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Since 1991, Christensen Law has strived to be a voice for the unheard. We have helped thousands of clients across Michigan recover the compensation they need after a severe injury has upended their lives. If you were hurt in an accident caused by negligence, our Michigan spinal cord injury lawyers will fight for you.
You have enough on your plate. Do not let the cost of someone else’s mistakes add to an already challenging time. Let our law firm pursue the financial resources you need to care for yourself, now and in the future. Contact us online or call now for a free consultation.
Christensen Law Has the Spinal Cord Injury Experience You Need
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are severe, often permanent, and can cause loss of mobility or complete paralysis. SCIs can also cause other serious health complications, and victims may need expensive and ongoing medical treatment and healthcare services.
If you suffered an SCI, not just any attorney will do. You need a catastrophic injury lawyer who understands the complexities of spinal injuries and how to get full and fair compensation for this type of claim. Christensen Law has the experience to take on these challenging cases. We are here to:
- Listening to your side of the story: We genuinely care about your struggle, and our compassionate attorneys and staff understand the importance of letting you tell your story. We are here to listen and support you with legal services that put your needs at the center.
- Protecting your rights: We will be a buffer between you, the insurance company, and other opposing parties. While you focus on your health, we will protect you from pressure, bad-faith tactics, and accidentally saying or doing something that could be used against you to hurt your claim.
- Fighting for the maximum compensation possible: We do not back down, and we do not settle for less. We prepare every case for trial and will spare no resources when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve. We value justice over speedy resolutions.
Our Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Will Pursue Maximum Compensation
Spinal cord injuries can lead to significant medical expenses and permanently affect a victim’s work capabilities. For these reasons, it is vital that you identify all of your current and future losses. Our Michigan personal injury lawyers will pursue all of your recoverable damages.
In general, compensation for a spinal cord injury may include:
- Medical treatment, including emergency transportation, emergency department services, doctor fees, hospital bills, medical devices and equipment, mobility aids, rehabilitation, extended nursing, and attendant care
- Lost income, including wages, employment benefits, lost future earnings, and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including loss of enjoyment, depression, stress, anxiety, severe and chronic pain, disfigurement, scarring, permanent and disabling injuries, and reduced quality of life
If your loved one suffered a fatal SCI, our wrongful death lawyers will seek compensation on behalf of their estate and qualifying survivors. Damages may include medical bills, funeral and burial costs, lost wages, lost future financial support, lost services, and survivors’ mental pain and suffering.
Our Back and Spinal Injury Case Results
Christensen Law has recovered multi-million-dollar awards and achieved record-setting case outcomes for personal injury victims. Our back and spinal injury case results include the following:
- A $3.2 million settlement for a married couple involved in a head-on accident. Sadly, the wife suffered fatal injuries. The husband sustained multiple severe injuries, including broken bones in his spine.
- A $3 million settlement for a client who sustained a traumatic brain injury and spinal herniation in a pedestrian accident.
- A $1.625 million settlement for the family of a wrongful death victim who died following surgery for serious spinal injuries sustained during a car accident.
- A $1.25 million settlement for a motorcycle accident victim who suffered severe back, neck, and shoulder injuries resulting in multiple surgeries.
How much compensation you can recover for your spinal cord injury will depend on factors unique to your case, including your age, the severity of your injury, and the extent of your medical treatment. To learn more about the potential value of your claim and how we help you pursue fair awards, contact Christensen Law online or call 24/7 for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), around 17,900 new SCIs occur annually in the United States. Common causes of SCIs include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The Cleveland Clinic reports that motor vehicle crashes cause over 37% of all spinal cord injuries.
In Michigan, most motorists must carry No-Fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Injured parties must first turn to their PIP coverage for compensation for medical bills and lost income after an accident, regardless of fault.
However, SCIs are a “serious impairment of body function” as defined by Mich. Comp. Laws Ann § 500.3135, qualifying SCI victims to step outside the No-Fault system and seek damages from a liable driver, including noneconomic awards for pain and suffering. Our Michigan spinal cord injury attorneys handle first-party and third-party auto accident claims.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
The Cleveland Clinic states that around 31% of SCIs occur because of falls. Falls from heights and slip-and-fall accidents can happen because of negligent or unsafe property conditions. When they do, we hold negligent property owners financially liable with a premises liability claim.
We also assist with workplace falls and construction accident falls.
Sports-Related Injuries
Sports injuries account for another 8% of spinal cord injuries. We assist with SCIs caused by boating accidents, swimming pool accidents, gym accidents, and more.
How Our Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Prove Negligence
However your SCI occurred, you must prove it resulted from another party’s negligent actions to recover compensation with a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Building a case based on negligence requires proving the following:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care, meaning they had a legal obligation to act in a safe manner and avoid causing harm. For example, when driving, all motorists have a duty of care to obey traffic laws and prevent causing an accident.
- The at-fault party committed a breach of duty. A breach occurs when someone breaks the law or acts in a way others in their situation would not find reasonable or necessary.
- There is causation between the breach of duty and your injury. Causation links your injury to the liable party’s actions. For example, an attorney may show that a drunk driver ran a red light, causing them to “t-bone” your car, leading to your SCI, which would not have occurred otherwise.
- Your injury led to damages, including financial losses and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers will support your claim with evidence. We will:
- Visit the accident scene to collect debris and take photographs and videos
- Track down available surveillance or cell phone footage of your accident
- Locate and interview eyewitness
- Obtain police reports or official incident reports
- Obtain medical bills and records
- Obtain estimates, invoices, receipts, pay stubs, and other proof of your losses
- Hire and consult with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, life-care planners, and other relevant case experts when needed
Spinal Cord Injury Case Deadlines
You have a limited time to seek compensation for a spinal cord injury. According to Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805, you have three years to file most personal injury lawsuits. If the statute of limitations expires, you likely cannot seek damages in court. If you can no longer sue, it will significantly reduce your insurance bargaining power.
In addition, if your SCI arose from a traffic accident, Mich. Comp. Laws Ann § 500.3145 allows one year to file a PIP claim.
Our Michigan spinal cord injury lawyers will explain deadlines that apply to your case and help you get started before time runs out.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Can Change Your Life
Spinal cord injuries can be life-changing because they often cause permanent loss of mobility and paralysis. According to the Mayo Clinic, physicians classify SCIs as complete (no feeling or motor control below the injury site) or incomplete (some feeling and motor control below the injury site).
Paralysis from an SCI can be referred to as:
- Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia): paralysis in the hands, arms, trunk, pelvic organs, and legs
- Paraplegia: paralysis in all or part of the trunk, pelvic organs, and leg but not the hands and arms
Additional health complications of an SCI may include:
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Pressure injuries (bed sores)
- Respiratory problems
- Circulatory problems
- Loss of bone density and muscle tone
- Decrease in overall wellness
- Sexual health problems
- Pain
- Depression
Contact Christensen Law About You Spinal Cord Injury Claim
If you or someone you loved suffered a spinal cord injury, Christensen Law will help you face the challenges ahead. Our Michigan spinal cord injury lawyers will aggressively pursue the compensation you need, including taking your case to trial if necessary. Throughout the legal process, we will work closely with you and keep you informed and updated.
Contact us online or call today to learn more about how we serve you. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations, so there is no risk to you.
