How To File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Colorado
Learn how spinal cord injury cases work in Colorado and what you should know to recover maximum compensation
When you’re facing a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s carelessness, you’re suddenly dealing with a reality you never imagined, and may be asking yourself questions like:
Will I ever be able to live independently again? How will this affect my ability to work and support your family? How am I going to afford all of these medical expenses and home modifications?
In this guide, we’ll explain when you may be able to file a lawsuit after a spinal injury in Colorado, how the level of injury impacts lifetime costs, and the types of compensation that may be available.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident, motorcycle crash, or slip and fall due to negligence, the Denver spinal cord injury attorneys at Babcock Tucker are here to help you get the compensation you need to protect your future.
Learn more by scheduling a free consultation.
What happens if you injure your spinal cord?
To understand how life-changing a spinal cord injury can be, it helps to know what the spinal cord actually does.
The spinal cord is a highly sensitive column of nerves that extends from the base of the brain down through the center of the spine. It acts as the body’s main communication pathway, carrying signals between the brain and the rest of the body. These signals control movement, sensation, reflexes, and many automatic functions we don’t even think about.
When the spinal cord is damaged, that communication is disrupted, and the risk of a serious and permanent injury is high.
Depending on the level of the injury, damage to the spinal cord can result in:
- Paralysis, either partial or complete, affecting the arms, legs, or both
- Loss of sensation, including reduced or absent feeling below the injury site
- Chronic nerve pain or burning sensations that can be difficult to treat
- Muscle weakness, stiffness, or severe spasms
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Sexual dysfunction or loss of sexual function
- Breathing difficulties, especially with higher-level injuries
- Increased risk of infections, including urinary tract infections and pneumonia
- Circulatory problems and blood clots
- Loss of independence in daily activities such as dressing, bathing, and mobility
- Wrongful death
Besides pain and other long-term physical effects, spinal cord injuries carry high emotional and financial costs as well.
They often involve extensive operations, frequent examinations, therapy, long-term care, and more, so it’s essential to know when you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation if the injury resulted from someone else’s negligence.
What is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries that lead to lawsuits?
Not all spinal cord injuries are caused by preventable accidents. Spinal trauma can result from unavoidable factors such as genetic abnormalities, tumors, developmental disorders, and infectious diseases.
However, spinal cord injuries caused by another person’s irresponsible actions do happen and are oftentimes permanent and irreversible. These incidents often occur because of the following:
- Car crashes, especially ones involving drunk drivers or speeding
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Work-related injuries
- Pedestrian accidents
- Diving accidents
- Sports injuries
- Gunshots
- Defective products
In all of these types of accidents, if someone else’s negligent actions or inactions resulted in your spinal cord injury, you may be able to file a claim against them to recover personal injury damages for your losses.
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The importance of identifying the extent of your spinal cord injury early on
One of the challenges with recovery after spinal cord trauma is identifying the true extent of your injury. At first, you might only notice a minor tingling sensation. But that tingling could be the result of serious and detrimental nerve damage.
Following an accident, you should always visit a doctor to fully assess your injuries. You should also consider working with a Denver spinal cord injury attorney as well as medical experts who can properly evaluate your injuries and document them for your case.
What is the average settlement for a spinal cord injury?
There is no true “average” spinal cord injury settlement because the value of a case depends heavily on the level of the injury, the degree of paralysis, the person’s age, career, and the long-term medical care required.
What we can look at, however, are the estimated costs associated with spinal cord injuries over a lifetime.
Below are the projected lifetime costs (not including lost wages) for spinal cord injuries based on the level of injury. These numbers are based on data from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, updated for today’s inflation levels:
- High cervical injuries (C1–C4). These are among the most severe spinal cord injuries. Damage this high on the spine often results in tetraplegia, meaning paralysis in both arms and both legs, and in some cases, the need for a ventilator to assist with breathing. First-year medical costs can exceed $1.5 to $1.7 million. Over a lifetime, expenses can range from $6 million to more than $8 million for a younger person.
- Lower cervical injuries (C5–C8). These injuries also cause tetraplegia, but individuals may retain some shoulder or arm movement depending on the exact level of injury. First-year costs may approach $1.2 to $1.4 million, with lifetime expenses commonly falling between $4 million and $6 million.
- Paraplegia (typically thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries). Paraplegia affects the lower half of the body, resulting in loss of movement and sensation in the legs, while arm and hand function are usually preserved. First-year expenses often range from $800,000 to over $1 million, with lifetime costs typically between $2.5 million and $4 million.
- Incomplete motor function injuries. In these cases, the spinal cord is not completely severed, and some movement or sensation remains below the injury site. While outcomes vary widely, these injuries still involve significant medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. First-year costs can exceed $500,000 to $700,000, with lifetime expenses often surpassing$1.5 million to $3 million.
These numbers do not include lost earnings, which can add hundreds of thousands—or even millions—more over a lifetime.
Because the financial impact is so significant, it’s crucial that you have an experienced Denver personal injury attorney carefully evaluate and calculate the full value of your claim, including both the immediate costs and the long-term losses you and your family may face.
Types of damages that you may be able to recover include:
- Medical expenses. Emergency transport, surgeries, hospitalization, ICU care, medications, and follow-up treatment.
- Future medical care. Ongoing doctor visits, specialists, additional surgeries, pain management, and long-term monitoring.
- Rehabilitation services. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and specialized rehabilitation programs.
- In-home and long-term care. Home health aides, skilled nursing care, personal attendants, and assisted living, if needed.
- Medical equipment. Wheelchairs, power chairs, ventilators, hospital beds, transfer equipment, and assistive technology.
- Home modifications. Ramps, widened doorways, roll-in showers, stair lifts, lowered countertops, and accessible bathrooms.
- Vehicle modifications. Hand controls, wheelchair lifts, and customized transportation needs.
- Lost income. Wages lost during recovery and time away from work.
- Loss of future earning capacity. Income you would have earned over your lifetime if the injury had not occurred.
- Loss of employment benefits. Health insurance, retirement contributions, bonuses, and other employment perks.
- Life care planning costs. Professional projections of future medical and support needs over your lifetime.
- Pain and suffering. Physical pain and ongoing discomfort caused by the injury.
- Emotional distress. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological trauma related to the accident and life changes.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. Inability to participate in hobbies, sports, travel, or daily activities you once enjoyed.
- Loss of independence. The need to rely on others for personal care and daily tasks.
- Loss of consortium. Impact on marital relationships, companionship, and intimacy.
- Permanent disability and disfigurement. Compensation for lasting physical limitations and visible changes.
- Punitive damages. If the injury was caused by reckless, willful, or egregious misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar behavior.
Spinal cord injury cases often require detailed medical testimony, vocational experts, and life care planners to ensure every category of loss is properly valued.
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Preserving evidence and building your spinal cord injury claim
When you suffer a spinal injury, it’s crucial to get emergency care to prevent further damage and minimize the chances of permanent paralysis. A spinal injury isn’t always immediately obvious, and after an injury, it’s important to seek immediate care. Additionally, failing to see a doctor can raise doubts about the cause of your injuries.
You should also take the time to write down a narrative of the events as soon as you’re able to after the accident. Some spinal cord injury cases last years, and memories can fade with time. Your recorded recollection of events can be critical for preserving necessary evidence for your case.
Where can I find an experienced Denver spinal cord injury attorney near me?
The Denver injury attorneys at Babcock Tucker have extensive experience handling high-stakes, life-altering injury cases throughout Colorado.
We work closely with medical specialists, life care planners, and financial experts to fully document the extent of your injury and project the long-term impact on your health, independence, and earning ability.
Because we are local, we understand how spinal cord injury cases are evaluated here in Denver courts, how insurers approach these large-value claims, and what it takes to build a strong case in our community.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to negligence, contact Babcock Tucker today for a free consultation.
We’re ready to step in to protect your rights and fight for the full financial recovery you will need—not just now, but for the rest of your life.
