Life in Austin moves fast, from the morning rush on MoPac to the busy weekend crowds near Lady Bird Lake, but a back or neck injury can bring everything to a sudden halt. If you or a loved one is dealing with the life-altering effects of a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, an Austin spinal cord injury lawyer at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, can help you pursue the financial support you need to rebuild your life.
A spinal cord injury often results in permanent changes to how you move, work, and interact with the world. Whether your injury occurred during a collision on I-35 or a serious fall at a local business, the legal system provides a way for you to seek accountability.
Our legal team focuses exclusively on personal injury law, meaning we spend our time understanding the specific medical and legal challenges that come with catastrophic injuries. We believe that when someone else’s carelessness causes you harm, they should be responsible for the costs associated with your recovery.
Why Choose Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, for Your Austin Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Choosing the right legal representation is a significant decision that affects the outcome of your claim. At Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we treat our clients like family, ensuring that you are always our top priority throughout the legal process. We understand that a spinal cord injury affects the entire household, and we strive to provide the honest, compassionate advocacy you deserve.
Our firm offers several distinct advantages for accident victims in Central Texas:
- Dedicated Focus: We strictly represent people injured by the negligence of others, with a heavy emphasis on motor vehicle accidents.
- Proven Results: Our team has secured over $500 million in settlements for our clients since we opened our doors in 2001.
- Accessibility: We are available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Mobile Consultations: If your injuries make it difficult to travel to our Austin office, we are happy to meet you at your home or in the hospital.
- No Upfront Costs: We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us any fees unless we win your case.
These commitments allow us to provide a high level of service to every person who walks through our doors or calls us for help. By concentrating solely on injury law, we stay current on the latest legal trends and medical insights necessary to build a strong case for our clients.
A Closer Look at Spinal Cord Injuries in Austin
A spinal cord injury involves damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. This type of trauma often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the site of the injury. In Austin, these injuries frequently stem from high-speed traffic accidents, motorcycle crashes, or pedestrian accidents in busy areas like the University of Texas campus or the downtown entertainment districts.
Medical professionals generally categorize these injuries into two main types:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: This occurs when the cord is fully compressed or severed, resulting in a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury site.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: In these cases, the spinal cord is only partially damaged, allowing for some degree of sensation or movement below the level of the injury.
The level of the injury on the spine also dictates the severity of the symptoms. For example, injuries to the cervical spine (the neck) can result in quadriplegia, affecting all four limbs and the torso. Injuries further down the spine, in the thoracic or lumbar regions, may lead to paraplegia, affecting the lower half of the body.
Each of these situations requires extensive medical intervention and long-term care planning to help the injured person maintain their quality of life.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Damage
Most spinal cord injuries are the result of sudden, traumatic events. In the Central Texas region, our Austin spinal cord injury lawyer team sees these injuries occur in a variety of ways, most of which are preventable if people follow safety rules and exercise reasonable care.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Crashes
- Slip and Falls
- Premises Liability
- Rideshare Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
No matter how the injury occurred, the common thread is that another person's actions changed your life forever.
The Long-Term Costs of Spinal Injuries
One of the most difficult aspects of a spinal cord injury is the financial burden it places on the family. These injuries are among the most expensive medical conditions to manage over a lifetime. When you work with an Austin spinal cord injury attorney at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we look beyond your immediate medical bills to consider the future costs you will face.
The financial impact typically includes several categories of damages:
- Ongoing Medical Treatment: This includes surgeries, hospital stays, and frequent visits to specialists or rehabilitation centers.
- Physical and Occupational Therapy: Long-term therapy is often necessary to help patients regain function or learn new ways to perform daily tasks.
- Medical Equipment: Items such as specialized wheelchairs, hospital beds for the home, and modified vehicles are essential for mobility.
- Home Modifications: Installing ramps, widening doorways, and remodeling bathrooms to make them accessible can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
- Lost Income and Earning Capacity: If you can no longer work in your previous profession, or if you cannot work at all, the loss of lifetime earnings is a significant component of your claim.
It is important to document every expense and every way the injury has altered your daily routine. This documentation helps build a comprehensive picture of the compensation required to cover your needs for the rest of your life.
Seeking Justice Under Texas Law
In Texas, the legal framework for personal injury claims is based on the concept of negligence. To recover compensation, you must demonstrate that the other party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a result. For example, every driver on the road owes a duty to others to follow traffic laws and stay focused on the task of driving.
Texas follows a "proportionate responsibility" rule under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. This means that as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident, you can still recover damages. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury determines you were 10% at fault for the accident, your award would be reduced by 10%.
An Austin spinal cord injury lawyer at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, works to protect you from unfair blame. Insurance companies often try to shift the fault onto the victim to save money, but we use evidence—such as traffic camera footage, witness statements, and accident reconstruction—to show exactly what happened.
Our goal is to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for their share of the damages.
Managing the Legal Process After an Accident
The process of pursuing a legal claim can seem complicated. At Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on your health. Our process is designed to be thorough and transparent, keeping you informed at every stage.
The journey toward a settlement or verdict usually involves several key steps:
- Investigation: We gather all available evidence, including police reports, medical records, and photos of the accident scene.
- Consultation with Experts: We work with medical professionals and life-care planners to understand the full scope of your injury and its future costs.
- Filing the Claim: We notify the responsible party’s insurance company and file the necessary legal documents to start your case.
- Negotiation: Our lawyers engage in aggressive negotiations with insurance adjusters to seek a fair settlement that covers all your needs.
- Litigation: If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, we are prepared to take your case to court to fight for your rights.
Having a dedicated legal team allows you to avoid the stress of dealing with insurance companies that may try to pressure you into a low settlement. We understand the tactics these companies use and how to counter them effectively. By acting as your advocate, we ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
The Importance of Acting Quickly
While your primary focus should be on your physical recovery, it is important to be aware of the legal timelines in Texas. The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This means you usually have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
Waiting too long can have serious consequences:
Evidence May Disappear: Skid marks fade, vehicles are repaired or scrapped, and video footage may be erased after a few weeks.
Witness Memories Fade: People who saw the accident may move away or forget specific details that are crucial to your case.
Deadlines May Be Missed: If the two-year window closes, you lose your right to seek compensation through the court system, regardless of the severity of your injury.
By contacting an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer early, you give your legal team the best chance to preserve evidence and build a strong foundation for your claim. We can take over the communication with insurance companies immediately, preventing them from contacting you during your recovery.
How Our Lawyers Calculate Your Compensation
Determining the value of a spinal cord injury claim is a complex process. Because these injuries are permanent, we must account for decades of future expenses. We don't just look at what you have lost today; we look at what you will need 10, 20, or 30 years from now.
We categorize compensation into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the objective financial losses, such as bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages are more subjective and relate to the impact the injury has on your life. These may include:
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain you have endured and will continue to endure.
- Emotional Distress: The mental health impact of dealing with a permanent disability.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: The inability to participate in hobbies, sports, or activities you once loved.
- Loss of Consortium: The impact the injury has on your relationship with your spouse.
Our team at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, is committed to ensuring that every aspect of your loss is considered. We use our experience and resources to present a clear picture of how the negligence of another has fundamentally changed your world. We fight to make sure the final settlement or verdict reflects the true gravity of your situation.
FAQs for Austin Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If you are dealing with a spinal cord injury, you likely have many questions about how the legal process works and what you can expect in the coming months.
How much does it cost to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer?
At Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs or hourly fees for our clients. We only receive a payment if we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or a court award. This allows you to pursue justice without worrying about how to pay for a lawyer while managing your medical bills.
What if the person who caused my injury does not have enough insurance?
If the at-fault party has little or no insurance, we can look for other avenues for compensation. This might include your own Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage or identifying other negligent parties. For instance, if a defective car part contributed to the injury, we might be able to pursue a claim against the manufacturer.
Will I have to go to court for my spinal cord injury case?
Many personal injury cases are settled through negotiations with insurance companies before they ever reach a courtroom. However, if the insurance company does not offer a fair amount that covers your long-term needs, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial. We prepare every case as if it is going to court to ensure we have the strongest possible position during negotiations.
How long will it take to resolve my spinal cord injury claim?
The timeline for a spinal cord injury case varies depending on the complexity of the accident and the length of your medical treatment. It is often important to wait until you have reached "maximum medical improvement" so we can accurately estimate your future costs. Some cases may resolve in several months, while more complex litigation can much longer.
Contact the Trusted Austin Spinal Cord Lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, Today
Living with a spinal cord injury is a journey that no one should have to take alone. While we cannot undo the accident, the team at Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, can help you fight for the resources you need to move forward with dignity and security. Our Austin spinal cord injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story, explain your legal options, and stand by your side every step of the way.
We serve clients throughout Austin, Waco, Killeen, Temple, and the surrounding areas. We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and helping our neighbors get the compensation they deserve. Contact Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC, today for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24/7 to take your call and begin working on your behalf.