Spinal cord injuries can change everything in an instant. A crash on I-10, a fall at a local store, or a collision while biking through Brackenridge Park can leave someone with permanent damage and a long road ahead. From adjusting to medical treatment to figuring out how to keep working or caring for family, nothing feels the same after a spinal cord injury.
Legal representation plays a major role in helping people with these injuries seek fair treatment and the maximum compensation available. Insurance companies and at-fault parties often try to minimize what they owe. Having a San Antonio spinal cord injury lawyer gives you someone who knows how to fight back when they do.
At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we’ve worked with individuals and families in San Antonio who are going through the toughest times of their lives. We’re committed to giving your case personal attention and putting the full strength of our team behind it. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us for a free consultation. Let’s talk about how we can help.
Call us at (210) 941-1301 for a free consultation or contact us below. No cost to you unless we win.
What Are the Main Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord damage can happen in many ways. Some accidents involve high impact, while others involve simple slips in the wrong place. When someone’s carelessness leads to your injury, you may have the right to hold them financially responsible.
Car Accidents
Car accidents like rear-end crashes on Bandera Road, side-impact wrecks on Loop 410, and head-on collisions in the Medical Center area often cause serious spine damage. Even with a seatbelt, the force of the impact can compress or twist the spine.
Truck Accidents
Large trucks moving through Port San Antonio and surrounding industrial areas can cause devastating injuries during a truck accident. The size and weight of an 18-wheeler make the risk of spinal cord damage much higher.
Rideshare Accidents
When Uber or Lyft drivers cause a rideshare accident near the River Walk or while picking up passengers at the airport, back and spine injuries are common. Victims may need help dealing with multiple insurance companies.
Pedestrian Accidents
People walking near schools in Alamo Heights or through downtown crosswalks are vulnerable to drivers who don’t yield. A pedestrian accident like this can cause direct impact trauma to the back or spine.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents at retail stores, grocery chains, or restaurants in areas like The Rim can lead to hard landings on the back. Improper maintenance or wet floors are often behind these incidents.
Sports and Recreation Injuries
Injuries on local fields, courts, or swimming areas like those at San Pedro Springs Park may result from faulty equipment, poor supervision, or unsafe conditions. These injuries often affect children and teens.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Not all spinal cord injuries are the same. The level of damage and where it happens along the spine plays a big role in long-term outcomes. Doctors use specific terms to describe what someone is dealing with.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury cuts off all movement and feeling below the injury. An incomplete injury still allows some function. Even a slight difference here can change how much someone can recover.
Paraplegia
This affects the lower body, including the legs and part of the torso. People with paraplegia may need a wheelchair and home modifications but often keep use of their arms and hands.
Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)
This form of paralysis affects all four limbs. It typically follows a high spinal injury and can also affect chest muscles used for breathing and arm movement.
Cervical Spine Injuries
Injuries at the top of the spine can be the most severe. The higher up the damage, the more movement and function is lost. Breathing support may even be necessary in some cases.
Thoracic Spine Injuries
These injuries affect the upper and middle back. While they don’t usually impact the arms, they can leave someone unable to move or control their legs.
Lumbar Spine Injuries
This part of the spine supports the lower back. Damage here can impact walking, balance, and bladder or bowel control. Some people regain partial mobility, while others need long-term support.
How Much Compensation Can You Receive for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries often come with steep medical bills, time away from work, and major changes in daily life. The value of your case depends on the losses you’ve experienced and what you’ll continue to face in the future.
Economic Damages
These include direct costs like emergency care, hospital stays, physical therapy, surgery, and medication. Receipts and billing statements help show these losses.
Non-Economic Damages
These are harder to measure but just as real. They include things like long-term discomfort, emotional strain, sleep problems, or losing the ability to enjoy your old hobbies.
Future Medical Care Costs
Many people with spinal cord injuries need follow-up surgeries, in-home care, or lifelong treatment. These costs add up quickly, especially if you need mobility aids or home modifications.
Lost Earning Capacity
Some injuries keep people from returning to their jobs. Others can force a move to a lower-paying role. You may be able to recover money for missed opportunities, lost promotions, or early retirement.
Pain and Suffering
Back pain, nerve damage, and permanent limitations often cause daily frustration. Courts may include this type of suffering when calculating the full value of your claim.
Loss of Consortium
When a serious injury changes someone’s relationship with their spouse, family, or partner, that loss can be part of a claim too. These damages focus on lost intimacy, support, and companionship.
What Evidence Is Needed to Prove a Spinal Cord Injury Case?
A strong spinal cord injury case depends on clear, convincing evidence. The more detail you can show about how the injury happened and how it has affected your life, the stronger your claim will be. Every document, report, and statement helps build the foundation for financial recovery.
Medical Records and Documentation
Detailed medical records serve as the foundation of any spinal cord injury case. Emergency room charts, imaging scans like MRIs or CTs, surgical reports, and rehabilitation notes help confirm the injury’s location, severity, and treatment. These records also show how the injury developed over time and what long-term care might be necessary.
Expert Medical Testimony
Doctors and medical specialists can explain how the spinal cord injury occurred and what it means for your future. Their testimony may be used to connect the injury to the incident, confirm that another party’s actions caused it, and show the expected long-term impact. This type of testimony can also help explain why certain treatments, devices, or care plans are necessary.
Accident Scene Evidence
Photos of the scene, property damage, physical hazards, and road conditions can all help tell the story of how the injury occurred. For example, skid marks at an intersection or a broken handrail in a stairwell may show the direct cause of the fall or crash. This kind of evidence can also be used to prove that another person or company was responsible.
Witness Statements
People who saw the accident can offer firsthand details. These statements often help confirm whether someone was acting carelessly or ignoring safety rules.
Economic Loss Documentation
Pay stubs, tax returns, employment records, and job descriptions help show what your income was before the injury and how it's changed since. Bills from hospitals, therapy clinics, and pharmacies demonstrate out-of-pocket costs. These records make it easier to show the real impact of the injury on your financial situation.
Life Care Planning Reports
These reports outline what you’ll need going forward. A certified life care planner can provide a full list of expected costs, including home modifications, mobility aids, transportation services, therapy, and long-term medical support. These projections help ensure any settlement or verdict reflects future needs, not just current expenses.
Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injury Claims
In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. This applies to most car crashes, slip and falls, and similar events.
Discovery Rule Exceptions
Sometimes the injury or its connection to another person’s actions isn’t clear right away. Courts may give more time in those cases, especially with delayed symptoms.
Government Entity Claims
When the at-fault party is a government worker or agency, you usually need to file a notice of claim within just six months. This applies to accidents involving city vehicles or public property.
Importance of Acting Quickly
The sooner you act, the easier it is to gather evidence and speak to witnesses. Delays can lead to lost footage, forgotten details, or missing records.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we put our experience and resources to work for every client. We don’t treat spinal cord injury cases like just another file. We build each case with care and attention to detail.
Comprehensive Case Investigation
We gather documents, speak with witnesses, and dig into what happened. That includes visits to the scene when needed.
Medical Expert Network
Our connections with physicians and rehab specialists help us explain injuries clearly and completely. Their insight adds strength to your case.
Life Care Planning Coordination
We work with life care planners to estimate the full range of future expenses. This makes sure your claim reflects the full cost of living with a spinal cord injury.
Aggressive Negotiation with Insurance Companies
When insurance adjusters try to avoid paying fairly, we hold them accountable. We don’t let them pressure clients into taking less than what’s right.
Trial Preparation and Litigation
If the other side refuses to make a fair offer, we’re ready to take the case to court. Our firm has handled high-stakes trials and is ready to fight when it matters most.
Ongoing Support Throughout Recovery
We check in with clients regularly and stay involved from start to finish. You’ll always know what’s happening with your case.
Why Choose Our Firm
There are many personal injury firms in Texas, but we stand out for how we handle spinal cord injury claims.
Proven Track Record with Spinal Cord Injury Cases
We’ve helped clients throughout San Antonio recover significant settlements and verdicts in complex spinal injury claims.
Extensive Resources and Expert Connections
Our team includes access to investigators, medical professionals, and economic experts. This support can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
Personalized Attention and Communication
You won’t get lost in the shuffle. We stay in touch, answer your questions, and make sure you always know where things stand.
No Fee Unless We Obtain Compensation
You don’t pay unless we recover compensation. If we don’t reach a resolution, you owe us nothing.
Compassionate Understanding of Client Needs
We know this isn’t just a legal case. It’s your life. We treat it that way.
San Antonio Spinal Cord Injury FAQs
How long does a spinal cord injury case take to resolve?
Every case is different, but most take several months to over a year. Factors include how severe the injury is, how long treatment takes, and whether the insurance company offers a fair amount.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Texas follows a rule called modified comparative fault. As long as you weren’t more than 50 percent to blame, you can still recover reduced damages.
What if the at-fault party doesn't have insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage, third-party claims, or even company assets may help cover your losses. We explore every option.
Should I accept the first settlement offer?
Probably not. Initial offers often undervalue your claim. Let a lawyer review it before you sign anything.
How do you calculate future medical expenses?
We work with doctors and life care planners to estimate what care you’ll need long-term. That might include therapy, equipment, or surgeries years from now.
Contact Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in San Antonio Now
Spinal cord injury cases involve serious stakes and limited time to act. Insurance companies move quickly to protect their interests. You should too. Call Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock now at (210) 941-1301 for a free and confidential consultation. We’ll talk through your options, explain the process, and help you figure out what steps to take next. Let us handle the legal side so you can focus on recovery.
Call us at (210) 941-1301 for a free consultation or contact us below. No cost to you unless we win.