Spinal cord injuries have an overwhelming potential to cause life-altering complications and enormous physical, emotional, and financial losses. Under California law, if injury-related losses resulted from another’s negligence or wrongdoing, it may be possible for victims to seek a financial recovery of their damages by pursuing a personal injury claim.
However, survivors who seek compensation face big challenges – especially when they have high-value claims like spinal cord injury lawsuits. They must navigate complex legal processes, bear the burden of proof, and contend with powerful insurance companies that care more about profits than people.
Fortunately, help is available
At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers have a proven track record helping seriously injured victims recover millions of dollars in compensation. This includes a recent $9 million result for a man who suffered a spinal cord injury due to an inadequately guarded center median “drop-off” area that caused a wreck. If you have questions about a potential case, we are here to help. Whether you or your loved one suffered a spine injury in a motor vehicle collision, workplace accident, or premises accident, we have the resources and experience to guide and support you through the claim process.
Request a FREE review of your case by calling (866) 634-4525 or contacting us online.
Spinal cord injuries can result from many different types of accidents, and each brings its own unique set of challenges and considerations. Our attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP are equipped with the knowledge and resources to investigate any spinal cord injury case, regardless of how the injury occurred. With decades of combined experience handling complex and catastrophic injury cases, we know how to navigate these intricate claims, uncover useful evidence of liability, and uphold our clients’ rights as injured plaintiffs.
Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
Spinal cord injuries are permanent in the majority of cases, often causing life-altering changes and limitations for the survivor. The nerves that make up the spinal cord, which serve as the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body, are generally slow to heal and may be unable to recover at all from severe trauma. This can result in a wide range of complications and disabilities.
The types of disabilities and complications that can be caused by a spinal cord injury include:
Each of these potential outcomes underscores the severity of a spinal cord injury and the profound impact they can have on the victim’s quality of life. If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal cord damage and are showing symptoms of permanent harm, call (866) 634-4525 right away to talk with our Riverside spinal cord injury attorneys about your legal rights and options.
Paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage can present in various forms, ranging from temporary to permanent and from partial to total. Victims with temporary paralysis may be able to recover over time with proper treatment and rehabilitation. Permanent paralysis, however, signifies irreversible damage to the nerves, leading to a lifelong condition. Partial paralysis refers to the condition where an individual has some degree of control over the muscles, while total paralysis means there is no control or movement possible in the affected areas. The extent and type of paralysis largely depend on the severity and location of the spinal cord injury.
The five common types of paralysis caused by spinal cord damage include:
Although your spinal cord injury may not be curable, various helpful treatments and therapies may be available. Your medical care provider is the expert who can develop a tailored treatment plan based on your unique condition and needs. Despite advancements in medical technology and treatment methods, not every patient will fully recover, even with the best possible care; your medical team may help you set realistic goals and expectations regarding outcomes.
Different types of treatments and rehabilitative care for spinal cord injuries include:
Treatment for a spinal cord injury can be extremely costly, particularly when it spans months or even years. This financial burden underscores the importance of filing a claim if the injury was due to another’s negligence. Our Riverside spinal cord injury attorneys are available to step in and lead the way.
Specialized life-care planning is often necessary for people who have suffered a spinal cord injury. A life-care plan typically involves a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that takes into account a wide range of needs, from medical treatments and physical therapy to psychological support, assistive devices, home modifications, and vocational training. The goal is to enhance the patient’s quality of life, promote independence, and ensure their long-term health and well-being.
However, it’s important to note that life-care planning can be complex and involve a wide range of expenses, such as costs for ongoing care, specialized equipment, and home or vehicle modification. Potential costs should be factored into any spinal cord injury claim, so the amount of compensation pursued is reflective of not only the losses and suffering the plaintiff has already experienced, but also those they are likely to incur in the future as they learn to live with their disability.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people with spinal cord injuries regain, maintain, or improve their employment status after the injury has changed their abilities. Vocational rehabilitation may include job modifications and adaptive equipment that enable a person to return to the workplace. It may also involve comprehensive retraining for a new line of work that accommodates the limitations, or counseling to help the person cope with the emotional challenges of their changing capabilities and career prospects.
Spinal cord injuries can lead to exorbitant, lifelong financial damages. The total cost of care for someone with paraplegia, including medical treatments, rehabilitation services, and lifestyle accommodations, often exceeds $1,800,000, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). This figure doesn’t even account for potential loss of income and employment opportunities. In such cases, pursuing a legal claim can be instrumental in securing the necessary funds to cover these costs and ensure a better quality of life after a life-altering injury.
Two important damage types that can be demanded through a spinal cord injury claim are:
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, our award-winning attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP are available to review your case and discuss whether you may have grounds to pursue a claim.
Because injury claims require time to construct, and because there is a legal deadline in place known as the statute of limitations, we encourage anyone with a potential case to reach out to our team as soon as possible. Our trusted Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers serve clients across Southern California and beyond, and are readily available to take your call.
Put legal fighters in your corner. Call (866) 634-4525 to schedule a free consultation with our firm.
Contact a Riverside lawyer near you:
Named in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in Los Angeles.
Many firm members have been honored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, including Browne Greene, Christine Spagnoli, and Bruce Broillet, recipients of the Marvin E. Lewis Award. In addition, attorneys Bruce Broillet, Scott Carr, Molly McKibben, and Tobin Lanzetta has been honored with the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award.
All of our attorneys are proud to be active members of the Los Angeles County Bar Association or LACBA.
Our attorneys were featured in TopVerdict for having one of the Top 10 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in 2019, with $15 million won for the plaintiff in Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club.
Partners Geoff Wells and Ivan Puchalt were both named among the 2025 Consumer Attorney Visionaries by LA Times Studios.
Several partners are active members in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, with attorneys Browne Greene, Bruce Broillet, and Christine Spagnoli named “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
Firm partners Christine D. Spagnoli and Molly McKibben have both been honored by the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and are active members.
After winning $2.6 million for the plaintiff’s side in a head-on collision case, our victory was named in the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2019 by TopVerdict.
Several of our partners are members in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national invite-only association consisting of the most experienced trial lawyers.
Our team includes several Fellows and Associates with the invite-only International Society of Barristers in recognition of their trial advocacy.
Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, was featured by TopVerdict in the Top 100 Settlements across all practice areas in California for 2019.
Bruce A. Broillet and Christine D. Spagnoli are Fellows with the invite-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a group of elite trial lawyers from over 30 countries.
Recipients of this recognition are held up to the same standards as for The Best Lawyers in America, but only legal professionals in the first ten years of their careers qualify. Four attorneys at GBW have been recognized with this award in 2021.
Founding partners Browne Greene and Bruce A. Broillet are both members of the exclusive invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, as two of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in America.
Our firm has more attorneys on the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists than any other law firm in Southern California, with 15 members selected.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partiner, Tim J. Wheeler who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Call us at 866-634-4525 
