Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Compensation for Paralysis and Catastrophic Back Injuries in California
A spinal cord injury can change every part of your life in an instant — and the cost of lifelong care can reach into the millions. If someone else's negligence caused your injury, you have the right to pursue full compensation for that lifetime of need.
Spinal cord injury claims are among the most complex and highest-value cases in personal injury law. Insurers know what's at stake and fight hard to minimize them. With over $1 billion recovered and more than 30 years of experience, Frank Penney Injury Law builds these cases with the medical and economic experts needed to prove the full extent of your losses.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen
Most traumatic spinal cord injuries stem from preventable accidents caused by another party's negligence.
Vehicle Collisions
High-impact car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are a leading cause of spinal cord trauma.
Falls
Falls from heights or dangerous property conditions can fracture vertebrae and damage the cord — often a premises liability claim.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Impacts
Pedestrians and cyclists struck by vehicles frequently suffer severe spinal injuries.
What These Cases Must Account For
A fair recovery isn't just today's hospital bill. It must cover the decades ahead: surgeries and rehabilitation, attendant and nursing care, assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, lost earning capacity, and the profound pain and loss of independence.
We work with treating physicians, life-care planners, and economists to put a credible, documented number on those future needs — the number insurers can't dismiss. Learn more about how case value is calculated.
Damages We Pursue
- Past and future medical care
- Attendant and in-home care
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Assistive devices and technology
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment
Spinal Cord Injury FAQs
How much is a spinal cord injury case worth in California?
Spinal cord injury cases are among the highest-value personal injury claims because they often involve lifelong care. Value depends on the level and completeness of the injury, lifetime medical and attendant-care costs, lost earning capacity, home and vehicle modifications, and pain and suffering. Only a detailed review with medical and economic experts can estimate your specific case.
What is the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?
A complete spinal cord injury results in total loss of function below the level of injury, while an incomplete injury leaves some sensation or movement. Incomplete injuries have a better prognosis, but both can require extensive, lifelong treatment and can support a substantial injury claim.
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in California?
You generally have two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, and as little as six months if a government entity is involved. Because these cases require extensive expert work-up, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Do I need a lawyer for a spinal cord injury claim?
Yes. Spinal cord injury claims involve complex medical evidence and enormous lifetime costs that insurers fight hard to minimize. An experienced attorney works with medical and life-care-planning experts to document the full value of your future needs and pursue every available source of compensation.