A permanent spinal cord injury changes the future of a Springfield family in a single afternoon. These severe events force victims to manage rising medical costs while they adjust to a new way of living. We provide the legal guidance and compassionate support needed to protect your family.
A spinal cord injury attorney Springfield MO helps victims get the resources needed to manage the long term costs of a severe injury. These costs are huge; high tetraplegia can result in lifetime costs over four million dollars according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. In Missouri, victims can seek full damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering as the state does not cap these damages. An attorney handles every legal detail, from looking into the accident to finding future care needs. This help allows the injured person to focus on recovery while their legal team protects their financial future and ensures they receive support under Missouri law.
Understanding your condition is the first step in building a strong legal claim. Your case will depend on the type of damage to your spinal column. We will begin by looking at the difference between Complete vs Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries to help you understand your diagnosis.
Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Springfield Mo: Complete vs Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event. When doctors talk about these injuries, they use terms like complete and incomplete. These words tell you how much feeling and movement you have left below the site of the harm. Most cases happen to people at an average age of 44.3 years. Data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center show that less than 1% of people get back all nerve use by the time they leave the hospital.
Four types of nerve damage
Medical experts group SCI into four main types. Incomplete tetraplegia is the most common form, at 45% of new cases. In this state, you may have some movement or feeling in your arms and legs. Incomplete paraplegia counts for 21% of injuries. Complete paraplegia affects 20% of patients. Complete tetraplegia makes up 14%. These figures show that every injury is unique. If you were hurt in a crash, a Springfield auto accident attorney can help you seek the care you need.
Common causes of spinal injuries
The path to a claim often starts with how the injury happened. Vehicle crashes are the top cause of SCI. They lead to 37.1% of cases. Falls are the next most common at 32.5%. These two types of accidents cause nearly 70% of all spinal cord trauma in the United States. Other causes include acts of violence at 15.2% and sports at 7.6%. Each of these events can lead to a long road of medical bills and lost wages.
The role of medical tests
A complete injury means the spinal cord cannot send any signals below the level of the harm. You lose all muscle use and feeling in those areas. An incomplete injury means the cord can still send some signals. You might have some use of some muscles. You might also feel touch in some spots. This difference is key for your health and your legal case. An attorney can work with medical experts to show the full impact of the injury on your life.
The Lifetime Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury changes life in an instant. The physical toll is clear, but the financial weight is also heavy. Families often face a future of medical bills, home changes, and lost pay. These costs can last for decades. In Missouri, you have the right to seek full payment for these needs. Working with a spinal cord injury attorney Springfield MO can help you find every path to recovery.
First Year Care Costs
The first twelve months after a back or neck injury are the most costly. High tetraplegia cases affect the area from the C1 to C4 vertebrae. These cases often see costs over $1 million in the first year alone. Even less severe injuries lead to large bills. Those that affect motor function can cost over $347,000 to treat at the start. These numbers come from the National Spinal Cord Injury Data Center (NSCISC). They show why getting legal help early is vital for your future.
Care in a hospital is only part of the bill. You may need to change your home or car so you can move around. You might need special tools to help with daily tasks. You may also need full-time help from a nurse. These costs add up fast and can drain a family’s savings. Because vehicle crashes cause about 37% of these injuries, an auto accident attorney Springfield MO can help find who is at fault.
| Severity of Injury | First Year Cost | Lifetime Cost (Age 25) |
|---|---|---|
| High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) | $1,064,716 | $4,724,181 |
| Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8) | $769,351 | $3,451,781 |
| Paraplegia | $518,904 | $2,310,104 |
| Incomplete Motor Function | $347,484 | $1,578,274 |
Ongoing Bills and Lost Pay
The costs do not stop after the first year. For a high tetraplegia injury, care can cost more than $184,000 every year for the rest of a person’s life. These bills cover therapy, drugs, and health check-ups. They do not include the money you lose when you cannot work. Indirect costs like lost wages and lower work output average about $71,961 per year according to the NSCISC. This loss of pay can make it hard to keep a home and care for a family.
Missouri law is helpful for those with large losses. Unlike some states, Missouri has no cap on how much you can get for non-economic damages. This means you can seek the full value for your pain and suffering. My time as a former insurance insider helps me see how companies try to lower these payouts. We fight to make sure the math reflects your real needs for life. We look at the cost of future care and the loss of the life you once had.
When an injury leads to a loss of life, the impact on a family is even greater. This lets you live with dignity and get the care you deserve. We take the high road to help you find a way forward. Our goal is to secure the funds you need to move on from a tragic event.
Missouri’s Pure Comparative Fault Rule and Spinal Cord Injury Cases
A spinal cord injury often changes a life in one second. These accidents are complex, and the insurance company may try to blame you for what happened. In many states, being slightly at fault can stop you from getting any money. But Missouri law is more helpful. Our state uses a system called pure comparative fault.
What is the pure comparative fault rule?
In 1983, the Missouri Supreme Court changed how we handle fault in the case Gustafson v. Benda. Before this, you could get nothing if you were even one percent at fault. Now, Missouri allows you to recover money even if you are mostly to blame. There is no 50 percent bar rule here. You can still get money even if you were 90 percent at fault.
Other states might block your claim if you bear too much blame. But Missouri courts want to make sure you get some help. This rule applies to car crashes, falls, and other injuries. It is a key part of proving negligence in a Missouri personal injury case. If you were hurt, do not assume you have no case just because you made a mistake.
Why fault matters in a spinal cord injury case
Spinal cord injuries often happen in fast crashes or falls. The facts are not always clear. An insurance company might say you were speeding or not looking. They do this to lower the amount they have to pay. A skilled spinal cord injury attorney Springfield MO knows how to fight these claims. We use proof to show the other party was more at fault.
This fight is vital because the costs of an injury are very high. A small change in your fault share can mean a big difference in your money. Our team looks at police reports and expert views. We work to keep your fault share low. This helps you get the support you need for care and lost wages.
How fault affects your money
Under Missouri law, your total money is reduced by your fault share. For example, if your total losses are $1,000,000 and you are 20 percent at fault, you would get $800,000. Missouri has no caps on damages for these cases, as noted in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. This means you can seek the full value of your losses.
Working with an attorney who knows insurance tactics is a big help. I spent years working for these companies, so I know how they shift blame. My goal is to make sure you get fair treatment. We will help you build a strong case. You can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal fight for your future.
Loss of Consortium After a Catastrophic Spinal Cord Injury
A catastrophic spinal cord injury does more than just hurt the person in the crash. It also changes the lives of their family members. In Missouri, the law sees that a spouse loses a lot when their partner is hurt. This type of loss is called loss of consortium. It allows a husband or wife to seek money for the change in their bond. Working with a spinal cord injury attorney Springfield MO can help you find all the ways your family was hurt.
What Loss of Consortium Means
Loss of consortium covers more than just lost wages. It covers the loss of the things that make a marriage special. This includes companionship, comfort, and closeness. It also covers the loss of help around the house. When a person has a spinal cord injury, they may not be able to do chores or care for the home. A spouse can seek money for these losses with the help of a auto accident attorney Springfield MO. They will know how to prove these claims in court.
The loss of a spouse’s help is a major part of these claims. This might include help with cooking, cleaning, or caring for children. In many cases, the healthy spouse becomes a full-time caregiver. This changes the bond from a team to one of care. Missouri law allows families to seek money for this shift in their life. It sees that the role of a spouse has changed in a deep way.
Support for Children and Families
Spouses are not the only ones who can file these types of claims. Children may also seek money for the loss of parent guidance and support. A spinal cord injury can take a parent away from their child’s daily life. They may no longer be able to play or teach like they did before. These claims are key in cases where a parent needs full-time care for the rest of their life. Some common things children lose include:
- Daily help with school and life skills.
- The ability to play sports or go on trips together.
- Help with feelings and life advice as they grow.
- A sense of safety and help in the home.
In some sad cases, these injuries can lead to a wrongful death attorney Springfield MO needing to step in to help the family. Even if the person lives, the loss for the child is real and lasting.
No Limits on Damages in Missouri
Missouri is a good state for victims because it has no damage caps. Many states put a limit on how much money a family can get for pain or loss of comfort. Missouri law does not have these limits for personal injury cases. This means a jury can award the full value of the loss to a spouse or child. This is key because a spinal cord injury often needs care that lasts for years. Your family should get the full support they need to handle such a big change.
Five-Year Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Missouri
When you suffer a spinal cord injury, your focus is on care and healing. You must also watch the legal clock. Missouri law gives you a set time to file a suit after a crash. This time limit is the statute of limitations. For most injury cases in the state, you have five years to act under RSMo 516.120. If you miss this date, you may lose your right to get money for medical bills or lost pay.
The five year deadline
Most people hurt in a car wreck or a fall have five years from the day of the harm to file their case. This is a longer window than many other states give, but it can still go by fast. In a big case, you might spend years in rehab. A Missouri personal injury statute of limitations guide can help you track these dates as you mend. The five year clock starts on the day of the injury. It does not wait for you to find out the full cost of your care.
Short limits for wrongful death
If a spine injury leads to the loss of a loved one, the rules change. Missouri law sets a short three year limit for wrongful death claims under RSMo 537.100. This means family members must start their case much sooner. Losing a spouse or parent is hard. The legal path is likely the last thing on your mind. But acting early helps your wrongful death attorney Springfield MO find facts and talk to folks who saw the event while they still recall it well.
Claims against a city or state
The rules are even tighter if a city or state group caused the harm. If a city bus or a state truck caused your crash, you must file a formal notice very fast. In some cases, you may only have 90 days to tell the state about the event. This is a special rule. It is not the same as the five year limit. If you do not give this notice, your case may end right away. You should talk to a lawyer soon to make sure you do not miss these small windows.
Spinal Cord Injury Compensation: What Damages Are Available in Missouri
A spinal cord injury changes every part of your life. In Missouri, the law lets you seek full payment for the losses you face. This includes the bills you pay now and the costs you will have for the rest of your life. Because these injuries are so severe, the law does not put a limit on the money you can get for your pain or your medical needs.
Types of Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the clear costs of your injury. You can get money for all your past and future medical bills. This includes hospital stays, surgery, and rehab. It also covers new tools you need to move around, such as chairs or vans. If you must change your home to add ramps or wider doors, those costs are part of your claim too. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, high tetraplegia can cost over $1 million in just the first year.
You can also get back lost wages and the money you would have earned in the future. SCI often makes it hard or impossible to go back to your old job. Data shows that costs like lost pay average about $71,961 per year for those living with these injuries. A auto accident attorney Springfield MO can help you track these losses to make sure your claim is full.
Non-Economic Damages and Support
Non-economic damages pay for things that do not have a price tag. This includes your physical pain and the mental stress of your injury. Missouri law lets a spouse seek money for loss of consortium. This covers the loss of love and help that a partner gives. In cases where the injury leads to a loss of life, a wrongful death attorney Springfield MO helps families seek justice for their loss.
Missouri is a unique state because it has no cap on these damages. Other states may limit how much you can get for pain and suffering, but Missouri does not. This means you can seek the full value of how your life has changed. Since the lifetime cost for a young person with high tetraplegia can reach $4.7 million, having no cap is vital for your long-term care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a spinal cord injury lawsuit worth in Missouri?
The total value of a case depends on how bad the injury is and the costs over a lifetime. Cases with high tetraplegia often have over 4.7 million dollars in costs according to the NSCISC. Missouri law does not cap the money you can get for medical bills, lost wages, or pain. This means you can seek the full amount for your losses.
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Missouri?
Most injury claims in Missouri have a five-year time limit under RSMo 516.120. This means you must file your case within five years of the accident. If the injury involves the government or leads to death, the limits are much shorter. You should talk to a lawyer soon to make sure you do not miss these dates.
What does it cost to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Springfield?
Most injury lawyers use a fee plan where they only get paid if you win. At the Law Office of Chad G. Mann, we cap this fee at 30 percent. This is lower than the usual 33 to 40 percent other firms charge. This helps you keep more of your money to pay for long-term care and home changes needed after a spine injury.
Can I still get money if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes. Missouri uses a pure fault rule. This means you can still get money even if you were partly to blame for the crash. Your total payout is cut by your share of the fault. For example, if you are 20 percent at fault, you can still get 80 percent of the total award. This rule makes Missouri a fair state for people with serious injuries.
Contact a Springfield Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
Contact a Springfield Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
Spinal cord injuries change everything: your health, your job, your family’s future, and your sense of security. Getting the right legal help early in the process makes a real difference in the outcome of your case. At The Law Office of Chad G. Mann, we bring firsthand knowledge of how insurance companies work, combined with a commitment to personal attention for every client. We take your case personally because we know how much is at stake. There is no upfront cost to speak with us, and we only get paid if we win your case. Call us at (417) 842-8679 or visit our contact page to schedule a free case consultation today. Let us help you protect your family’s future and get the care you need.