How To Choose A Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer (2025)

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Sarah Edwards

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Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

Editor

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Summary

  • Spinal cord injuries can cause serious pain and financial losses
  • You need a lawyer to represent you when filing a claim
  • Choosing a lawyer with experience is crucial

Some of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer in an accident are spinal cord injuries. These injuries can cause significant pain as well as mobility issues that could impact you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, spinal cord trauma isn’t uncommon. Globally, approximately 15 million people live with a spinal cord injury.

If someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct led you to suffer spinal cord trauma, one of the most important steps you can take is to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer. With experienced representation by your side, you can have a better chance of getting compensation.

But how can you choose a spinal cord injury attorney who’s right for your case? Here’s what you need to know.

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Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries involve damage to any part of the spinal cord, which is part of your central nervous system. The spinal cord is made up of nerve fibers that allow your brain to communicate with the rest of your body. As a result, an injury anywhere along the spine can result in changes in strength and feeling levels below the site of the injury.

You can suffer a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury. A complete injury is when you lose all feeling and control in your body below the injury. With an incomplete one, you still have some control and feeling below the site of the injury.

These are catastrophic injuries that leave you unable to live your life as you used to. Because of the tremendous losses you can suffer from such injuries, it’s important to hire an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer to represent you. You may need substantial compensation, and a lawyer can fight for you to receive it.

Why You Need a Spinal Injury Lawyer

Whether the injuries occur because of auto accidents, falls or even intentional actions, victims can rely on spinal cord injury lawyers when filing a claim. These claims are often complex because they involve significant monetary settlements, so you don’t want to attempt to navigate the process on your own.

Take a closer look at how hiring an attorney can benefit your case.

Gathering Evidence

To demonstrate that the other party owed you a duty of care and breached that responsibility, you need to present compelling evidence. When dealing with serious injuries, the last thing you may have strength for is to gather evidence and speak with potential witnesses. Your lawyer can handle all of this for you.

Negotiating

Negotiating with insurance companies can be challenging. If you try to do so on your own, you may be pushed into accepting a lower settlement than you deserve.

When you have a lawyer by your side, however, they can fight to get you fair accident compensation. This is essential when dealing with injuries that could impact you for the rest of your life.

Litigating Your Case

If an insurance company doesn’t want to cooperate, your spinal cord injury lawyer can take your claim to court. This allows your attorney to present the case in front of a judge, helping you to get what you deserve. A lawyer’s in-depth knowledge and litigation skills are critical if your case goes to trial.

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How to Choose the Right Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

There may be many options in your area when it comes to injury attorneys, so it’s important to know how to find the right person for the job.

Consider Referrals

Ask people you trust for recommendations. It’s likely that you know at least one person who has needed a personal injury lawyer in the past. If you know lawyers with other focus areas, ask them for referrals, too. It’s possible they have contacts throughout the field.

Look for Experience With Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Not all personal injury lawyers will be the right choice for a complex spinal cord injury claim. A birth injury lawyer, for example, may not have the specific knowledge necessary to represent your case, which could put you at serious risk of losing the compensation you need to continue getting medical care.

That’s why it’s a good idea to look for a lawyer who has worked with the two main types of accidents that can lead to spinal cord injuries: falls and car accidents. For instance, a premise liability attorney and a car crash lawyer will likely have represented people who suffered similar injuries.

Check the Lawyer’s Track Record

Many lawyers have great-looking websites and may even spend a lot of money advertising their services. This doesn’t mean that they have the track record you want. Even if you see that the lawyer has won many claims, ask them how much they managed to get for their clients.

Make sure that the lawyer you consider also has both negotiation and litigation experience. If insurance companies don’t offer an appropriate settlement, you need your lawyer to be ready to go to court.

Ask About the Fee Structure

Before you make a choice, ensure you know how and when the lawyer expects to be paid. Personal injury lawyers typically only get paid if and when you do. They receive a percentage of your winnings, so make sure that you know what this amount will be.

ConsumerShield Can Help You Find the Best Lawyer for You

Spinal cord injuries can leave you with an astronomical emergency or urgent care cost, ongoing medical needs, the inability to work and significant emotional trauma. To cover these expenses, you can file a claim with the help of a skilled lawyer.

At ConsumerShield, we can connect you with qualified personal injury lawyers in your area who have experience with spinal cord injury claims. At the same time, we can also offer legal guidance to help you get through the immediate aftermath of the accident. Contact us to get started today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Spinal cord injuries that affect the cervical (neck) area tend to be the most severe. They can result in paralysis of the hands, arms, trunk and legs. It’s possible that you may not be able to breathe on your own, either.

  • Every case is unique, so you can find out what your claim is worth during your initial consultation with an attorney. One rule of thumb, however, is that the more serious the injury is, the more compensation you’re likely to get.

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