When a Spinal Cord Injury Changes Everything
A rear‑end car accident on the Schuylkill, a fall from faulty scaffolding on a Center City worksite, or a botched epidural during childbirth can slice through the spinal column and destroy normal function in seconds. Sudden paralysis, chronic pain, and six‑figure medical bills follow. Our Philadelphia spinal cord injury attorneys step in quickly to preserve evidence, coordinate top spinal surgeons, and pursue the full financial compensation Pennsylvania law allows from every negligent party.
From our Center City office, we fight for injured Pennsylvanians across the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
Why Families Turn To The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman After a Spinal Cord Injury
Before we list legal strategy, here’s what sets our legal team apart:
Proven results in catastrophic cases – Multi‑million‑dollar outcomes for quadriplegia, paraplegia, and other severe spinal injuries.
Rapid evidence preservation – Black‑box downloads, building‑code records, and surveillance footage secured within hours.
Medical partnerships – We retain neurosurgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and life‑care planners who quantify lifetime future medical expenses.
Contingency‑fee representation – No upfront costs; we get paid only if we win.
Clear, compassionate communication – We translate medical jargon and legal procedures so clients can focus on rehab.
Obtaining fair compensation after a spinal cord catastrophe demands focused legal representation from a law firm with both financial firepower and courtroom grit. We line up medical experts, life‑care planners, and accident engineers early, forcing insurers to negotiate on evidence, not excuses.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Pennsylvania
Most spinal cord injuries occur in seconds, yet the leading cause can shape a lifetime of paralysis and medical care. We investigate every crash scene, fall site, and surgical report to pinpoint the chain of negligence. These are the accident types we litigate most:
Motor vehicle accidents – High‑speed rollovers, motorcycle wrecks, rear‑end collisions, boating accidents.
Falls from height – Scaffolding collapses, ladder failures, icy stairwells.
Defective products – Collapsing ladder rungs, exploding lithium‑ion batteries, faulty seat‑belt retractors
Sports injuries – Diving accidents, football tackles, gymnastics falls.
Medical malpractice – Surgical errors, epidural needle misplacement, undiagnosed infections.
Violence – Gunshot wounds, knife attacks.
If your spinal cord injury occurred from a different accident, call for a free consultation. Odds are our law firm has handled something similar.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries We Handle
Spinal cord damage disrupts the central nervous system like no other trauma and often leaves victims facing permanent injuries. These are truly catastrophic injuries as they can destabilize blood pressure, rob the body of automatic bodily function, and in the worst cases, leave the cord completely severed. Whether the lesion sits high in the cervical spine or lower in the thoracic area, paralysis of two, three, or even four limbs can wreck a victim’s life and create lifelong medical conditions.
Injury | Location | Key Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
Complete cord injury | Cervical, thoracic, lumbar | Total loss of motor & sensory function below the lesion |
Incomplete cord injury | Often cervical | Partial paralysis, some preserved sensation |
Anterior cord syndrome | The front two‑thirds of the cord | Loss of motor function, pain, and temperature below injury |
Brown‑Séquard syndrome | One side of the cord | Weakness on the injured side, loss of sensation on the opposite side |
Cauda equina syndrome | Nerve roots L1–L5 | Bowel control and/or bladder dysfunction, severe leg pain |
Understanding the specific diagnosis is the first step in valuing a personal injury case and crafting the right life‑care plan.
Damages We Pursue for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Most spinal cord injuries occur in sudden, violent moments that leave families reeling. Beyond emergency surgery, victims face towering rehab bills, adaptive‑equipment costs, and lost earning power. Our job is to translate those losses into dollars and demand every cent from the at‑fault parties.
Medical expenses & future rehab – Spinal fusion, ventilator care, home modifications.
Lost wages & earning power – Missed paychecks, diminished career prospects.
Assistive technology costs – Power wheelchairs, vehicle lifts, voice‑activated devices.
Pain, emotional distress & loss of life’s pleasures – Severe depression, anxiety, loss of intimacy.
Punitive damages – In drunk‑driving or gross‑negligence cases.
Under Pennsylvania personal injury law, juries rely heavily on certified medical experts to prove both the extent of disability and the price tag of lifetime care. We bring neurologists, vocational economists, and rehabilitation physicians into the case early so their testimony is baked into every settlement negotiation.
Steps to Strengthen a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Seek immediate medical treatment, attend all medical appointments, and follow every specialist’s order.
Save medical records, imaging, and therapy notes.
Document daily challenges, including mobility limits and chronic pain episodes.
Avoid social media posts that downplay restrictions.
Contact our law office for a free initial consultation before speaking with any insurance company.
FAQs for Spinal Cord Injury Victims & Families
How much should I settle for a spinal injury?
Every case is different. Settlements factor in lifetime care costs, lost earnings, and non-economic damages, such as chronic pain. Severe quadriplegia cases can exceed a million dollars; incomplete injuries resolve for less.
How long does a spinal cord injury lawsuit take?
Because no two claims follow the same path, we can’t promise a fixed timetable. What we can promise is relentless effort to fast-track your case and resolve your issues as soon as possible.
Ready to Recover Compensation For Your Spinal Cord Injuries?
You live with the injury; we handle the lawsuit. Call or click below for your free consultation with an experienced spinal cord injury attorney. We don’t get paid unless you do.
$10 Million
Burn Injury in Pennsylvania
$1.3 Million
Bar Patron Assault in Pennsylvania
$750,000
Injury Caused by an Exploding Thermos
$550,000
Neck & Back Injuries
$400,000
Motor Vehicle Accident
$300,000
Minor with a Broken Leg
$300,000
Injuries Resulting From a Trip & Fall
$250,000
Pedestrian Accident
Injured? Tell Us Your Story. We’ll Handle the Rest.
Call To Speak To A Lawyer For A Free Case Evaluation.
Cases We Handle in Pennsylvania
Hurt in a car crash, trucking accident, slip-and-fall, or other negligence-based mishap in Southeast Pennsylvania?
The Altman Team focuses exclusively on personal injury law, leveraging a deep command of Pennsylvania tort statutes to win maximum compensation for residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.