A spinal cord injury fundamentally changes your life. The medical expenses mount quickly—emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first year alone. Beyond the financial burden, you face lost income, permanent disability, and the emotional trauma of adapting to a new reality.
At Dordick Law Corporation, we represent spinal cord injury victims throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Our attorneys understand the devastating impact of catastrophic injuries and fight to secure the maximum compensation you deserve. We handle the legal complexities while you focus on recovery and rehabilitation.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation today for a free consultation. No recovery, no fee.
Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
Dordick Law Corporation brings extensive experience handling catastrophic injury cases. Our attorneys understand the medical complexities of spinal cord injuries and the legal strategies necessary to maximize compensation. We’ve built our reputation on results and client advocacy.
- Experience with Catastrophic Cases: We focus on serious personal injury cases where significant compensation is at stake. Our experience with catastrophic injuries means we understand the lifetime impact of spinal cord damage and how to calculate fair compensation. Gary Dordick, our founding attorney, has decades of experience in catastrophic injury litigation.
- Track Record of Results: Our case results demonstrate our ability to secure substantial compensation for injured clients. We cite specific settlements and verdicts as proof of our track record—not promises, but documented results. Our case results page provides detailed information about our successful recoveries.
- Contingency Fee Structure: We work on contingency, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. This aligns our interests with yours and ensures we fight aggressively for maximum recovery.
- Free Consultation and Case Evaluation: We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to evaluate your case, explain your legal rights, and discuss potential compensation. There’s no cost to learn whether you have a viable claim.
- Personalized Attention: We treat each client as an individual, not a case number. You receive direct communication with your attorney and regular updates on your case progress. Our team includes Dylan Dordick and other experienced litigators dedicated to your recovery.
- Resources and Expert Connections: We maintain relationships with leading medical experts, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and economists who strengthen your claim through credible expert testimony. Our team of experienced attorneys includes specialists in catastrophic injury litigation.
Our Approach to Catastrophic Injury Cases
We approach each catastrophic injury case with the understanding that your life has changed forever. We investigate thoroughly, build a strong factual record, and negotiate aggressively. When insurance companies refuse fair offers, we take cases to trial and present compelling evidence to juries. Our goal is to secure compensation that reflects the true lifetime impact of your injury. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in wrongful death cases and other serious personal injury matters.
How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Helps You Navigate Your Case
When you suffer a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you need an attorney who understands both the medical and legal complexities of your claim. Our spinal cord injury attorneys at Dordick Law Corporation guide you through every step of the process.
- Investigation and Evidence Preservation: We immediately investigate the accident scene, gather witness statements, and preserve critical evidence before it disappears. This includes medical records, diagnostic imaging, accident reports, and any surveillance footage that establishes liability. Whether your injury resulted from a car accident, truck accident, or workplace accident, we preserve every detail.
- Liability Determination: We identify all negligent parties—whether that’s a reckless driver, a property owner who failed to maintain safe conditions, an employer who violated safety regulations, or a manufacturer of a defective product. Determining liability is essential to building a strong claim. Our investigation process mirrors the thoroughness required in personal injury cases across all practice areas.
- Medical Expert Coordination: We work with neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and other medical experts to document the full extent of your injury, your prognosis, and your lifetime care needs. Expert testimony strengthens your claim and supports higher compensation.
- Insurance Negotiation: Insurance companies often undervalue catastrophic injury claims. Our attorneys negotiate aggressively to ensure you receive fair compensation for all damages—not just immediate medical bills, but lifetime care costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Court Representation: If the insurance company refuses to offer adequate compensation, we take your case to trial. Our litigation experience ensures you have strong representation before a judge and jury.
What to Expect During Your Legal Process
The legal process typically begins with a free consultation where we evaluate your case, explain your rights, and discuss potential compensation. We then conduct a thorough investigation, gather evidence, and build your claim. Most cases settle through negotiation, but we prepare every case for trial to maximize your leverage. Our case results demonstrate our ability to secure substantial settlements and verdicts for catastrophic injury victims.
Types and Severity of Spinal Cord Injuries
Understanding your specific injury helps explain why compensation varies significantly from case to case. Spinal cord injuries are classified by location and completeness. The severity of your injury directly impacts the lifetime care costs and compensation you deserve.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries: A complete spinal cord injury means the cord is fully severed or damaged, resulting in total loss of function below the injury site. An incomplete injury means some nerve signals still pass through the damaged area, preserving partial function and offering potential for some recovery. Understanding injury completeness is critical for prognosis and treatment planning.
Spinal Cord Levels: The spinal cord is divided into regions that determine which body functions are affected:
- Cervical (C1-C8): Injuries here affect the neck and all four limbs. Tetraplegia (quadriplegia) results in paralysis of arms and legs. Higher cervical injuries may require respiratory support.
- Thoracic (T1-T12): Injuries affect the trunk and legs, resulting in paraplegia. Organ function and trunk stability are compromised.
- Lumbar (L1-L5): Injuries cause lower extremity paralysis and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
- Sacral (S1-S5): Injuries affect lower body function, sexual function, and bowel/bladder control.
Severity Classifications and Recovery Potential
The ASIA Impairment Scale rates injury severity from A (complete) to E (normal). This classification determines functional capacity and influences lifetime care costs and compensation calculations. Recovery potential varies based on injury completeness and location, with incomplete injuries offering greater potential for functional improvement through rehabilitation. Similar to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries require comprehensive medical documentation and expert analysis to establish the full scope of damages. Our experienced attorneys work with leading medical experts to build compelling cases.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Los Angeles
Identifying the cause of your spinal cord injury is critical because it determines which parties can be held liable and what type of claim you can pursue. Los Angeles experiences high rates of catastrophic injuries due to traffic congestion, construction activity, and workplace hazards.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Vehicle collisions are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for approximately 37.7% of all cases nationally. High-impact crashes cause severe trauma to the spine, often resulting in complete injuries and permanent paralysis. Los Angeles car accidents frequently result in catastrophic spinal injuries requiring immediate legal intervention. If you’ve been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, our attorneys can help you pursue maximum compensation.
- Falls: Slips and falls account for roughly 32% of spinal cord injuries, particularly in construction and workplace settings. Inadequate safety measures, failure to maintain premises, or lack of proper fall protection can establish liability. Workplace accidents involving falls often create multiple liable parties. Construction site injuries are particularly common in the Los Angeles area.
- Violence and Assaults: Approximately 15.5% of spinal cord injuries result from violence. Assault victims may pursue personal injury claims against the perpetrator and potentially against property owners who failed to provide adequate security. These cases often involve premises liability claims.
- Sports and Recreation: About 7.7% of spinal cord injuries occur during sports activities. Defective equipment, inadequate coaching, or unsafe facilities may create liability. Product defects can lead to product liability claims.
- Medical Malpractice: Approximately 3.7% of spinal cord injuries result from medical errors—surgical mistakes, failure to diagnose, medication errors, or improper treatment during childbirth. Medical malpractice claims require proving a breach of the standard of care.
These complex cases demand experienced legal representation.
Why Determining Cause Matters for Your Claim
The cause of your injury determines the liable parties and the type of claim you can file. A motor vehicle accident implicates the at-fault driver and potentially their insurance company. A workplace injury may involve workers’ compensation claims and third-party liability. Medical malpractice requires proving a breach of the standard of care. Our attorneys investigate thoroughly to identify all liable parties and maximize your recovery options.
Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Spinal cord injury victims in California can recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Understanding what you can recover helps you evaluate settlement offers and ensures you don’t accept inadequate compensation. California law provides comprehensive remedies for catastrophic injuries.
- Medical Expenses: This includes emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, medications, and medical equipment. For severe injuries, medical expenses can exceed thousands of dollars in the first year alone. The American Spinal Injury Association provides guidelines for comprehensive care standards that inform damage calculations.
- Lifetime Care Costs: Spinal cord injuries require ongoing care for life. Depending on injury severity and your age at the time of injury, lifetime care costs range from $1 million to $5 million or more. This includes nursing care, home modifications, assistive technology, and specialized equipment.
- Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: If your injury prevents you from working, you recover lost wages from the date of injury through trial or settlement. You also recover compensation for reduced earning capacity—the difference between what you would have earned without the injury and what you can earn with your disability.
- Pain and Suffering: You recover compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and the psychological trauma of adapting to permanent disability.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for activities you can no longer enjoy—sports, recreation, hobbies, and social activities.
- Home Modifications and Assistive Technology: Wheelchair accessibility modifications, specialized medical equipment, and adaptive technology necessary for independent living.
- Punitive Damages: When a defendant’s conduct demonstrates oppression, fraud, or malice, California law allows punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Under California Civil Code § 3294, punitive damages are available in appropriate cases.
Understanding First-Year and Lifetime Costs
First-year expenses vary significantly based on injury severity. Partial paralysis typically results in approximately $100,000 or more in first-year expenses, while full paralysis can exceed $400,000 in the first year. These figures underscore the importance of securing comprehensive compensation that accounts for lifetime care needs, not just immediate medical bills. Our case results page showcases settlements and verdicts that reflect these substantial lifetime costs. We’ve recovered millions for clients with catastrophic injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Claims
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in California?
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. For medical malpractice claims, you have one year from the date you discovered the injury or should have discovered it under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5. For claims against government entities, the deadline is six months under California Government Code § 911.2(a). Acting quickly is critical because evidence can disappear and witness memories fade.
What is California's comparative negligence rule?
California follows a “pure comparative negligence” doctrine under California Civil Code § 1431.2. This means you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault, you can only recover 80% of damages.
Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, you can recover even if you bear significant responsibility for the accident. Our attorneys investigate all parties involved to minimize your liability percentage and maximize your recovery.
What evidence is needed to prove a spinal cord injury claim?
Strong claims require medical records and diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT scans, X-rays) documenting the injury. Expert testimony from neurologists and rehabilitation specialists establishes the severity and prognosis. Accident scene evidence, witness statements, and police reports establish liability. Documentation of ongoing treatment and care needs supports damage calculations.
How much is my spinal cord injury case worth?
Case value depends on injury severity, your age and earning capacity, the strength of liability evidence, and insurance policy limits. A free consultation allows us to evaluate your specific circumstances and provide a realistic assessment of potential compensation.
What if the at-fault party doesn't have insurance?
If the at-fault party lacks insurance, we explore alternative recovery options, including uninsured motorist coverage (if you carry it), the defendant’s personal assets, and other available resources. Our attorneys identify all potential sources of recovery.
Ready to Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Case?
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact Dordick Law Corporation today. Call (310) 551-0949 for a free consultation. Our team of attorneys is ready to discuss your case and explain your legal options. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover fair compensation for you. Contact us now and schedule your free consultation with our firm’s Los Angeles office.
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- Handling Concussions and TBI in the Legal Arena
- Summer Injuries in SoCal: What to Watch For and What to Do
