A spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant. One moment you’re driving to work or walking across the street—the next, you’re facing the possibility of permanent paralysis, endless medical treatments, and a future dramatically different from the one you planned. If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury in Chicago, understanding your legal rights is essential to securing your future.
The Devastating Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and body. When damaged, communication is disrupted, often resulting in loss of movement, sensation, and bodily functions below the injury site. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 17,900 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete injuries result in total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level. There is no movement or feeling in affected areas.
Incomplete injuries allow some function below the injury site. The degree of remaining function varies widely depending on which nerve pathways remain intact.
| Injury Level | Classification | Affected Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical (C1-C8) | Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia | Arms, hands, trunk, legs, pelvic organs |
| Thoracic (T1-T12) | Paraplegia | Trunk, legs, pelvic organs |
| Lumbar (L1-L5) | Paraplegia | Legs, pelvic organs |
| Sacral (S1-S5) | Varies | Bowel, bladder, sexual function |
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Chicago
Spinal cord injuries result from various accidents, many caused by someone else’s negligence:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes cause approximately 39% of all spinal cord injuries
- Falls: Slip and fall accidents, falls from heights, and stairway accidents account for 31% of injuries
- Violence: Gunshot wounds and assault-related injuries
- Sports and recreation: Diving accidents, contact sports, and recreational mishaps
- Medical negligence: Surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, and delayed diagnosis
- Construction accidents: Falls from scaffolding, struck-by incidents, and equipment failures
Lifetime Costs of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most expensive catastrophic injuries to treat. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, lifetime costs depend on injury severity and age at injury:
High tetraplegia (C1-C4): First-year costs average $1.1 million, with annual expenses of approximately $196,000 thereafter. A 25-year-old with this injury faces estimated lifetime costs exceeding $5 million.
Paraplegia: First-year costs average $560,000, with annual expenses around $72,000. Lifetime costs for a 25-year-old exceed $2.5 million.
These figures don’t include indirect costs like lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the value of care provided by family members.
Damages in Illinois Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Illinois law allows spinal cord injury victims to recover compensation for all damages caused by another’s negligence:
Economic Damages
- Emergency medical care and hospitalization
- Surgical procedures including spinal fusion and decompression
- Intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Wheelchairs, hospital beds, and adaptive equipment
- Home modifications (ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms)
- Modified vehicles for wheelchair accessibility
- Long-term nursing care or personal attendant services
- Medications and ongoing medical treatment
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, depression, and anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of independence
- Sexual dysfunction and loss of intimacy
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium (for spouses)
Building a Strong Spinal Cord Injury Case
Spinal cord injury claims require extensive evidence and expert testimony:
Medical experts must explain the injury mechanism, treatment requirements, and long-term prognosis to juries unfamiliar with complex medical concepts.
Life care planners calculate the total cost of future medical care, equipment, home modifications, and personal assistance over the victim’s lifetime.
Vocational experts assess how the injury affects the victim’s ability to work and earn income.
Economists calculate the present value of future losses, including lost wages, benefits, and the cost of future care.
Illinois Comparative Fault and Spinal Cord Injuries
Under Illinois’s modified comparative negligence system (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), your compensation may be reduced if you share fault for the accident. However, as long as you’re 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages. Given the enormous costs of spinal cord injuries, even a reduced recovery can be substantial.
Why Experienced Legal Representation Matters
Spinal cord injury cases involve some of the highest stakes in personal injury law. Insurance companies will fight aggressively to minimize payouts on claims worth millions of dollars. You need attorneys with:
- Experience handling catastrophic injury claims
- Resources to hire top medical and economic experts
- Willingness to take cases to trial if necessary
- Understanding of the unique challenges spinal cord injury victims face
At Phillips Law Offices, we have recovered millions of dollars for spinal cord injury victims throughout Chicago and Illinois. We understand the medical complexities, the lifetime of care ahead, and the importance of maximizing every dollar of compensation. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation about your spinal cord injury case.
