Kelso Law PLLC helps injured clients in Irving, TX pursue full recovery in spinal cord injury matters.
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury, our Irving, TX spinal cord injury lawyer fights for compensation that accounts for both current losses and future needs. Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, and permanent loss of independence, and the cost of lifetime care can reach millions of dollars. Kelso Law PLLC has 13 years of experience in catastrophic injury cases on the plaintiff side. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.
Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Irving, TX
A spinal cord injury, or SCI, occurs when damage to the spinal cord disrupts the transmission of signals between the brain and the body. The result can be a loss of sensation, motor function, or both below the site of the injury. SCIs are classified as complete, meaning total loss of function below the injury, or incomplete, meaning some function remains.
A spinal cord injury attorney in Irving, TX evaluates how the injury occurred, identifies liable parties, and pursues compensation covering the full scope of harm. These cases require coordination with medical specialists, rehabilitation providers, and life care planners to establish the lifetime cost of the injury and connect it to the defendant’s negligence.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle in Irving
Spinal cord injuries result from a range of accidents and traumatic events. The cause of the injury determines which parties may be held responsible and what evidence is required to prove the claim. Below are the most common circumstances that lead to the SCI cases our firm handles in Irving.
- Car accidents. Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injury. The impact can fracture or dislocate vertebrae, compressing or severing the spinal cord. Rear-end collisions, rollovers, and T-bone crashes are particularly likely to cause spinal damage.
- Truck accidents. The force of a collision with a commercial truck is often severe enough to cause crushing injuries to the spine. Truck accident SCIs frequently result in complete paralysis because of the magnitude of the impact.
- Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists who are ejected from their bikes face elevated risk of spinal fractures and cord damage upon striking the road surface, a guardrail, or another vehicle.
- Pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles can suffer spinal cord injuries from the initial collision or from the secondary impact with the ground. The lack of any protective barrier makes these injuries especially severe.
- Slip and falls. Falls are a leading cause of SCI, particularly among older adults. A fall from a height, down a staircase, or a hard landing on the back or neck can fracture vertebrae and cause permanent cord damage.
- Bicycle accidents. Cyclists involved in collisions with motor vehicles are vulnerable to spinal injuries from contact with the vehicle, the curb, or the pavement. Even relatively low-speed impacts can cause serious damage to the cervical spine.
- Workplace accidents. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and elevated platforms, as well as being struck by heavy equipment or falling objects, cause spinal cord injuries in construction and industrial settings. These cases may involve workers’ compensation, a third-party liability claim, or both.
- Diving and recreational injuries. Shallow-water diving accidents and high-impact sports can cause catastrophic spinal cord injuries, particularly to the cervical vertebrae. Property owners who fail to post depth warnings or maintain safe facilities may be liable.
Why Choose Kelso Law PLLC as My Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Irving, TX?
Pursuing Lifetime Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury changes everything. The injured person may face paralysis, the loss of the ability to work, and lifetime medical costs that insurance alone will not cover. Pursuing a claim for this type of injury requires an attorney who understands not just what has been lost today, but what the injured person will need for decades to come.
Kelso Law PLLC has recovered millions of dollars for clients in personal injury and premises liability matters, including cases involving catastrophic workplace injuries. Founding attorney Rhiannon Kelso has tried more than 25 cases to jury verdict during a 13-year career on the plaintiff side.
Rhiannon earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and is admitted to all Texas state and federal courts. As a personal injury lawyer in Irving, TX, she handles spinal cord injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our firm serves clients in English and Spanish.
What Is Important to Understand About a Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Cases
To recover compensation, the injured party must prove that someone else’s negligence caused the spinal cord injury. This means showing the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused the harm. In motor vehicle cases, that duty is the obligation to drive safely. In premises liability matters, it is the duty to maintain safe conditions.
Because spinal cord injuries often result in permanent disability, the damages in these cases are among the highest in personal injury law. Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and projected future treatment
- Adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs, home modifications, and vehicle conversions
- In-home care and personal assistance
- Lost wages and permanent loss of earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for spouses and family members
Texas applies a modified comparative fault rule, reducing your recovery by your share of fault. If that share exceeds 50 percent, you cannot recover.
What Are Important Aspects of a Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Spinal cord injury claims involve medical and legal complexities that set them apart from other personal injury cases. Several factors carry particular weight.
- Injury classification. Whether the SCI is complete or incomplete, and whether it results in paraplegia or quadriplegia, directly affects the value of the claim. Medical records documenting the classification are essential.
- Life care planning. A life care planner projects the cost of future medical treatment, therapy, adaptive equipment, and personal care over the injured person’s remaining life expectancy. This full recovery assessment is critical to ensuring the claim reflects the true scope of harm.
- Medical testimony. Neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists can connect the injury to the defendant’s negligence and explain its long-term consequences to a jury or insurance adjuster.
- Insurance valuation. Insurers routinely undervalue catastrophic injury claims. Understanding how insurers calculate the value of an SCI case helps your attorney negotiate from a stronger position.
What Is the Spinal Cord Injury Case Timeline?
Spinal cord injury cases typically take longer to resolve than other personal injury claims because the medical picture develops more slowly and the parties often dispute the long-term prognosis.
- Consultation and case evaluation, usually within days or weeks of the injury
- Medical treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation, which may continue for a year or longer
- Investigation, including gathering medical records, accident reports, and witness statements
- Retention of life care planners and economic analysts to project future costs
- Demand letter and negotiations with the defendant’s insurance carrier
- Filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached. Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the injury.
- Pretrial preparation, including discovery and depositions
- Trial or settlement resolution
What Should You Bring to Your Spinal Cord Injury Consultation?
Collecting records before your first meeting helps your Irving spinal cord injury attorney evaluate the claim efficiently.
- Medical records, including MRI results, surgical reports, and neurological evaluations
- The accident or incident report filed with law enforcement or a property owner
- Documentation of current and expected limitations, including mobility, daily activities, and work capacity
- Insurance information for all parties involved
- Records of any workplace injuries or workers’ compensation claims, if applicable
At Kelso Law PLLC, spinal cord injury consultations are free and confidential. We review the facts, identify the responsible parties, and provide a candid assessment of the case.
What Are Important Texas Legal Resources for Spinal Cord Injury Cases?
Texas law governs spinal cord injury claims through the same statutes that apply to other personal injury matters, including filing deadlines and negligence standards. The following resources can help Irving, TX residents understand the legal and medical landscape around these cases.
- The NINDS spinal cord injury page provides information on SCI research, treatment options, and prognosis from the National Institutes of Health.
- The NHTSA road safety page publishes crash data and vehicle safety information relevant to motor vehicle-related spinal cord injuries.
- The Texas Legislature hosts the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, including the two-year statute of limitations and proportionate responsibility provisions.
- The Texas court system provides information on court structure, civil filing procedures, and jurisdiction for personal injury cases.
Reach Out to Kelso Law PLLC to Schedule a Consultation
If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury in Irving, TX because of someone else’s negligence, Kelso Law PLLC is prepared to evaluate your case at no cost. We handle spinal cord injury claims on a contingency-fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. Our office responds to inquiries promptly.