Table of contents
- Why Choose for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
- What Constitutes a Spinal Cord Injury
- Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Colorado Springs
- Long-Term Disability and Medical Needs
- Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injury Claims
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Take Action on Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
- Related Posts
A spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant. Whether caused by a car accident, workplace incident, or slip and fall, these injuries create long-term disability and significant medical expenses. If you suffered a spinal cord injury in Colorado Springs due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Matlin Injury Law helps injury victims understand their rights and pursue claims that seek to reflect the true cost of their injuries.
Why Choose Matlin Injury Law for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Matlin Injury Law brings experience handling spinal cord injury cases in Colorado Springs. We understand the medical, financial, and emotional impact these injuries have on you and your family. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you typically pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you, as explained in your fee agreement. We focus on building claims that account for both immediate medical costs and long-term disability needs. Our Colorado Springs personal injury lawyers have represented over 1,000 clients and recovered substantial compensation for catastrophic injury victims.
What Constitutes a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury occurs when trauma damages the nerve fibers in your spinal cord, affecting your ability to move or feel sensation below the injury site. The spinal cord carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body. When trauma damages this pathway, those signals cannot travel properly, resulting in loss of function. Understanding the types of spinal cord injuries is essential for determining the appropriate legal strategy and compensation.
These injuries range from incomplete to complete. Incomplete injuries involve partial damage where some function remains. Complete injuries involve total damage that eliminates all function below the injury site. An injury higher on the spine typically causes more extensive loss of function than one lower down. Catastrophic injuries of this nature often require lifelong care and support.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries – Partial damage allows some nerve signals to pass through, meaning some function remains below the injury site
- Complete spinal cord injuries – Total damage prevents all nerve signals from passing, resulting in complete loss of function below the injury
- Tetraplegia – Injury to the cervical spine affecting all four limbs and often the torso
- Paraplegia – Injury to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spine affecting the lower body and legs
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Colorado Springs
Sudden trauma causes spinal cord injuries. In Colorado Springs, common causes include motor vehicle accidents, workplace incidents, falls, and sports-related accidents. Car crashes remain a common cause, particularly at high speeds or when occupants are ejected. Workplace injuries occur in construction, manufacturing, and other industries involving fall risks or heavy equipment. Sports injuries from skiing, snowboarding, football, and diving also cause spinal cord damage. Understanding how your injury occurred is important for helping establish liability and determining who may be responsible for your damages.
Long-Term Disability and Medical Needs
Spinal cord injuries often require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment far beyond initial hospitalization. Long-term needs may include:
- Physical therapy to maintain muscle strength and help prevent complications
- Pain management through medications or interventional procedures
- Home modifications such as wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms
- Assistive devices like wheelchairs, braces, and communication aids
- Attendant care for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation
These costs can accumulate quickly. A person injured at age 25 with a complete spinal cord injury may face lifetime medical costs in the millions of dollars, with some estimates ranging from around $3.1 million to over $6 million depending on injury severity, based on NSCISC data. Compensation should account for both current and future medical expenses. The American Spinal Injury Association provides additional resources for understanding injury classifications and recovery options.
Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Colorado law allows you to seek recovery of economic and non-economic damages resulting from your injury. Catastrophic injury claims can include substantial compensation for long-term care needs. Our Colorado personal injury lawyers understand how to calculate damages that reflect the true lifetime cost of your injuries.
Economic damages cover tangible financial losses including:
- Medical bills for emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Lost earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job
Non-economic damages address intangible harms including:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of consortium
Note: For civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado law generally caps non-economic damages at $1,500,000 under C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5 (as amended by HB24-1472). In cases involving willful and wanton conduct, punitive damages may also apply under C.R.S. § 13-21-102. For more information on types of damages in personal injury claims, consult with our experienced team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for filing a spinal cord injury claim in Colorado?
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury under C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1). If your injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident, you generally have three years to file under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. Missing this deadline can eliminate your right to compensation entirely. Some circumstances may extend this deadline—such as if the injured person is a minor (C.R.S. § 13-81-103) or if the defendant leaves the state (C.R.S. § 13-80-118). Do not rely on these exceptions. Contact Matlin Injury Law as soon as possible after your injury.
How much is my spinal cord injury claim worth?
Claim value depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, earning capacity, age, and long-term disability needs. Spinal cord injury claims can range from relatively modest amounts to settlements or verdicts in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in some cases, depending on the facts and available insurance coverage. There is no fixed or guaranteed amount, and no true “average” settlement figure. Matlin Injury Law can consult with medical and economic professionals to estimate potential compensation based on your specific circumstances. Learn more about how personal injury lawyers get paid on a contingency basis.
What should I do immediately after a spinal cord injury?
Seek emergency medical care first. Once you receive medical attention, document the incident, gather witness contact information, and report the incident to the appropriate authority. Then contact an attorney as soon as possible. Avoid discussing your injury with insurance companies without legal representation. Our guide on what to do after a car accident provides additional steps to protect your claim.
Take Action on Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
A spinal cord injury can affect every part of your life, but you do not have to face the financial consequences alone. Matlin Injury Law handles many personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis—you generally pay no upfront legal fees and owe attorney fees only if we recover money for you, as set out in your fee agreement. Contact us today for a free consultation. Call (303) 487-8911 or fill out our contact form to get started.
