Houston Spinal Injury Attorneys
We can demand the compensation you deserve
Injuries to the spine and back can have serious consequences. Depending on the location of your spinal cord injury, you might not be able to do many of the things you may take for granted, including walking or other physical activity.
Knowing what to do after such a catastrophic injury can be overwhelming. Even knowing what your rights are might not be clear. That’s why it’s critical that you talk to an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
Our experienced attorneys at Tracey Fox & Walters in Houston can answer your questions and explain your legal options. We know what to do because we’ve been doing this work for decades. There’s no substitute for experience, no substitute for success.
Types of spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are categorized two different ways. If the spinal cord is completely severed, that’s a complete spinal injury. If the spine is partially severed, that’s called an incomplete spinal injury.
People who sustain a complete spinal injury often experience a complete loss of sensory function and movement. Depending the location of the injury, this could result in:
- Complete loss of movement from the neck down, known as a cervical spinal cord injury or tetraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Loss of movement (paralysis) in the lower part of the body. Known as a thoracic spinal cord injury, this type of spine injury allows people to move their arms.
- Loss of movement in the legs due to a spinal injury in the lower back. This form of paralysis is known as a lumbar spinal cord injury or paraplegia.
- Partial or complete loss of control of the bladder or bowels. This type of injury is called a sacral spinal cord injury.
Each spinal injury presents its own unique challenges. That’s why it’s important that your doctor has a plan to address your specific medical needs. The same should be true of your lawyer. They need to make sure their approach and their strategy is tailored towards your specific injury.
Common medical treatments
Depending on what type of spinal cord injury you sustained, your doctor may recommend many different types of medical treatments. Based on the results of your MRI, X-ray, CT scan or other diagnostic tests, this may include:
- Spinal cord surgery, including spinal fusion, discectomy or laminectomy
- Replacing damaged spinal disks with artificial disks
- Immobilizing the spine by placing someone in traction to properly align the spine
- Experimental medical treatment
- Ongoing, long-term medical care, including physical rehabilitation
It’s critical that spine injury victims receive the best possible medical care. Your attorney can and should handle everything else – from dealing with insurance companies to demanding the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Who will pay my injury expenses?
It’s important to realize that medical expenses associated with a spinal cord injury can add up fast. It’s not uncommon for medical bills and ongoing medical care to cost thousands or even millions of dollars.
If someone else caused your injury due to their negligent or reckless behavior, the at-fault party should be responsible for paying those bills. However, don’t simply assume they will automatically do so. In many cases, the at-fault party or their insurance company may do everything they can to avoid paying you the money you deserve.
That’s why it’s critical that you have an experienced legal team on your side. Your lawyer can demand the compensation you deserve and take legal action, if necessary, on your behalf. Otherwise, you could end up paying for your medical bills out of your own pocket.
What are my legal options?
In general, you two options for obtaining the compensation you deserve for your injury-related expenses:
- File a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
- File a lawsuit against the at-fault party or their insurance company.
Deciding which approach makes the most sense for your specific situation can be challenging. It’s also important to realize that you only have one opportunity to obtain all the compensation you will need for your entire life for your spinal cord injury.
With these high stakes, it’s important to carefully consider all your options. An attorney can help you do that and understand which approach makes the most sense for you.
Get a lawyer you can count on. Contact our Houston office.
We understand how overwhelming all of this can be for injury victims and their families. That’s why our attorneys want to help. We understand how the legal system works in Harris County and other surrounding communities. We know what steps need to be taken to build the strongest possible legal case.
You can count on us to be there for you when you need us the most. Learn more about what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation. We can meet with you in our Houston office, your hospital room, your home or wherever’s convenient for you. You decide.