How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Worth in Texas?

How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Worth in Texas?

• May 19
• Evans/Reilley
• Spinal Injury

Spinal Cord Injuries Change Lives

Have you suffered from a spinal cord injury? If so, you may be facing life-changing challenges. Victims of spinal cord injuries have a lot on their plates. In addition to having considerable medical bills and the need for extensive care, their ability to work, earn a living and go about life in the manner they had become accustomed to can be overwhelming.

Injuries like this are even more frustrating when they occur due to the negligence of another individual or entity.  When the preventable results are unfathomable, it can be difficult to move forward.

Those who have suffered a spinal cord injury because of the negligence of others may be eligible for a financial settlement by filing a personal injury lawsuit. 

While no sum of money can adequately compensate you for all that you have lost, the possible settlements can be very helpful as you navigate a very different future than the one you had planned.

The advice and counsel of a spinal cord injury lawyer is exceptionally relevant as you contemplate moving forward with legal action. The personal injury lawyer at Evans/Reilley is experienced in handling cases like this.  He can evaluate your case and help determine just how much you can get for a spinal cord injury in Texas.

How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Worth in Texas?

Settlements Are Complex

In general, personal injury settlements in Texas are complicated.  If an individual or organization has been found guilty of negligence, compensation may be economic, noneconomic and in some cases punitive damages, each of which is explained below.

Understanding Economic Damages

In the event of a spinal cord injury, economic damages can result in financial ruin. The settlement from a personal injury lawsuit can help offset these tangible costs and protect you and your family. Economic damages may include:

• Medical Expenses: These are made up of all of your doctor and hospital bills, ambulance transport if necessary, rehabilitation, medication, and medical devices, just to name a few. Additionally, many who suffer injuries of this type require full-time home care, which may also be covered.
• Lost Wages and Lost Earnings Potential: It should not come as a surprise that victims of spinal cord injuries are often unable to return to work in the same capacity as prior to their accidents. Thus, compensation for lost wages and lost earnings potential may also be included.
• Property Damage: Finally, if your personal property was damaged during the incident in which you were injured (for example, your car in a motor vehicle accident), the costs to repair or replace may also be reimbursed.

The damages described above are referred to as economic because they are tangible and quantifiable.  That said, the implications of spinal injuries are often life-long – the expenses continue to accumulate far beyond the date of injury.  It is critical to accurately account for future expenses and include them in the amount of compensation sought in your lawsuit.

Your spinal cord injury lawyer will be able to help identify and calculate these costs and substantiate them through the use of expert witnesses.

Recognizing Non-Economic Damages

Another category of costs for which you may be compensated are non-economic damages.  Unlike economic damages, these can be more difficult to quantify – nevertheless, they are very real, can have a significant impact on the lives of those suffering from spinal cord injuries and can be incredibly costly to mitigate.

Depending upon the extent of your injury and its effect on your life, non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, disability, disfigurement, loss of quality of life and emotional distress.

Punitive Damages May Play a Role

Punitive damages (which may also be called exemplary damages) are a possibility in Texas personal injury cases. According to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code on Damages, punitive damages may be assessed if the incident which caused injury involved fraud, malice, or gross negligence.

It is important to realize that punitive damage assignments are not open-ended — limits do exist. And proving punitive damages can be challenging, requiring a unanimous jury verdict. Your personal injury lawyer can review your case, determine whether it would be possible to prove fraud,  malice or gross negligence and explain how much money you realistically may pursue.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Spinal Injury?

This question is one frequently raised when spinal cord injuries are sustained.  Unfortunately, it is impossible to provide a clear answer.  You see, each situation (the accident, the causes, the injury, and the impact on life) is unique.

That does not mean you should go into a trial without knowing what to expect.  Through investigation and conversations, your spinal cord injury lawyer will gain a complete understanding of your experience, your life as it was prior to your accident and the outlook for your future.  Based on this information and his experience, he will be able to provide more information on what you can hope to receive in terms of compensation.

Texas personal injury law takes fault into account and relies on proportionate responsibility. So, as long as you were not more than 50 % at fault for your accident, you would be eligible for compensation.  However, your award would be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. Simply stated, if you are 40% at fault for your accident, and the total award was $1 million dollars, you would only be able to collect $600,000.

Maximize Your Settlement

Engage a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Clearly, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of the negligence of another person or organization, you should be compensated for your losses.

However, the personal injury legal process is technical and often confusing – and those at fault may dispute your damages.

The decision to work with a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer is wise.  This professional will not only manage the entire legal process on your behalf (allowing you to focus on your recovery) but will also leverage their knowledge of the law and their experience in investigating, proving negligence, calculating damages, negotiating and litigating such cases.

They are acutely aware of the time limits regarding cases of this type and can ensure that all work is completed in accordance with the statute of limitations.  Missing important deadlines like this can negate your legal right to file.

Evans/Reilley Can Help You File Your Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit

We Have the Experience and Knowledge to Make a Difference

At Evans/Reilley, our personal injury attorneys are well-versed in Texas law and spinal cord cases. We understand the devastating effect accidents of this type have, not only on the lives of those injured, but also on their families. For many, life will never be the same as they are faced with an uncertain physical and financial future.

Our team is ready to get to work on your case immediately. We will leverage our knowledge and experience, both of the law and the operations of the local courts.

The settlement you are pursuing can make a very real difference in your life and that of your family. Our goal is to make the legal process as stress-free as possible by communicating empathetically and patiently while maximizing your compensation.

Our firm is founded on the belief that those whose negligent actions impact the lives of others should be held responsible for the damage they cause.  Reach out to us today at (512) 732-2727 to schedule a consultation and learn just how powerfully we can support you.