Few injuries change a life as completely, and as suddenly, as an injury to the spinal cord. In an instant, a car crash or a fall can alter how a person moves, works, and lives – often permanently.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, understanding what lies ahead – medically and financially – is the first step toward protecting your future. Here is what these injuries involve and how compensation works in California.
What a Spinal Cord Injury Really Means
The spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, so damage to it can cause permanent loss of movement and sensation below the point of injury. Injuries are often described as “complete” (total loss below the injury) or “incomplete” (some function remains), and as paraplegia (affecting the lower body) or tetraplegia (affecting all four limbs). Car accidents and falls are among the most common causes.
The Lifelong Costs
The expense of a serious spinal cord injury reaches far beyond the first hospital stay. A full picture usually includes:
- Ongoing medical care, surgeries, and rehabilitation
- Assistive equipment – wheelchairs and specialized technology – replaced over a lifetime
- Home and vehicle modifications for accessibility
- In-home caregiving or personal attendant care
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity, often for decades
How Compensation Works in California
California law entitles an injured person to recover both economic damages (measurable costs like medical bills, future care, and lost earnings) and non-economic damages (pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life). In ordinary injury cases, California does not cap non-economic damages – which matters enormously when so much of the harm cannot be reduced to a receipt. Because future costs are so large, these cases often rely on medical experts and life-care planners to document what a lifetime of care will truly require.
A spinal cord injury deserves careful, experienced handling – its value has to account for a lifetime, not just today. If your family is facing one, Ellin Mardirosian Law offers a free consultation to help you understand the full scope of what you may be owed.
Helpful Resources & Links
Catastrophic Injury – Practice Areas
Related: The Hidden Costs of Serious Injuries
Website by Inspirovate Creatives
NINDS (NIH) – Spinal Cord Injury
Mayo Clinic – Spinal Cord Injury
Free consultation with Ellin Mardirosian Law – call (747) 310-5200. Representing accident and injury victims across California and Nevada. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Armenian.
Disclaimer: This article is general information about California (and, where noted, Nevada) law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different – for guidance on your situation, speak with a licensed attorney.
