Munley Law’s Reading spinal cord injury lawyers understand how devastating a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be for victims and their families. When negligence causes paralysis or permanent nerve damage, the financial toll can last a lifetime.
Spinal cord injuries often require lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, home modifications, and personal assistance. With medical costs frequently exceeding hundreds of thousands – and in severe cases, millions – legal representation is critical to securing full compensation.
Holding negligent drivers, property owners, employers, and medical providers accountable requires skill, resources, and experience in catastrophic injury litigation. Families in Berks County turn to Munley Law’s Reading personal injury attorneys for aggressive advocacy and nationally recognized results in complex spinal cord injury claims. We are committed to seeking justice and fighting tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Reading, PA
In simple terms, the spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down your back and carries messages between your brain and the rest of your body. When the spinal cord is damaged, it can disrupt these messages, leading to various physical and sensory impairments. The severity of a spinal cord injury can vary widely, ranging from partial loss of sensation and movement to complete paralysis.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are over 18,000 new spinal cord injuries each year in the United States, with motor vehicle crashes remaining the leading cause. Violence and sports injuries are also significant contributors.
Other common causes of spinal cord injuries are as follows:
- Medical malpractice: Errors during surgery, improper administration of anesthesia, or failure to diagnose and treat spinal cord conditions promptly can result in spinal cord injuries.
- Car accidents: Negligent driving behaviors such as drunk driving, distracted driving, or reckless driving can lead to severe spinal cord injuries in car crash victims.
- Workplace accidents: Inadequate safety measures, lack of training, or negligence by employers or coworkers can cause spinal cord injuries in industries such as construction, manufacturing, or transportation.
- Slip and fall accidents: Property owners must maintain safe premises. Negligence in addressing hazardous conditions, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or a lack of proper signage, can lead to falls, resulting in spinal cord injuries.
- Sports or recreational activities: Inadequate supervision, lack of proper safety equipment, or reckless behavior by coaches, organizers, or other participants can cause spinal cord injuries in sports-related incidents.
What Are the Most Common Spinal Cord Injuries?
Each spinal cord injury case is unique, and the specific injuries and legal claims will depend on the individual circumstances.
- Paraplegia: Paralysis affecting the lower body, typically including the legs.
- Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia): Paralysis affecting all four limbs and the torso, often including some or all of the neck and head.
- Herniated or Bulging Discs: Damage to the discs between the vertebrae, causing them to protrude or rupture and potentially compress the spinal cord or nerve roots.
- Spinal Fractures: Broken vertebrae resulting from traumatic events like car accidents, falls, or sports injuries.
- Spinal Cord Compression: Pressure on the spinal cord due to tumors, spinal stenosis, or other conditions that can lead to nerve damage and loss of function.
- Spinal Cord Contusions: Bruising of the spinal cord due to trauma, leading to temporary or permanent loss of function.
- Spinal Cord Lacerations: Cuts or tears in the spinal cord caused by sharp objects or severe trauma, often resulting in permanent damage.
- Spinal Cord Ischemia: Lack of blood flow to the spinal cord, typically caused by a disruption in the blood vessels, leading to tissue damage and potential paralysis.
- Cauda Equina Syndrome: Compression of the nerve roots at the base of the spinal cord, causing severe lower back pain, loss of bowel and bladder control, and lower extremity weakness.
- Nerve Damage: Injury to the peripheral nerves branching off from the spinal cord, resulting in loss of sensation, muscle weakness, or paralysis in specific areas of the body.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Reading, Pennsylvania?
Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, Pennsylvania generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Failing to file within this timeframe can permanently bar recovery. However, exceptions may apply in cases involving:
- Minors
- Delayed discovery of injury
- Government entities, because of their shorter notice deadlines
It’s essential to consult with an attorney specializing in personal injury law, particularly spinal cord injuries, to understand the specific statute of limitations that applies to your spinal cord injury case. Munley Law will protect your legal rights and ensure the opportunity to pursue compensation for your injuries and related damages.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Spinal Injury Cord Case?
In a spinal cord injury case, various damages may be available to compensate you for your losses. The NSCISC reports that lifetime costs for a 25-year-old with tetraplegia can exceed $6.25 million, not including lost wages.
In a Reading, PA, spinal cord injury case, here are some common types of damages that may be sought:
- Medical Expenses: This includes compensation for past, current, and future medical costs related to the spinal cord injury, such as hospitalization, surgeries, medications, assistive devices, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.
- Lost Wages: If the spinal cord injury has made it impossible to work or has significantly reduced the ability to earn, the injured person might be able to claim some compensation for the wages and benefits they’ve lost, both in the past and in the future.
- Pain and Suffering: Damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by the spinal cord injury are commonly sought. This can include physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional trauma associated with the injury.
- Disability and Impairment: You could potentially receive compensation for a long-term disability, impairment, or loss of function caused by the spinal cord injury. This could cover restricted mobility, sensory loss, and how it affects your everyday life and overall well-being.
- Rehabilitation and Assistive Devices: In a spinal cord injury lawsuit, the court often considers all the expenses. Things like rehab programs, specialized therapies, assistive devices (like wheelchairs or prosthetics), and even tweaks to living spaces can be part of the damages sought. It’s essential to cover these costs to ensure the injured person receives proper care and that their environment is adjusted to meet their needs.
- Home Care and Support Services: If the spinal cord injury requires ongoing assistance with daily activities and personal care, damages may be sought for the cost of home care services, personal attendants, and other support needed.
- Loss of Consortium: In some cases, damages may be sought by the spouse or family members for the loss of companionship, affection, and support resulting from the spinal cord injury.
- Punitive Damages: In exceptional cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless or malicious, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior.
Since lifetime care costs can reach millions, expert life-care planners and economists are often necessary to accurately calculate true damages.
Why You Need a Reading, PA Spinal Injury Attorney from Munley Law On Your Side
Spinal cord injury cases demand experienced trial attorneys with the resources to take on insurance companies and corporate defendants. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we’re here to answer any questions about who or what caused your injuries and will dig deep to determine liability and negligence.
Our attorneys in Reading have over 250 years of combined experience and have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and the Irish Legal 100. Several of our attorneys have also been named to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and are members of the elite Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We are nationally recognized for catastrophic injury case results and have secured landmark verdicts and settlements for victims, including multi-million-dollar recoveries in complex negligence cases. We aim to pursue maximum compensation for you by exploring all available options, and we front all case costs, including medical specialists and reconstructionists.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer at Munley Law
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Reading, PA
Can I File a Claim If an SCI Worsened a Pre-Existing Condition?
Yes, Pennsylvania allows recovery if negligence aggravated a prior condition. The responsible party can still be liable for the additional harm caused.
Do Most Spinal Cord Injury Cases Go to Trial?
Many cases settle before going to court, but serious injury claims are more likely to require litigation due to the substantial damages. Having trial-ready attorneys increases leverage during settlement negotiations.
What If the Accident Happened at Work?
You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, a third-party lawsuit may also be filed if another entity contributed to the injury.
How Long Does a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Take?
Complex catastrophic injury cases can take several months or years, especially if litigation is necessary. Factors include medical stabilization, expert testimony, and court schedules.
Will Insurance Cover Lifetime Care Costs?
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts, leaving SCI victims with additional financial burden. Legal representation helps ensure future care, rehabilitation, and adaptive living costs are fully calculated.
Can Family Members Recover Damages for a Loved One With SCI?
Spouses may pursue loss-of-consortium claims. In fatal cases, surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim.
Talk to Munley Law’s Reading Spinal Injury Attorneys Today
Our team of Reading spinal cord injury attorneys genuinely wants to assist you in reclaiming your life after a devastating accident.
Contact Munley Law for a free consultation today. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
