Serving Clients Throughout Texas
Austin Spinal Injury Lawyer
Skilled Attorneys Ready to Fight for Your Full Compensation
When you have a serious spinal injury and it was caused by another’s negligence, it’s important to work with an attorney you can trust. Our Austin spinal injury lawyer at Evans/Reilley has helped hundreds of clients get the full compensation they deserve. It takes skill and detailed knowledge of Texas injury laws to prove that negligence led to your spinal injuries. It also takes experience to fully calculate the compensation you should receive.
A spinal injury case is not a run-of-the-mill personal injury claim. A severe back injury can result in very high medical costs, the need for on-going care, time lost at work and many changes to your everyday life. You may experience pain and suffering related to your injury that must be calculated in detail. That’s why you should turn to our Austin spinal injury lawyer at Evans/Reilley to be certain you get skilled legal representation.
Why Choose Our Austin Spinal Injury Lawyers
Compassionate Attorneys with a Proven Winning Record
After years of experience helping injured clients, our team knows that in these moments when you’re looking for an attorney, you are facing a stressful, unfamiliar situation. You may worry about making the right choice. When you work with our team at Evans/Reilley, you will have not only rigorous experience and detailed knowledge of Texas law on your side, you’ll also have a team of down-to-earth people working for you 24/7. We know this is a difficult time and we are always ready to answer your questions about your case. When you choose our spinal injury attorneys in Austin, you have our support from Day One.
While having a compassionate, understanding attorney helping you is important, so is winning. That’s when our proven track record matters. That’s when our spinal injury lawyer’s experience and skill matter.
Here are some reasons why your best choice for an Austin spinal cord injury attorney is our team at Evans/Reilley:
- Attorney Chip Evans is a board-certified trial attorney with a reputation for his aggressive approach to negotiations and litigation.
- We understand well what’s at stake for you. That’s why we dedicate ourselves fully to your spinal injury case.
- We are available to you anytime to answer all questions you have about your case.
- We won’t leave you in the dark. We make sure you understand the steps in your spinal injury case and we map out the process for you.
- We respect your need to heal. While we’re available to you anytime you have questions, we also know that your priority is to recover and move forward with your life.
- We will be laser-focused on winning maximum compensation in your spinal injury case.
We understand the challenges you face, and we have the experience necessary to obtain maximum compensation in your case. We are powerful negotiators who know all the tactics insurance companies use to maximize profits and minimize payouts. We’re also accomplished litigators who will be ready to take your case to court if that is the best option.
Get the best legal representation possible in your spinal cord injury case. Get your free consultation with our attorney so we can learn the details of your case and give you an honest assessment of what you can expect. Call us today at (512) 732-2727.
What Our Clients Say
There are many good reasons why the Austin community trusts our team. Here are some words from one of our clients about how we’ve helped her and her family. Melissa’s experience shows what we can do for you, too.
I CAN’T RECOMMEND THE EVANS & HERLIHY LAW FIRM HIGHLY ENOUGH
Chip and his staff were a tremendous help to our family after our car accident. From the moment he offered to come to our home to talk with us to our final meeting to wrap everything up, it was clear that he understood our needs and the stresses we were facing. Personable and professional, Chip was always easy to get in touch with, and his organized and friendly staff helped us every step of the way. I can’t recommend the Evans/Reilley Law Firm highly enough!
– Melissa D.
Hiring the right Austin spinal cord injury lawyer is an important decision. That’s why you should learn more about us from other clients. You can review additional client testimonials to help you understand the ways we’ve made a difference in their lives.
Damages Our Austin Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Will Pursue for You
Costs in a Serious Spinal Injury Case Add Up Quickly
Spinal injuries are often serious, and that means you will likely face substantial medical costs. This thought alone may be frightening, and dealing with major changes to your daily life can be overwhelming. We understand your worries, but you can rest assured that when our back injury lawyer in Austin takes your case, our team will assess and account for every cost associated with your case. We will calculate past, present and future expenses to determine the full compensation you are owed.
In a legal case, the term “damages” relates to the valuation of harms caused by your injuries. In your Texas personal injury case (the category under which spine, neck, and back injuries fall), you can sue for your medical expenses, which alone can be very high; but there are other costs related to your injuries, too. Some costs are easy to quantify because they relate to bills you receive or income you lost, but others require nuanced calculation that only an experienced attorney knows how to make.
There are different types of damages you can receive in an Austin spinal injury case. They fall under two broad categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages — termed “compensatory damages” in Texas law — relate directly to costs associated with your spinal injury. They include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income related to your inability to work or having to work fewer hours
- Transportation costs related to your injury, such as travel to seek medical care
- Costs for supportive care, whether that is occupational therapy or help managing your basic housekeeping.
Non-economic damages require pinning a dollar figure on other harms you have and will experience associated with your spinal injury. According to state law in Texas (Tex. C.P.R. §41.001(12)), these types of damages might include:
- Mental suffering and emotional anguish
- Suffering related to physical impairment and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship.
Punitive damages are another form of non-economic damages that may apply to your spinal injury case. However, the standard is high for proving that the circumstances surrounding your injuries merit application of punitive damages. In Texas, these are legally known as “exemplary damages,” and our attorneys would have to prove clearly that gross negligence caused your spinal cord injury (Tex. C.P.R. §41.003). If we successfully prove that you should receive punitive damages in your spinal injury case, there are limits to the compensation you can receive. Texas law caps punitive damages at two times the amount of economic damages you receive plus the amount of your non-economic damages won, up to $750,000 (Tex. C.P.R. §41.008).
The amount of damages our Austin spinal injury lawyer will pursue in your settlement is dependent upon several factors. Those factors include your past and existing costs, estimated cost of future care, the extent of your injuries, and the degree of negligence, as well as other factors.
The Financial Impact of Spinal Injuries Can Be Devastating
When our attorneys evaluate the economic damages associated with your medical bills, we will do so with meticulous attention to the details. Every cost matters and should be accounted for. Your future depends on it, because back, neck, and spinal injuries can be life-changing. In addition to the fact that your ability to function as you once did may be altered and you may suffer intense physical pain, you will also have to manage the financial impact of your accident.
Back and spine injuries often require extensive medical care lasting for years, sometimes for the rest of your life.
These services can be costly, even if you have insurance. Your costs may include:
- Emergency Care
- Doctor and Surgeon Bills
- Hospital Bills
- Medication
- Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy
- Home and Vehicle Modifications
- Long Term Care/Home Care
- Lost Wages.
To further illustrate, an injury to any of the top four vertebrae can cost an average of $1,149,629 in the first year, and $199,637 for every subsequent year. And this figure provided by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center relates only to healthcare costs and living expenses associated with the spinal injury. That means a person who is 25 years old at the time of his or her injury could pay over $5 million in medical costs alone over the course of their lifetime.
Costs can be a factor in a legal claim even when the injury experienced is not particularly serious. A back injury that’s severe enough to interfere with one’s daily routine – walking, sleeping, sitting upright, working – may require extensive physical therapy before a normal range of motion can be achieved. Lower back injuries caused by car accidents can have symptoms that persist for years. A person who can’t work but also must pay for doctors’ visits and physical therapy can end up in a perilous financial situation rather quickly. That’s why you can count on Evans/Reilley to pursue your full compensation aggressively.
Let’s talk about your case today. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get started on pursuing the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at (512) 732-2727.
FAQs about Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
Our Austin Spinal Injury Attorney Has Answers
If you or someone you love was the victim of an accident caused by another person, you probably have many questions. Perhaps some other type of negligent action led to your spinal injury, like a poorly maintained railing causing you to fall. At Evans/Reilley, we appreciate how overwhelming this process can be. While each case is unique, with specific situations, there are some questions that are commonly asked. Our Austin back injury lawyer responds to some of them below.
The core issue is whether or not negligent actions led to your injury. Anyone who suffers a neck, back, or spinal cord injury because of the negligence of another person can file a lawsuit in the state of Texas.
The statute of limitations in Texas for personal injury cases is two years. This means that you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of your injury. When you work with our experienced Austin spinal injury lawyer, we will ensure that all documents are filed correctly and in a timely manner.
If your back injury was caused by an accident, then there may be added legal complexities involved with proving fault. Sometimes, multiple people can be at fault for an accident, and that may mean you are partially at fault.
Texas law assigns proportionate responsibility in accident cases. This is also known as the modified comparative fault rule. It means that as long as you are less than 51% responsible for the accident, you can claim damages in a legal case. However, if you do have some degree of responsibility, it will impact the amount of damages you receive.
For example, you may have economic damages related to medical costs to treat your back injury that amount to $300,000. If it is determined you are 10% at fault for the accident, you will be able to receive only 90% of that amount, or $270,000.
If you have suffered a neck, back, or spine injury, your first priority should be to obtain appropriate medical care. Then, if you believe your injury was the result of the negligence of another person or organization, you should contact a back injury lawyer as soon as possible. When injuries of this type are related to an accident, it is critical to begin an investigation into the accident as quickly as possible, while evidence is still available. Quite often, there is more than one responsible party, and it is important that each is held accountable for their actions. Our spinal injury attorney will investigate all details to ensure we can prove that negligent actions led to your injuries.
Our experienced attorneys know that rushing can be a mistake. Because your spinal injury may require long-term treatment or you may require supportive care indefinitely, it is essential for us to fully evaluate all potential damages. This means we must meticulously research and evaluate the evidence in your case. Each spinal cord injury case is unique, based on its own specific circumstances. Our attorneys want to be sure we have a complete understanding of your situation, including accurate projections of future expenses. These often take a while to determine. You want to work with an Austin spinal injury lawyer who is efficient, yet appreciates the importance of certain information and understands that it may take time to gather all necessary data. That’s why our team at Evans/Reilley is dedicated to your case for the long haul. We know your future is at stake and want to be certain we pursue the maximum compensation possible.
There is another potential twist: While our goal is to settle with the insurance companies, this is not always possible. Or the settlement offer made by an insurance company may simply be too low. In these cases, we will discuss pursuing litigation. Our spinal cord injury attorney in Austin will aggressively fight on your behalf if your case goes to court.
We are sensitive to the fact that you face a life-changing, stressful time when you suffer a serious back injury. We understand you never expected to find yourself in this situation and will have many questions. That’s why we’re here. Our Austin spinal injury lawyers are ready to answer any other questions you may have. Give us a call today at (512) 732-2727 to discuss your case and get help today.
Evans/Reilley Will Protect Your Rights
Our Experienced Spinal Injury Attorneys Will Fight for You
If you’ve suffered a back injury due to a workplace accident, a slip and fall, a car accident, or some other situation resulting from another party’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation that could help you cover your medical costs and continue living life as normally as possible.
Insurance companies know that many people who have suffered from accident-related injuries aren’t aware of their own rights and will often accept the first settlement they’re offered. Insurance companies are businesses, so they are always focused on their bottom line. This means convincing you to settle for the lowest amount possible in your back injury case.
Additionally, the counsel of an experienced back injury lawyer is invaluable. At Evans/Reilley, we know that the costs associated with injuries of this type are multi-faceted. We leverage our experience in quantifying past, present, and future costs when determining appropriate settlements.
Turn to Our Trusted Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Austin
Providing the Advice and Counsel You Need in Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
If you have suffered an injury to your back, spine, or neck, then you know how traumatizing these injuries can be. They can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. Actions and activities that were once second nature may be restricted, if not impossible. You may not be able to work in the same capacity as before your spinal injury or to participate in the hobbies you once enjoyed.
A serious back or neck injury can be life-changing. Compounding your physical and emotional pain are the monetary costs associated with injuries of this type. In addition to emergency medical bills, the cost of long-term treatment and rehabilitative care can wipe out your family’s savings, ruining your plans for the future. In situations where a loved one has suffered a debilitating back, neck, or spinal cord injury, family dynamics change as people step into the role of caregiver.
What makes these situations even more unfortunate is that those who cause these types of accidents often suffer only minor consequences or no consequences at all. The negligent behaviors or lack of behaviors of irresponsible property owners, reckless drivers, and other careless individuals are to blame for a large number of severe accidents where the victims suffer neck and/or back injuries. If your injuries (or those of a family member) were the fault of another person’s or organization’s negligence, we may be able to help you.
Our Austin Back Injury Lawyer Will Skillfully Manage Your Legal Case
If you are recovering from an injury or helping to care for a loved one who has been hurt, without a doubt you have your hands full. You may be in pain and exhausted. Medical and rehabilitation appointments are time-consuming. Emotionally, you are likely devastated and frustrated and find that managing your life is all-consuming. The idea of negotiating with insurance companies and pursuing legal action can be overwhelming.
We will negotiate aggressively on your behalf and, if necessary, litigate your case. We are seasoned professionals well-versed in personal injury cases and Texas law. Our reputation speaks for itself.
Contact us today at (512) 732-2727 to speak with one of our spinal cord injury lawyers and learn more about what we can do for your specific situation.
Attorney Chip Evans
Chip Evans is a partner at Evans & Herlihy. Chip brings to the firm more than 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing Plaintiffs. It is the desire to help individuals, not corporations, that attracts Chip to this side of the docket. [ Attorney Bio ]
