a “serious impairment of body function,” a category that almost always includes paralysis, you may also have the right to bring a third-party claim against the at-fault driver for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Aside from the physical limitations imposed on spinal cord injury victims, the lifetime financial burden can be overwhelming, often reaching well into the millions. Many families cannot afford to shoulder this immense cost.
That’s why you need a spinal cord injury attorney who will fight for you. Our team of spinal cord injury lawyers at Fieger Law understands these complex cases and can pursue maximum compensation for you and your family.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the damages an injured person can seek compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: This includes the costs of hospitalization, surgeries, medications, assistive devices, and rehabilitation and ongoing care.
- Lost Wages: This includes income that you lost while you were attempting to recover from your injury, as well as any future wages that you are unable to earn because of your injury.
- Pain and Suffering: This compensates for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish surrounding your injury.
- Loss of Consortium: This is compensation for any loss of companionship, love, and intimacy caused by your injury.
- Property Damage: Any damage to your car or other personal property from the injury-causing accident should be covered as well.
Determining Whether You Have a Case
After a spinal cord injury, it’s important that you not attempt to navigate the legal system on your own. Figuring out whether you have a case and what steps to take can be overwhelming, and you’ll need an experienced spinal injury lawyer to guide you.
Here are some of the factors our lawyers consider when evaluating the viability of a spinal cord injury case:
- The severity of your injury
- The cause of your injury
- Whether there is evidence of negligence by another party (if another party had a duty of care to you and breached that duty, causing your injury and damages)
- Your prognosis for recovery
You should not have to figure this out alone. Call Fieger Law and let our catastrophic injury team review your situation at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Cases
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
There is no flat number. Value depends on the severity and level of your injury, projected lifetime medical needs, lost earning capacity, and the strength of the negligence evidence. Cases involving complete cervical injuries often involve substantial long-term damages.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. As long as you are not 51 percent or more at fault, you may still recover compensation, though your award can be reduced. Insurance companies frequently exaggerate fault to cut their costs.
Does Michigan No-Fault Cover Home Modifications?
Yes. Under Michigan No-Fault law, home modifications are covered as an “allowable expense” under Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, provided they are reasonably necessary for an injured person’s care, recovery, or rehabilitation.
Covered modifications can range from installing wheelchair ramps and widening doorways to complete home renovations or, in catastrophic cases, constructing a new accessible home.
Millions Recovered for Our Clients
Fieger Law understands that our spinal injury clients have medical costs that will take multiple lifetimes to afford. However, people should not have to sacrifice their financial security, peace of mind, and quality of life because a business, insurance company, or wouldn’t take responsibility for catastrophic injury their actions caused.
Fieger Law is one of the most effective firms in the U.S. when it comes to making companies pay for their mistakes. We’ve secured hundreds of millions for our clients. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation so we can help you.
