Life may look very different after a spinal cord injury. A person may have trouble moving, working, or handling everyday tasks without help. Treatment and rehabilitation may continue for months or years, while medical costs rise and time away from work reduces income.
A spinal cord injury lawyer in Plano from The Texas Law Dog will investigate what caused the injury and pursue damages from those responsible. We are not a high-volume firm that takes every case that comes through the door. We limit our caseload so that serious injury cases get the time and attention they require.
Our catastrophic injury lawyer in Plano understands how insurance companies evaluate large claims. Before becoming an attorney, Matthew E. Aulsbrook, our firm’s founder, worked in the insurance industry and owned insurance agencies. He uses that background to represent injured people and their families. For a review of your options, call us for a free consultation.
How Our Plano Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help You
Spinal cord injury claims can involve large medical bills and years of future needs. Some cases may involve damages worth millions of dollars. That raises the stakes for the injured person and the insurance companies responsible for paying a claim.
The Texas Law Dog prepares these cases with the long term in mind. Our legal team can gather medical records, investigate the accident, identify insurance policies, speak with witnesses, and document how the injury affects your life. Our Plano personal injury lawyer can also work with medical, financial, and other specialists when a case requires their input.
Our firm has represented injured Texans since 2018. Matthew Aulsbrook grew up in the area and has built relationships and resources in the local legal community. Clients can reach us 24/7, including evenings and weekends, when they have questions about their case.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord carries messages between the rest of the brain and the body. When an accident damages it, those messages may have trouble reaching parts of the body below the injury.
Some people lose only part of their movement or feeling. Others lose all movement and feeling. Others lose all movement and feeling below the injured area. An injury higher on the spine can affect more of the body and may interfere with the use of both the arms and legs.
A spinal cord injury may also cause pain, weakness, numbness, muscle problems, or difficulty controlling certain body functions. Some people improve with treatment and rehabilitation, while others live with permanent changes.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Doctors often describe these injuries as complete or incomplete. When the spinal cord injury is complete, the person cannot move or feel the parts of the body below the injury. Someone with an incomplete injury may still be able to move or feel parts of the body below the injury site.
The level and severity of the injury help determine what kind of care a person may need. The Texas Law Dog can use medical records and expert opinions to show how an injury may affect a client now and in the years ahead.
Plano Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Spinal Cord Injuries Often Require Extensive Care
Treatment does not necessarily end when someone leaves the hospital. A person may need rehabilitation, therapy, medication, mobility equipment, home health care, or changes to a home or vehicle.
Some people also need ongoing help with daily tasks and may not be able to return to the same job. These future needs and costs should be considered when determining the value of a spinal cord injury claim.
Who May Be Responsible for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Determining how the accident happened is only one part of identifying who may be responsible. A serious injury claim may involve more than one person, company, or insurance policy.
For example, a driver may cause a crash while working for a company. A trucking case could raise questions about the driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or another business. A fall could involve a property owner or another party responsible for unsafe conditions.
Texas also uses a proportionate responsibility system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, an injured person generally cannot recover damages if their share of responsibility is greater than 50%. When liability is disputed, The Texas Law Dog can gather evidence and respond to claims that the injured person caused or contributed to the accident.
Insurance Limits Can Matter in a Severe Injury Claim
A spinal cord injury may cost far more than insurance available under a single policy. That can become a major issue when a person needs lifelong care or can no longer earn the same income.
Our spinal injury lawyers in Plano look beyond the first policy presented after an accident. Depending on the case, coverage may exist through an employer, business, commercial policy, or another responsible party. An injured person’s insurance may also provide coverage in some situations.
We will review the available policies, examine coverage issues, and deal directly with insurance companies while the client focuses on treatment.
Damages After a Spinal Cord Injury in Plano, Texas
A spinal cord injury can affect nearly every part of someone’s life. The losses may extend well beyond the bills that arrive immediately after the accident.
Depending on the facts, recoverable damages may include:
- Medical bills and expected future medical care
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost income and reduced future earning ability
- Physical pain or discomfort
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Physical limitations or impairment
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Costs for mobility equipment or other medical devices
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Assistance with personal and household needs
We may also consult specialists who can help estimate future medical, care, and financial needs.
The Emotional Effects Also Matter
Living with a serious spinal cord injury can bring frustration, grief, fear, and major changes in independence. A person may no longer be able to take part in activities they once enjoyed or fill the same roles at home.
Family members may also take on caregiving duties and adjust their roles around the injured person’s needs. These changes can become important when documenting the full harm caused by an accident.
Fatal Spinal Cord Injuries and Wrongful Death Claims
Some spinal injuries are so severe that the person does not survive. If you have lost a loved one to a fatal injury, we are deeply sorry for your loss. We know that no legal claim can replace someone you love.
Families deserve time to grieve without also having to figure out insurance claims and legal deadlines on their own. Our wrongful death lawyer in Plano will investigate the fatal accident and explain which family members may have a claim.
Depending on the circumstances, wrongful death damages can address losses such as lost earning capacity, lost care and support, loss of companionship, and mental anguish.
Texas Sets Deadlines for Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits
The state generally gives an injured person two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 also generally gives families two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
Exceptions can change these deadlines. Speaking with our spinal cord injury attorneys in Plano early also gives the legal team more time to preserve evidence and investigate what happened.
Talk With a Plano Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer About Your Case
A spinal cord injury can create questions that last long after the accident itself. You may need to know who is responsible, how much insurance is available, and how future medical and financial needs should factor into your claim.
The Texas Law Dog will investigate those questions and handle the insurance and legal work while you concentrate on your health and family. We offer a free case review, and you owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
Our team is available 24/7, including evenings and weekends. Spanish-speaking clients and families are also welcome. Se habla español. Contact The Texas Law Dog to discuss your spinal cord injury claim today.
