Paralysis claims are not ordinary car accident cases, and they should never be handled like one. They demand a legal team that understands both medicine and the courtroom and has the resources to stand up to large insurance companies. That is the standard the Troy spinal cord injury lawyers at Christensen Law bring to every client we serve.
We represent people across Michigan who are facing paralysis, mounting medical bills, and an insurance system that rarely works in their favor. We listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight to win the full compensation you and your family deserve.
For more than 35 years, we have represented people with catastrophic injuries, and we treat every client like family. From our Troy office on Livernois Road, we help injured people throughout Oakland County and the rest of the state.
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury, call us 24/7 at (248) 233-0684 for a free, no-risk consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Can a Troy Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help You?
A Troy spinal cord injury lawyer can handle every legal and financial part of your claim, so you can focus on healing. From the first day we take your case, we manage the insurance companies, gather the evidence, and pursue the maximum compensation available under Michigan law.
Spinal cord injury cases are some of the most complex claims in personal injury law. They often involve lifelong medical care, lost income, and hard questions about who is truly responsible. Our attorneys handle these high-value cases with the detail and preparation a trial demands.
We do not operate like a high-volume settlement mill. Instead, we focus closely on life-altering injuries, and we prepare each case as if it will go before a jury. That preparation often pushes insurance companies to offer far more than they would to a firm unwilling to go to court.
Most of the spinal cord injuries we handle come from serious crashes involving commercial trucks, cars, and motorcycles. These collisions can fracture vertebrae and damage the spinal cord in an instant, often leaving lasting harm. We know how to investigate each type of crash and hold the right parties accountable.
Our attorneys can help you by:
- Investigating your crash quickly to preserve evidence such as vehicle data, photos, and witness accounts
- Identifying every source of compensation, including your own No-Fault benefits and any at-fault parties
- Working with your doctors to document your current and future medical needs
- Handling all communication with insurance adjusters who may try to reduce your claim
You should never have to take on a paralysis claim alone, and our team is ready to carry that burden for you. Reach out anytime to talk through your options at no cost.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Lasting Impact
A spinal cord injury happens when the bundle of nerves running through your spine is damaged, which can disrupt movement, sensation, and basic body functions below the injury. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, these injuries are often caused by sudden trauma, such as a car or truck crash.
The effects depend on where the injury occurs along the spine and how severe it is. Some people regain partial function over time, while others face permanent paralysis. Either way, the cost of care can reach into the millions of dollars over a lifetime.
Many people in our community first learn how serious these injuries are while a loved one is being treated at a Troy-area hospital, such as Corewell Health Troy Hospital. The early days can bring surgery, intensive care, and a flood of difficult decisions. Our role is to handle the legal side, so your family can stay focused on recovery.
Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury means a person loses all feeling and movement below the level of the injury. An incomplete injury leaves some function intact. Higher injuries to the neck can affect all four limbs, a condition called tetraplegia, while lower injuries may affect the legs and lower body, known as paraplegia.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Changes Daily Life
Life after a spinal cord injury often calls for new routines, equipment, and support. Many people need wheelchairs, home modifications, and ongoing therapy. Families frequently step into caregiving roles, which adds emotional and financial strain during an already difficult time.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Spinal Cord Injury?
After a spinal cord injury, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, attendant care, and the pain and suffering you have endured. The exact amount depends on your injuries, the insurance involved, and who caused the crash.
Under Michigan’s No-Fault system, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays for many of your immediate needs, regardless of who was at fault, as set out in Michigan Compiled Laws Section 500.3105. These benefits can be a lifeline in the early days after a serious injury.
Michigan law also allows payment for a wide range of medical and care costs, described in Section 500.3107. A spinal cord injury claim may include compensation for:
- Hospital care, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Attendant care provided at home, sometimes by family members
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Home and vehicle modifications, such as ramps and lifts
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life through a third-party claim
No single benefit covers everything, so our attorneys work to combine every available source into one strong claim. We account for the care you will need years from now, not just the bills you face today.
It helps to understand the two broad kinds of damages in these cases. Economic damages cover measurable losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages cover the human side of your injury, including pain, suffering, and the activities you can no longer enjoy.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Affect Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Michigan’s No-Fault system shapes nearly every spinal cord injury claim by deciding which insurance pays first and what you can recover from an at-fault driver. Understanding these rules early can protect the value of your case.
First-party benefits come from your own PIP coverage and pay for medical care and wage loss, no matter who caused the crash. A third-party lawsuit, on the other hand, lets you pursue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages the No-Fault system does not fully cover.
Michigan also follows a modified comparative fault rule under Section 600.2959. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly to blame, as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault. If you share some of the blame, your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Timing matters, too. In most injury cases, Section 600.5805 gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, though some deadlines are shorter. Because a missed deadline can end your claim, it is wise to speak with a Troy spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible.
These cases also involve Michigan-specific terms you may hear along the way, such as first-party claims, third-party lawsuits, attendant care, and coordinated insurance policies. Each one affects how and when you get paid. We explain every term in plain English, so you always know where your claim stands.
Why Insurance Companies Fight Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Insurance companies fight spinal cord injury claims because these cases are expensive, and paying full value cuts into their profits. The more serious your injury, the harder some insurers work to reduce or deny what they owe you.
Adjusters may use friendly phone calls to gather statements they can later use against you. They might request a recorded statement, push for a quick lowball offer, or send you to an independent medical exam designed to downplay your injuries. These tactics can feel reassuring in the moment, but they are built to protect the insurer, not you.
You can relax once our team steps in. We deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, and we refuse to let anyone treat you as just a number. When an insurer will not pay fairly, we prepare to make our case in court.
This is where hiring true trial lawyers matters most. A firm willing to go to trial holds far more leverage than one that always settles, and insurers know the difference.
Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Troy Spinal Cord Injury Case
When your future is on the line, the firm you choose makes all the difference. At Christensen Law, we have advocated for injured people across Michigan since 1991, and our results speak for themselves.
Our record includes a $17.8 million verdict in a motor vehicle accident case, along with a $9.5 million recovery in a wrongful death case. These outcomes reflect the relentless preparation we bring to every catastrophic injury claim.
Our firm is led by founder David Christensen, a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and an AV Preeminent-rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized Leader in the Law and also an ABOTA member. Together, they guide a team known for treating clients like family.
Our philosophy is simple: Listen, Protect, Win. We listen to your story with compassion, protect you from aggressive insurance tactics, and fight to win the justice you deserve. Call our Troy spinal cord injury lawyers today at (248) 233-0684 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
FAQs: Troy Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Here are answers to some common questions we hear from people dealing with spinal cord injuries in Troy and across Michigan.
You pay nothing up front when you hire us. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes only from the compensation we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you do not owe us attorney fees, and your first consultation is always free.
Every case moves at its own pace, depending on the severity of the injury and whether the insurer is willing to pay fairly. Some claims settle within months, while others take longer if they go to trial. We move as efficiently as possible while making certain your future medical needs are fully accounted for.
Many spinal cord injury claims settle without a trial. Even so, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury, because that readiness often leads to stronger settlement offers. If a fair settlement is not possible, our trial lawyers are ready to argue your case in court.
You may be able to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one. Michigan law allows certain family members to seek compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship. We handle these cases with the compassion and care your family deserves during such a painful time.
We serve injured people throughout Troy and the surrounding communities from our office on Livernois Road. We also represent clients from our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids, along with people across the state. No matter where your crash happened, from I-75 to the Big Beaver Road corridor, we are ready to help.
The sooner you reach out, the better we can protect your claim. Important evidence, such as vehicle data and witness memories, can fade or disappear quickly after a crash. Contacting us early gives our team time to preserve that evidence and meet every legal deadline.
In most cases, your own PIP coverage pays for reasonable and necessary medical care from the start, no matter who caused the crash. That means you should not have to wait for a settlement to begin treatment. If an insurer wrongly delays or denies these benefits, we can step in and fight to get your care covered.
Contact Our Troy Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today
A spinal cord injury can reshape your life, but you do not have to face the road ahead alone. Our Troy spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and win the justice you and your family deserve.
Do not let an insurance company decide what your future is worth. Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (248) 233-0684 for a free, no-risk consultation, or reach out online to get started today.
Listen, Protect, Win. It’s what we do. Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
