Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can change everything in a single moment. If someone else's negligence caused your injury, a Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyer at Wapner Newman is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

A spinal cord injury can leave you with a future filled with uncertainty, medical appointments, and questions about how you will support yourself and your family. You should not have to carry that burden alone. At Wapner Newman, our legal team has spent over 40 years standing up for injured people throughout Philadelphia, and we are ready to stand by your side.

Call us today for a free consultation. If you cannot come to our office, we will come to you or arrange to pick you up.

Why Choose Wapner Newman for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case?

When your future is on the line, you need a law firm with the experience and dedication to match the seriousness of your situation. At Wapner Newman, we have spent more than 40 years fighting for injured people throughout Philadelphia and beyond. Our track record speaks for itself, with results that include:

• A $227 million recovery in the Market Street building collapse
• A $16 million result for a pedestrian struck by an impaired driver
• A $5.4 million recovery for the family of a fatally injured burn victim
• Numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements across a wide range of injury cases

We treat every client like a member of our extended family. From the moment you contact us, you will have a dedicated team keeping you informed, answering your questions, and explaining every step of the legal process in plain language. We know how intimidating this process can feel, and we are here to take that weight off your shoulders.

Our Philadelphia spinal cord injury attorneys will aggressively advocate for you, whether that means negotiating with insurance companies or taking your case to trial. You focus on your health. We will handle the legal fight. Reach out today to schedule your free case review.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the base of your brain down through your back. It carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body, controlling everything from movement to sensation to breathing. When the spinal cord is damaged, those signals can be partially or completely disrupted.

Spinal cord injuries are generally grouped into two categories:

• Complete injuries mean there is no function below the point of injury. This can result in full paralysis of the affected areas.
• Incomplete injuries mean some signals still pass through the damaged area. People with incomplete injuries may retain some movement or feeling below the injury site.

The location of the injury along the spine also matters. Injuries higher on the spinal cord, such as in the neck (cervical region), tend to affect more of the body. Injuries lower on the spine may affect the legs and lower body. Common diagnoses associated with spinal cord damage include paraplegia, which affects the lower body, and quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia), which affects both the arms and legs.

No matter where the injury occurs, the impact on a person's daily life can be profound and long-lasting.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Philadelphia

Spinal cord injuries happen in many different ways, but they often share one thing in common: someone else acted carelessly or recklessly. Some of the most frequent causes we see in the Philadelphia area include:

• Car accidents, including collisions on busy roads like I-76, Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Schuylkill Expressway
• Truck accidents involving commercial vehicles on major highways
• Motorcycle accidents, where riders have little physical protection
• Slip and fall incidents on poorly maintained properties, sidewalks, or commercial buildings
• Medical malpractice, including surgical errors or misdiagnosis that leads to worsening spinal conditions
• Workplace accidents, particularly in construction and industrial settings
• Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft vehicles
• Acts of violence, including assaults

Each of these situations may give rise to a legal claim if another party's negligence played a role in causing your injury. A Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyer at Wapner Newman can review the details of your case and help you understand your options.

The True Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are among the most expensive injuries a person can suffer. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the first-year costs for a person with a high cervical injury can exceed $1 million, with annual costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars every year after that.

Those numbers only cover direct medical expenses. The full financial picture often includes:

• Emergency and ongoing medical treatment, including surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitation
• Assistive devices such as wheelchairs, modified vehicles, and home accessibility modifications
• In-home care and personal assistance for daily tasks
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if you are unable to return to work or must change careers
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
• Impact on family relationships, including loss of companionship or consortium

These costs can add up to millions of dollars over a lifetime. Insurance companies know this, and they often try to minimize what they pay. That is exactly why you need a legal team experienced in spinal cord injury cases fighting to protect your financial future.

How Pennsylvania Law Affects Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim

If you are pursuing a spinal cord injury claim in Philadelphia, there are a few important Pennsylvania laws to be aware of.

• Statute of Limitations: Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to seek compensation entirely, so it is critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
• Comparative Negligence: Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident that caused your injury, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, you can still recover damages.

Understanding how these laws apply to your specific situation is something a Philadelphia spinal cord injury attorney can walk you through during a consultation.

Damages You Can Pursue in a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit

Pennsylvania law allows people who have been seriously injured through no fault of their own to seek compensation, known legally as "damages," for the losses they have suffered. In a spinal cord injury case, the potential damages can be significant because the effects of the injury often last a lifetime.

Economic damages cover the financial losses tied directly to your injury. These include:

• Past and future medical bills, including surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and prescription medications
• The cost of assistive equipment like wheelchairs, braces, and home modifications
• In-home nursing care or personal assistance
• Lost wages from time missed at work
• Reduced earning capacity if you can no longer perform the same job or work at all

Non-economic damages address the personal toll the injury has taken on your life. These include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of activities you once loved
• Loss of companionship or consortium, which recognizes the strain a serious injury can place on close relationships

In some cases, punitive damages may also be available. These are not tied to your specific losses but are instead meant to punish a defendant whose behavior was especially reckless or egregious and to discourage others from acting the same way.

Every case is different, and there is no fixed formula that determines what a spinal cord injury claim is worth. The value depends on your specific circumstances, including the severity of your injury, the cost of your care, and how your life has been affected. At Wapner Newman, we carefully evaluate every aspect of your situation so we can pursue the full amount you are owed.

What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury

Once you are home or in a stable medical setting, there are several steps you can take to protect both your health and your legal rights:

• Follow all medical recommendations. Attend every appointment, follow your treatment plan, and do not skip prescribed therapies. This is important for your recovery and also creates a documented record of your injuries.
• Keep a file of all documents. Save copies of medical bills, insurance correspondence, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, and anything else related to your injury.
• Do not post about your injury on social media. Insurance companies and defense attorneys routinely search social media for posts they can use against you.
• Do not speak with the other party's insurance company. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and anything you say could be used to reduce or deny your claim. Refer all calls to your attorney.
• Contact a spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your rights will be.

Taking these steps puts you in the strongest possible position as your case moves forward.

FAQs Answered by Our Philadelphia Spinal Cord Lawyers

Here are answers to some common questions people have about spinal cord injury claims in Philadelphia.

Talk to a Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer at Wapner Newman Today

You did not ask for this injury, and you should not have to carry the financial burden alone. At Wapner Newman, we have been fighting for injured people in Philadelphia for over four decades, and we are ready to fight for you. Our team will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and pursue the compensation you deserve with the same passion and commitment we bring to every case.

Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. If getting to our office is difficult, do not worry. We can come to you, or we will arrange to pick you up. Whatever it takes, we are here for you.

Call Wapner Newman today and begin your journey to getting your life back on track.