At Jacoby & Meyers, we believe everyone deserves justice.
This includes accident victims who suffer serious spinal cord injuries because of someone else’s careless, reckless or wrongful acts.
If you find yourself in this situation, help is available.
Our reputable team of Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers can guide you through the process of holding someone accountable for your spinal cord injury and maximizing your physical, emotional and financial recovery as much as possible.
Request a free consultation in Riverside today at (951) 720-3007 to discuss your legal options in detail at no cost or obligation. Because you deserve justice.
No Fees Unless We Win
California’s #1 Injury Firm for 6 Years
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers
- We’ve been voted the #1 Personal Injury Firm six years in a row. We have earned the trust of tens of thousands of clients thanks to our exceptional legal representation and high settlements.
- Our attorneys have collected more than $2 billion in settlements for clients. This includes $19 million for a case involving quadriplegia and $17.5 million for a client with paraplegia.
- You won’t owe us anything in attorney’s fees unless we win your spinal cord injury case. Our Riverside personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury or SCI can describe any harm done to one or more elements of the spine, back or neck.
The spinal cord is a key part of the central nervous system.
It carries messages from the brain to the body using a complex system of nerves.
It also supports the body through a column of bones known as vertebrae, cushiony spinal disks, and surrounding muscles and ligaments.
If any part of the spine sustains injury, it can disrupt the messaging system – causing an often-irreversible loss of feeling and function in the affected area known as paralysis.
Common forms of paralysis include paraplegia (from the waist down) and quadriplegia (from the neck down).
The location where the injury occurs on the spinal cord can determine the type of injury or paralysis suffered.
Injuries to the neck or cervical spine are often the most severe.
A complete spinal cord injury causes a total loss of motor function and the ability to feel sensations in the affected area, while an incomplete SCI leaves the victim with some degree of function.
Every patient’s experience is unique based on the severity, type and location of the spinal cord injury.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Riverside
There are approximately 18,421 new spinal cord injury cases each year in the United States, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
It is a leading cause of permanent disability.
The top causes of spine injuries are:
- Motor vehicle accidents (37.3 percent)
- Falls (32 percent)
- Violence (15.1 percent)
- Sports (7.7 percent)
- Medical/surgical errors (3.7 percent)
Other common causes include workplace accidents, construction accidents, swimming pool accidents and defective products.
The estimated lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury in 2024 ranged from $2.1 million for motor function disability at any level to $6.3 million for high quadriplegia.
Life-Altering Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious physical injuries involved in personal injury cases in California.
These injuries can have a dramatic impact on a victim’s life, livelihood and future.
A spinal cord injury can have numerous effects on a patient’s life, including:
- Permanent paralysis
- Respiratory complications
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Chronic pain
- Muscle spasms and spasticity
- Pressure sores and skin complications
- Increased risk of infections
- Psychological and emotional impact
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
- Loss of independence
- Need for assistive devices and home modifications
- Caregiver dependence
- Increased mortality rate
In many cases, symptoms are profound and permanent due to the nature of spinal injuries.
This is why it is critical to find the right attorney to take your case.
Your lawyer needs to have a thorough understanding of the severity of your injuries to seek the compensation that you deserve.
Determining Liability in Riverside Spinal Injury Cases
Your legal options as a spinal cord injury victim in Riverside will depend on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
If someone was negligent, meaning they did not act with the right amount of care, this can give you grounds to initiate a personal injury claim.
You or your attorney will need to identify the at-fault or liable parties before you can file a claim.
Possibilities include:
- Negligent drivers and vehicle operators
- Property owners (premises liability claim)
- Employers (unsafe work conditions)
- Product manufacturers (defective equipment)
- Medical professionals (surgical errors, misdiagnosis)
Your type of accident will narrow down the possibilities.
Then, an attorney can investigate to determine fault and find evidence to support your claim.
Multiple parties may share liability, granting you access to more than one insurance policy.
A thorough investigation is important to discover all possible sources of financial compensation.
Compensation for Riverside Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Knowing how much your spinal cord injury case is worth is critical, as your financial future may be on the line.
An attorney at Jacoby & Meyers can help you create a comprehensive list of your damages, which may include:
- Emergency medical treatment or surgeries
- Hospitalization and rehabilitation
- Lifetime medical care expenses
- Medical equipment (wheelchairs, mobility aids, etc.)
- In-home nursing and personal care assistance
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages for gross negligence
- Wrongful death damages (if applicable)
Unlike an insurance company, you can count on our attorneys to give you an accurate portrayal of the true value of your spine injury claim in Riverside.
Contact a Riverside Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with a spinal cord injury after an accident in Riverside, finding the right lawyer is a key step in your journey to justice.
Hiring an attorney with significant experience handling spine injury cases is paramount, as these claims involve many complex and nuanced medical and legal issues.
The attorney you choose should have access to the right experts, such as rehabilitation specialists and life care planners, to strengthen your claim.
Jacoby & Meyers checks all of these boxes. We are a premier personal injury firm with over 50 years of history representing clients in California.
Contact us now by sending us a message or calling (951) 720-3007 to request a free consultation. We will fight for the justice you deserve.