SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWYER
Spinal cord injuries can change life forever. Debilitating and deeply traumatic, these injuries are often caused by reckless and negligent actions. When that happens, a spinal cord injury claim can be victims’ path to recovery and holding the negligent parties accountable.
At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, our 5-star spinal cord injury lawyers have vast experience bringing negligent parties to justice. Strategic, aggressive, and relentless, we know how to win the toughest cases, and we are highly effective at securing the maximum recoveries. No matter how challenging a case may be, we can provide winning representation when it matters most.
That’s why we are recognized as top spinal cord injury attorneys in Louisiana and Texas. And it’s why you can count on Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers for superior advocacy when it’s time to recover and get justice.
Whenever you need answers or advice about a potential spinal cord injury case, just contact us. We are here for you, ready to help 24/7.
CATASTROPHIC INJURIES
Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers has represented injured people and families
in all types of spinal cord injury claims, recovering millions in the most challenging cases. We are ready to make your recovery our next victory.
Click on a link below to jump directly to a section and learn more about spinal cord injury causes, lawyers, cases, and compensation.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Defined: What Is an SCI?
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Complete or incomplete:
Complete SCIs involve the total severing of the spinal cord while incomplete SCIs leave the spinal cord intact. With incomplete spinal cord injury, tears or some type of compression are typically the source of damage. -
Anywhere along the spinal cord:
The site of the injury impacts the area(s) of the body affected. For example, SCIs in the lumbar spine tend to impact the legs while injuries high on the spinal cord can affect the lower body and/or arms.
Type of Spinal Cord Injury | Affected Areas of the Body |
---|---|
Paraplegia | Legs & lower body |
Triplegia | Lower body and one arm |
Tetraplegia or Quadriplegia | Lower & upper body (arms & legs) + possibly the neck, shoulder, & head |
- Spinal cord injury increases the risk of premature death by 2 to 5 times.
- Pneumonia and septicemia (blood poisoning) are the two leading causes of death and lower life expectancy for SCI patients.
- Each year, there are about 375,000 new spinal cord injuries diagnosed worldwide.
- Roughly 17,900 new SCIs are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
- Nearly half of all new SCIs are diagnosed as incomplete tetraplegia.
- Close to 1 in 3 SCIs are complete injuries.
- Nearly 20% of SCIs are cases of incomplete paraplegia.
- Close to 80% of all spinal cord injuries are sustained by males.
- At least 1 in 3 SCI patients needs to be hospitalized more than twice a year for treatment. On average, these SCI patients need to spend 18 days in the hospital.
- The average age for a new spinal cord injury diagnosis is 43.
- Go back 50 years, and the average age for an SCI diagnosis was 29.


Lifetime Costs of Spinal Cord Injury Treatments
Beyond the incidence of SCIs, the statistics also show the substantial financial impacts of these injuries. Check out the table below for a breakdown of spinal cord injury costs, including the average medical and living expenses, based on the age at which someone is injured. These numbers do not include the costs of lost earnings (source: NSCSC).
SCI Type & Severity | Estimated SCI Cost: 1st Year After Injury | Estimated Lifetime Cost: SCI at 25* | Estimated Lifetime Cost: SCI at 50* |
---|---|---|---|
High Tetraplegia (C1 to C4) | $1,163,425 | $5,162,152 | $2,837,031 |
Low Tetraplegia (C5 to C8) | $840,676 | $3,771,791 | $2,319,988 |
Paraplegia | $567,011 | $2,524,270 | $1,656,602 |
What Are the Top Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
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1
Motor vehicle accidents
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2
Falling accidents
- Car wrecks
- 18-wheeler crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle wrecks
- Thrown from vehicles
- Run over by vehicles
- Injured by the sheer force of an impact
Can I Sue After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury?
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Negligence caused or contributed to your injuries:
For some types of SCI claims, you will need to prove that some other party (other than you) is mostly to blame for your spinal cord injury. -
The statute of limitations has not passed:
This is the deadline for filing a case. It varies by state and the type of claim being filed. If the statute of limitations for a spinal cord injury claim passes, you could lose the chance to pursue that action.
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What you can prove:
Evidence to establish fault and damages is necessary to win a case and compel the at-fault parties to pay. Sometimes, evidence can be ambiguous or difficult to obtain. Other times it can be highly obtuse. Regardless, a lawyer can help collect the evidence needed to back up a spinal cord injury case. -
What type of case(s) you may have:
Depending on where and how an SCI happened, you could have more than one claim. If you do, those cases could involve different deadlines and procedures.
Do I Need a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?
- You have this question.
- You or a loved one suffered an SCI caused by another’s negligence.
- A loved one has passed away from spinal cord injury complications (and their SCI was caused by trauma and negligence).
- An insurance company is contacting you after an accident that may have caused a spinal cord injury.
- You need answers about your rights and legal options.
In fact, it’s always better to talk to a spinal cord injury attorney ASAP instead of putting it off. That’s because a lawyer can give you immediate answers and actionable advice about your rights and potential SCI claim.

Beyond that, an attorney can also start:
- Investigating a case while handling the administrative work necessary to get it officially underway
- Collecting and preserving the evidence you need to bring a strong spinal cord injury claim
- Taking charge when it comes to insurance company investigations, interactions, and negotiations
What Damages Are Covered in Spinal Cord Injury Compensation?
Financial recoveries are determined on a victim-by-victim or case-by-case basis because damages vary by the severity of the injuries and losses sustained. That said, damages for SCI cases typically cover past and future losses that can be economic (financial) and non-economic in nature.
As a result, damages for spinal cord injury cases can include compensation for (but not limited to):
Other Accidents Causing Catastrophic Injuries
- Medical treatments and care
- Lost wages and earnings
- Lost ability to earn a living
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral expenses (for fatal burn injuries)
A 5-Star Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Is Standing by, Ready to Help You 24/7
After a spinal cord injury, you may have a claim, but you won’t have unlimited time to seek justice. Don’t let another minute go by without getting free answers and advice that could put you on track to get the compensation and justice you may deserve. Contact a neck injury attorney at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers now.
We have decades of experience representing the injured in the most complex neck injury cases. No matter how complex or challenging a case may be, we provide the advocacy and counsel we would expect if we were in our clients’ shoes — and we know how to secure best possible outcomes when it matters most. That’s why we’re known as leading spinal cord injury lawyers throughout Louisiana and Texas.
When you only have one chance to win and get justice, we’re the team you can trust.