A spinal cord injury changes everything in an instant. One moment on a highway outside Terre Haute or a fall at a local worksite can leave someone facing paralysis, permanent nerve damage, or a lifetime of medical care they never planned for.
At Wagner Reese LLP, we represent Terre Haute residents whose lives were upended by someone else’s negligence. Our personal injury attorneys handle catastrophic injury claims across Indiana, and we understand the financial and emotional weight a spinal cord injury places on a family.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries rank among the most expensive injuries a person can sustain, and Indiana law allows injured people to pursue compensation for those costs when negligence caused the harm. Compensation in a spinal cord injury claim typically covers medical expenses, both past and future, along with lost income and lost earning capacity if the injury prevents someone from returning to their prior job.
Beyond the financial losses, Indiana law also permits recovery for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and the cost of ongoing care such as physical therapy, home modifications, or assistive equipment. According to the National SCI Statistical Center, average first-year expenses for a person with paraplegia can exceed $700,000, and the numbers climb even higher for those with more severe tetraplegia. These figures make it clear why pursuing full compensation matters, and why building a strong claim from the outset makes such a meaningful difference.
How We Build a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Every spinal cord injury case requires a detailed investigation into what caused the injury and who bears responsibility for it. We gather police reports, medical records, and physical evidence early, before it disappears or degrades, and we work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts when a case calls for it.
Identifying the Cause of the Injury
Spinal cord injuries in Terre Haute often stem from motor vehicle collisions, falls on unsafe property, or workplace incidents. Vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of spinal cord injuries nationwide, which is why we frequently see these claims arise from serious truck accidents and other high-impact collisions on Indiana roads. Identifying every liable party, including drivers, property owners, or employers, shapes how much compensation a client can ultimately pursue.
Calculating the Full Cost of the Injury
A spinal cord injury rarely comes with a one-time price tag. We work with medical providers and life care planners to project the true cost of a client’s care over their lifetime, accounting for surgeries, rehabilitation, mobility equipment, and any needed home modifications. This process protects clients from settling for an amount that looks reasonable today but falls short a decade from now.
Understanding the Severity of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries generally fall into two broad categories, and the distinction matters a great deal when it comes to valuing a claim. A complete injury means all feeling and movement below the injury site has been lost, while an incomplete injury means some function remains, though it can still involve significant impairment.
The location of the injury along the spine also affects the severity of its impact. Injuries near the top of the spine, known as high tetraplegia, tend to affect the arms, hands, and torso in addition to the legs, and often require the most extensive lifetime care. Injuries lower on the spine, such as paraplegia, typically affect the legs and lower body while allowing more independence with the arms and hands.
Because every case involves a different combination of injury level, completeness, and long-term prognosis, no two spinal cord injury claims look the same. We work closely with treating physicians to understand exactly how an injury affects a client’s daily life, and we use that information to pursue compensation that reflects the true scope of the harm.
Why Terre Haute Families Choose Wagner Reese LLP
Our firm has represented injury victims throughout Indiana since Stephen Wagner and Jason Reese founded Wagner Reese LLP, and our attorneys bring a combined 150 years of experience to catastrophic injury cases. We take on complex, high-stakes litigation rather than quick settlements, and our attorneys have earned recognition from Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America for that work.
We also handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so clients never pay out of pocket to have their case reviewed or pursued. Our team treats every client as a person navigating a life-altering event, not a case number, and we bring that same care to every Terre Haute client we represent, including those pursuing claims connected to a serious spinal cord injury anywhere in the state.
Contact Wagner Reese LLP For Help With Your Spinal Cord Injury Today
Catastrophic injury claims involve more moving parts than a typical personal injury case, including complex medical evidence, multiple liable parties, and larger insurance disputes. Having an attorney who understands how to build these cases from the ground up can make a real difference in the outcome, and our team has spent decades handling exactly this kind of litigation.
If you or your family member sustained a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s carelessness, we want to hear what happened. Reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation and learn what options may be available for your case.
