San Francisco Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
A spinal cord injury can dramatically change a person’s life in a moment. Movement, sensation, independence, employment, relationships, and everyday activities can all be affected. A serious spinal cord injury requires the very top personal injury lawyers. Our spinal cord injury lawyers know how to prepare and win serious injury cases.
The personal and financial consequences of a spinal cord injury can also last decades. Rehabilitation, future medical treatment, mobility equipment, home modifications, personal care, and lost earning capacity can create substantial lifetime financial needs.
The San Francisco spinal cord injury lawyers at The Hassell Law Group represent people and families facing catastrophic injuries caused by negligence.
Our attorneys have more than 75 years of combined personal injury law experience, an undefeated trial and arbitration record, and extensive experience handling cases involving serious spinal injuries and permanent disability.
A spinal cord injury claim should account not only for what has already happened, but for what the injured person is reasonably likely to need for the rest of their life.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
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Selected Serious Spine Injury Results
$1,750,000 – Commercial Truck Collision
The Hassell Law Group recovered $1.75 million for a client who was rear-ended by a commercial truck and suffered spinal injuries requiring surgery.
$890,000 – Construction Site Fall
The Hassell Law Group secured $890,000 in a disputed liability claim for a client who fell through a second-floor construction opening and suffered a serious back injury requiring surgery and placement of a titanium rod in the spine.
Please review additional Hassell Law Group case results.
Why Spinal Cord Injury Cases Require Special Attention
A catastrophic injury claim may require proof of:
- The level and severity of neurological injury
- Permanent functional limitations
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation needs
- Wheelchairs and medical equipment
- Personal or attendant care
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Lost future earnings
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- The effect of the injury on family life
Insurance companies know these claims can carry very substantial damages and may dispute liability, medical causation, future care projections, or the cost of lifetime needs.
Our skilled spinal cord injury attorneys develop both sides of the case:
Why the defendant is responsible (liability), and what the injury will cost over a lifetime (damages). Preparation is crucial for a successful outcome in these cases.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury involves damage to the spinal cord and resulting neurological impairment.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that spinal cord damage can affect movement, sensation, strength, bowel and bladder control, breathing, and other functions below the level of injury.
The severity depends heavily on where the cord is injured and how much neurological function remains.
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Spinal Cord Injury vs. Back or Neck Injury
Not every spinal injury is a spinal cord injury.
Accident victims may suffer:
- Herniated discs
- Vertebral fractures
- Ligament injuries
- Nerve-root injuries
- Spinal instability
- Other serious back and neck injuries
These can be painful and disabling without necessarily involving damage to the spinal cord itself.
A true SCI involves neurological injury to the spinal cord.
This distinction matters medically and legally because damages should be based on the actual diagnosis and functional consequences, not simply the presence of back pain or an abnormal MRI finding.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete SCI involves essentially complete loss of motor and sensory function below the neurological level of injury.
An incomplete SCI means some neurological function remains below the injured area.
Outcomes can vary dramatically even among people with injuries at similar spinal levels.
Higher cervical injuries can affect the arms, legs, trunk, and breathing. Lower injuries may primarily affect the lower body.
Medical teams use neurological examinations, imaging, and classification systems such as the ASIA Impairment Scale to evaluate the injury.
For a legal claim, the practical consequences matter as much as the diagnostic label. Our attorneys look at what the injured person can actually do independently, what assistance is required, what functions have been lost, and what medical providers expect in the future.
Spinal Cord Injuries Affect More Than Mobility
Paralysis can be only one consequence of SCI.
Potential complications include:
- Chronic pain
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
- Pressure injuries
- Muscle spasticity
- Blood clots
- Respiratory problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Cardiovascular complications
- Autonomic dysfunction
The National Institute of Health discusses these and other conditions associated with spinal cord injury.
These complications can substantially affect lifetime medical needs and independence. They can also create recurring costs that may not appear in the first year after the accident.
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Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Serious SCI claims may result from:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High-impact collisions can cause spinal fractures, compression, or direct cord injury.
Our San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers handle serious motor vehicle collision claims.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Truck crashes can create enormous forces and multiple sources of corporate liability.
Our firm’s $1.75 million serious spine injury recovery involved a commercial truck collision.
See our San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyers page.
Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Accidents
Vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians have little protection from direct impact with a vehicle or roadway.
The Hassell Law Group maintains dedicated practices for:
Falls and Construction Accidents
Falls from heights, stairs, openings, scaffolds, and dangerous property conditions can cause catastrophic spinal trauma.
See our San Francisco Construction Accident Lawyers and Premises Liability Lawyers pages for additional information.
How Our Firm Builds a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Establish Liability
Depending on the accident, evidence may include:
- Police reports
- Surveillance video footage
- Witness testimony
- Vehicle electronic data
- Commercial trucking records
- Property inspection records
- Construction documents
- Accident reconstruction experts
Catastrophic damages do not remove the need to prove fault. Our attorneys carefully develop liability and damages at the same time so the case is prepared for both insurance negotiations and if necessary, litigation.
Establish the Medical Diagnosis
We review:
- Emergency first responder records
- MRI and CT imaging
- Surgical reports
- Neurological examinations
- Rehabilitation records
- Physician opinions
- Functional assessments
Understand Long-Term Function
Before a catastrophic claim is resolved, it is critical to understand likely permanent limitations and future care needs.
The medical picture may continue evolving after the initial hospitalization. Rehabilitation progress, complications, mobility, endurance, and the ability to perform daily activities can all affect the value of the case.
Life-Care Planning
A qualified life-care planner may identify projected needs such as:
- Medical specialists
- Rehabilitation
- Wheelchairs
- Medical supplies
- Personal care
- Home health assistance
- Accessible transportation
- Home modifications
- Future surgery
- Assistive technology
Vocational and Economic Analysis
A serious SCI may permanently alter someone’s ability to work.
Vocational and economic experts may evaluate lost earning capacity, employment benefits, future care costs, and other financial losses.
For younger clients, even a moderate annual earning loss can become a substantial amount of money when projected across decades of expected work life. We work to calculate the full lifetime amount of your damages.
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Future Care Is Central to Case Value
A catastrophic injury settlement should not be evaluated by simply adding up the medical bills already incurred.
Future needs may include:
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Wheelchair replacement
- Personal care attendants
- Home modifications
- Accessible transportation
- Medication
- Medical supplies
- Additional surgery
- Assistive technology
When those needs may continue for decades, underestimating them can substantially undervalue the claim.
Future care should be supported by medical evidence and expert cost projections rather than speculation. Our attorneys work to connect medical recommendations to a well-documented plan of care so the insurer, defense lawyer, judge, or jury can understand why the projected expenses are necessary.
Attendant Care and Loss of Independence
Some spinal cord injury survivors require help with bathing, dressing, transfers, transportation, bowel and bladder care, meal preparation, or other daily activities.
That assistance may be provided by professional caregivers, family members, or both. The value of future attendant care can become one of the largest components of a catastrophic injury claim.
Even when family members willingly provide care, the need for that care should not be ignored. A serious claim should document how much assistance is required, how often it is needed, and how long those needs are expected to continue.
Home and Vehicle Modifications
A serious SCI may require:
- Ramps
- Wider doorways
- Accessible bathrooms
- Roll-in showers
- Lifts
- Modified kitchens
- Accessible sleeping areas
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles
- Hand controls
When medically necessary, these expenses can become part of the damages analysis.
Housing needs may also change over time. A person who once lived independently in a walk-up apartment, for example, may need an accessible residence with a different layout, parking, or caregiver space.
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Who Can Be Liable?
Depending on what caused the injury, potential defendants may include:
- Negligent motorists
- Commercial vehicle drivers
- Trucking companies
- Employers
- Property owners
- Property managers
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Businesses
- Government entities
California’s general negligence principles are reflected in Civil Code § 1714.
Catastrophic injury cases require identification of every responsible party and every available source of insurance to maximize our client’s financial recovery.
Insurance Coverage Matters
Spinal cord injuries can create damages far beyond ordinary liability insurance limits.
Available coverage may include:
- Auto liability insurance
- Commercial insurance policies
- Employer insurance coverage
- Premises liability insurance
- Umbrella insurance policies
- Excess insurance
- UM/UIM coverage
If a negligent motorist has inadequate liability insurance, our San Francisco Uninsured Motorist Lawyers can investigate additional coverage.
In a catastrophic injury case, identifying available insurance coverage early can influence litigation strategy. Our legal team examines whether the defendant was acting for an employer, whether additional insured coverage may apply, and whether umbrella or excess policies exist.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Depending on the case, damages may include:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Attendant care
- Medical equipment
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Loss of independence
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium in qualifying cases
These are precisely the categories that make expert lifetime damages analysis essential in a spinal cord injury claim.
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Lost Earning Capacity After a Spinal Cord Injury
A catastrophic injury can affect work in very different ways. Some people cannot return to their prior occupation. Others may return with reduced hours, lower earnings, additional accommodations, or a shorter expected career.
Our legal team looks beyond immediate wage loss to evaluate future earning capacity. That may include the injured person’s education, work history, career path, benefits, expected promotions, physical job demands, and realistic employment options after the injury.
What If You Had a Pre-Existing Spine Condition?
Insurance companies frequently point to prior:
- Back pain
- Degenerative changes
- Disc problems
- Earlier accidents
- Previous surgery
A pre-existing condition does not automatically defeat a spinal cord injury claim.
The key medical question is whether the accident caused a new injury or aggravated an existing condition.
Strong medical evidence is essential when causation is contested. Prior records can be useful because they may establish the person’s actual level of function before the accident.
What If You Were Partially at Fault?
California comparative-fault principles may permit recovery even when an injured person bears some responsibility.
Damages can be reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of fault.
Because catastrophic damages can be substantial, defendants may aggressively dispute liability even when their own negligence is clear. Accident reconstruction experts, witness testimony, surveillance video, and physical evidence can therefore be especially important to preserve.
How Long Do You Have to File?
California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally provides two years for many negligence-based personal injury claims.
Claims involving public entities require a government claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2.
Other exceptions may apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a herniated disc a spinal cord injury?
Not necessarily. A disc injury can be serious without damaging the spinal cord itself.
What is the difference between complete and incomplete SCI?
A complete injury involves essentially complete loss of motor and sensory function below the injury. An incomplete injury leaves some neurological function.
What is paraplegia?
Paraplegia generally affects the lower body.
What is quadriplegia or tetraplegia?
Tetraplegia generally results from cervical spinal cord injury and can affect the arms, legs, trunk, and other body functions.
What is a life-care plan?
It is an evidence-based assessment of anticipated future medical treatment, rehabilitation, equipment, personal care, and related needs.
Can caregiver costs be recovered?
Yes, when medically necessary care is caused by the injury and properly supported by evidence.
Can home modifications be part of the case?
Yes, when accessibility modifications are reasonably necessary because of the injury.
Can I recover future lost income if I can still work?
Potentially. A person may have reduced earning capacity even if they return to some form of employment.
What if the defendant does not have enough insurance?
Our attorneys investigate commercial, umbrella, excess, UM/UIM, and other potentially available insurance coverages.
How much is a spinal cord injury case worth?
Case value depends on neurological severity, permanent impairment, future medical needs, attendant care, equipment needs, housing modifications, lost earnings, pain and suffering, liability, comparative fault, and available insurance coverage.
How much does The Hassell Law Group charge?
Qualifying cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Related Practice Areas
- San Francisco Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
- San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers
- San Francisco Truck Accident Lawyers
- San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
- San Francisco Construction Accident Lawyers
- San Francisco Premises Liability Lawyers
- San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyers
Contact Our San Francisco Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today
A spinal cord injury claim is about far more than reimbursement of medical bills.
It is about ensuring that a person whose life has been permanently altered has resources for future medical treatment, rehabilitation, personal care, mobility, housing, transportation, lost earnings, and other long-term consequences.
The Hassell Law Group will investigate liability, identify responsible parties and available insurance, develop the medical and damages evidence, and prepare the case for trial when necessary.
Contact our legal team today at (415) 334-4111 for a free consultation.
There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.