Spinal cord injuries rank among the most serious and life-altering injuries a person can sustain. The physical consequences could be permanent, the financial costs substantial, and the impacts on daily life far-reaching. When a spinal cord injury results from another party's negligence, such as in a car accident, a fall, a workplace incident, or a case of medical malpractice, those responsible may be held accountable through personal injury claims.
Kline & Specter’s team of Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyers carries a strong record of handling complex catastrophic injury cases, including matters involving serious spinal cord damage. The firm's team includes five doctor-lawyers, more than any other law firm in the United States, whose medical knowledge informs every stage of case evaluation, expert consultation, and evidence presentation. Individuals with questions about a potential spinal cord injury claim may contact the firm for a confidential evaluation.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running from the base of the brain down through the middle of the back, serving as the primary communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to any part of this structure can disrupt sensation, movement, and/or bodily function below the level of the injury.
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are classified as either complete or incomplete. A complete SCI involves total loss of movement and sensation below the point of injury, sometimes resulting in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) or quadriplegia affecting all four limbs. An incomplete SCI involves partial loss of function, with the extent of impairment depending on the location and severity of the damage.
What Are the Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Philadelphia?
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, motor vehicle accidents are the single largest cause of all spinal cord injuries in the United States, accounting for nearly 38%. Falls account for approximately 30%, acts of violence roughly 13%, and sports-related incidents around 9%.
Philadelphia spinal cord injury cases also result from medical malpractice, including surgical errors, delayed diagnosis of spinal conditions, failures during treatment, and improper post-operative management, as well as defective products and workplace accidents. Any of these circumstances may lead to a personal injury claim if another party's negligence contributed to the injury.
What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury Accident
The steps taken following a spinal cord injury can affect both medical outcomes and the viability of a legal claim. Prompt medical attention is the first priority, since spinal injuries can worsen without appropriate evaluation and stabilization, even when initial symptoms appear mild.
Beyond immediate treatment, preserving available evidence (accident reports, photographs, witness contact information, etc.) and keeping records of all medical care received will support any future claim. Communications with insurance companies should be approached carefully, as early statements can later be used to limit or dispute compensation. Consulting a Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyer as early as possible allows for a timely investigation
Why You Need a Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injury cases are medically complex and legally demanding. Establishing liability and documenting the full extent of current and future losses while litigating with insurance companies requires experience and resources that most individuals do not have on their own.
Insurance companies routinely work to minimize compensation in serious injury claims, disputing liability, challenging the severity of the injury, contesting the need for long-term care, or offering settlements that fall short of what the injuries actually require. An experienced injury attorney in Philadelphia can counter these tactics and manage communications with insurers for you, building a case that accounts for the full scope of harm sustained.
For cases involving medical malpractice as a contributing cause, Pennsylvania imposes specific procedural requirements before such claims can proceed, including a Certificate of Merit from a qualified medical expert. The firm's Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers have extensive experience fulfilling these requirements in cases involving serious medical harm.
How Our Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Build Strong Cases
Spinal cord injury cases require a thorough and methodical approach. The attorneys at Kline & Specter begin by conducting an independent investigation into the circumstances of the injury, gathering all available evidence, including accident reports, medical records, imaging studies, financial records, and eyewitness accounts, and identifying every party whose negligence may have contributed.
Spinal cord injuries frequently involve long-term or permanent care needs, so documenting future costs is as important as accounting for losses already incurred. Life care planners and other specialists provide analysis of anticipated care requirements and associated expenses, helping establish a more complete picture of financial impact. The firm's doctor-lawyers play a direct role in reviewing medical evidence, consulting with outside experts, and presenting technically complex information accurately and effectively. Representation is provided on a contingency basis, meaning no legal fees are owed unless a recovery is obtained.Â
How Spinal Cord Injury Cases Are Proven in Pennsylvania
To recover compensation in a Pennsylvania personal injury case, a claimant must establish that another party's negligence caused the injury, demonstrating that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused the injury and resulting damages.
Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence framework, meaning a claimant may still recover compensation even if they share some degree of fault, provided their share does not exceed 50%. Any recovery would be reduced proportionally by the claimant's percentage of fault. Medical records and expert analysis are central to proving these elements, and qualified experts must be able to establish the causal link between the defendant's conduct and the resulting injury. Each case is fact-specific, and outcomes depend on the circumstances involved.Â
What Compensation Is Available in Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits?
Compensation in spinal cord injury cases generally falls into economic and non-economic damages, with punitive damages available in cases involving particularly egregious conduct.
Economic damages cover quantifiable losses: past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation and long-term care costs, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. They may also include home modifications, adaptive equipment, and personal assistance, costs that frequently extend across a lifetime in serious SCI cases. Medical and financial experts are typically engaged to evaluate the full scope of future losses and ensure they are accurately reflected in any claim.
Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. The calculation considers the severity and permanence of the injury and its broader impact on quality of life.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law generally requires that claimants file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the date of the injury. Failing to file within this period will typically result in the claim being barred. Certain circumstances, such as cases involving minors, may affect this timeline, making early legal consultation advisable.
Why Choose Kline & Specter for Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Kline & Specter has handled complex catastrophic injury matters, including spinal cord injury cases, since the firm's founding in 1995. The firm's work in this area includes two $30 million settlements on behalf of children who sustained permanent injuries from rear seat lap belts in motor vehicle accidents.
The firm's team of five doctor-lawyers, the largest such group at any law firm in the United States, provides a foundation of medical knowledge that directly informs case evaluation, expert selection, and evidence development and presentation. The firm handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, and for matters outside those states, Kline & Specter works with local counsel as applicable. Case evaluations are provided on a confidential basis with no obligation.
Get the Legal Help You Deserve From a Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury due to another party's negligence, knowing your legal options is an important first step. The attorneys at Kline & Specter have the medical knowledge, litigation experience, and resources to handle complex spinal cord injury cases across Pennsylvania and beyond.
To speak with a Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyer, call 215-772-1000 or contact us online for a free, confidential case evaluation.
