A doctor reviewing a spinal cord injury X-ray on his laptop.

Spinal cord injury attorney

A spinal cord injury claim is the legal action a victim takes to receive a monetary payment for their injuries and suffering. Under Colorado law, the person responsible for the accident must pay for the fallout. This means covering the financial expenses, as well as compensation for emotional damages and physical suffering. 

The Elite Litigation Group at Bachus & Schanker is a select team of highly focused and experienced trial attorneys who can help you hold the parties responsible for your injury accountable. We exclusively handle complex personal injury cases, including spinal cord injuries, and are with you every step of the way of the legal process.

We know nothing can undo what happened, but we can fight for the financial relief you need to support your recovery and your family after a spinal cord injury. Get justice now and contact us to schedule a free consultation with our a Denver spinal cord injury lawyer.

Different kinds of spinal injuries

Spinal injuries can vary in type and severity depending on the force and location of the impact. Spine injuries can be complete spinal cord injuries that cause permanent damage or incomplete spinal cord injuries that cause partial damage. These injuries can result from a variety of accidents, including a slip-and-fall, whiplash after a car accident, or an act of crime. There are four types of spinal cord injuries a victim may sustain. They include:

  • Cervical spinal cord injuries: The head and neck region
  • Thoracic spinal cord injuries: The upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscles
  • Lumbar spinal cord injuries: The hips and legs
  • Sacral spinal cord injuries: Impacting the hips, back of the thighs, buttocks, and pelvic organs

Spinal cord injury severity 

The severity of a spinal cord injury depends on where the injury occurred. A general rule of thumb is the higher up along the spinal column the injury is, the more severe it is likely to be. 

According to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, 27.3% of spinal cord injuries result in paralysis. The higher up the injury along your spinal cord, the more likely you are to be paralyzed, and to a greater degree. 

All spinal cord injuries are serious, regardless of where the injury occurred and the degree of your injury. Because of this, spinal cord injuries can significantly impact your overall life. But just because they can, does not mean they will.


When you work with the Elite Litigation Group, you will have access to our highly specialized Victim’s Advocate Team. In addition to helping you build up a successful case, this team is designed to help victims of catastrophic injuries — including spinal cord injury victims — receive the education and support they need to live a fruitful and fulfilling life. Get in touch to learn more about how our Victim’s Advocates Team can serve you.

Do I have a spinal cord injury claim?

You may be able to bring a claim if you are a spinal cord injury victim and have either a complete spinal cord injury or an incomplete spinal cord injury because of the carelessness of others. 

How to file a spinal cord injury claim in Colorado

In order to file a spinal cord injury claim in Colorado, your claim should prove the four elements of negligence. Essentially, you must be able to show the following:

  • The defendant had a duty of care: You must prove that the defendant had a duty to provide reasonable care in a manner that any reasonable individual would
  • Breach of duty: Once a duty of care is established, you must show that a defendant breached this duty by failing to provide a reasonable standard of care. Breach of duty can happen intentionally or recklessly. 
  • Causation: This concept establishes an individual’s breach of duty is what contributed to the event that caused your injury
  • Damages: As a result of the incident that caused your injury, you must show that you suffered damages

These elements are critical for a successful spinal cord injury claim. Working with the Elite Litigation Group can help you determine whether these elements exist in your case and the best way to prove these elements. 

How does a spinal cord injury case work? 

Spinal cord injury cases can be resolved one of two ways; through a settlement or a verdict at trial. The vast majority of spinal cord injury cases end in a settlement. Negotiations during a settlement can take weeks or months. Experienced attorneys like the Elite Litigation Group bring with them strong negotiation tactics to ensure that you get the comprehensive settlement you deserve. 

What damages can be recovered?

In a spinal cord injury lawsuit, you can recover compensatory damages in the form of economic and non-economic damages. These compensatory damages are designed to provide you with monetary relief so that you and your family have fewer financial obstacles to shoulder as you move forward in the healing process. 

Economic damages are designed to help you recover any financial losses you sustain because of the injury. These losses can include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Emergency care/urgent care expenses
  • Medical devices, mobility devices, home modifications
  • X-rays, scans, imaging
  • Physical therapy
  • Lost wages in the short and long term

Non-economic damages are designed to compensate you for incalculable losses that resulted from your injury. These losses can include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment in life
  • Mental anguish
  • Physical impairment
  • Disfigurement

Why choose the Elite Litigation Group for your spinal cord injury lawsuit?

The sudden and unexpected death of a family member or suddenly being confronted with a catastrophic injury changes life in an instant and raises many important questions about what has happened and about what to do next.

Our Elite Litigation Group will take immediate action to get real answers for your family about what happened to your loved one. We mobilize experts to secure and preserve important evidence and initiate an independent investigation on your behalf. At the same time, our Elite Litigation Group will serve as a resource and anchor for your family, advising you about your constitutional rights as a crime victim and about the various government, insurance, financial, and community resources that may be available to your family based upon the individualized needs and specific circumstances.

A personal injury attorney working on a spinal cord injury lawsuit at his desk. In front of him is paperwork and an open laptop.

Our team will help your family navigate all aspects of a sudden loss or catastrophic injury and will serve as very powerful advocates for your rights every step of the way! We can help you fight for justice. Schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

Christopher Reeve Foundation. Key Statistics from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. (2023).

Neurosurg, A. Spinal Injury Resulting from Car Accident: Focus to Prevention. (2017). 

Client Stories

Meet Our Legal Experts

We know what happened to you is unimaginable. Our only goal is to help you and your family on this painful journey and fight for your rights. When you need skilled, experienced, and compassionate representation, the Elite Litigation Group is here for you. With years of experience and multiple office locations serving nationwide, our personal injury attorneys are ready to serve you and fight for the compensation you deserve.

A headshot of personal injury lawyer Kyle Bachus
Kyle Bachus
Founding Partner
A headshot of personal injury lawyer Kyle Bachus
Darin Schanker
Founding Partner
Maaren Johnson personal injury attorney at Bachus & Schanker, LLC
Maaren Johnson
Equity Partner
Personal injury attorney Corey Holton from Bachus & Schanker law firm
Corey Holton
Equity Partner

Testimonials

“Thank you for not giving up on me”

…there was a point when I wanted to give up… Bachus & Schanker did not give up on me. They just kept pushing through and letting me know that we’re on a team and that they’re there for me, to support me and help me in any way I need.

Thank you for giving me a second chance, for helping me with a second chance and thank you for not giving up on me.

When you go through an accident, so many people you find give up on you and you don’t matter anymore to them and that wasn’t the case with Bachus & Schanker.

Molly Cain

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