Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Lansing MI

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Michigan. High-speed collisions, rear-end crashes, and rollover accidents can all generate the violent forces necessary to fracture vertebrae or damage the spinal cord. If another driver’s negligence caused your car accident and resulting SCI, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Michigan’s auto no-fault system provides certain benefits, but you may also have a claim against the at-fault driver for additional damages.

Commercial truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries due to the massive size and weight of semi-trucks. When a fully loaded big rig collides with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle frequently suffer severe spinal trauma. These cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and aggressive insurance companies. Our team knows how to investigate trucking accidents thoroughly and hold all responsible parties accountable.

Motorcyclists have little protection during a crash, making spinal cord injuries particularly common in motorcycle accidents. Even riders who wear proper safety gear can suffer serious spinal trauma when thrown from their bikes or crushed beneath vehicles. We understand the unique challenges of motorcycle injury cases and work to overcome biases that insurance companies may have against riders.

Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. When they fail to fix hazards like icy walkways, broken stairs, or cluttered floors, visitors can suffer serious falls resulting in spinal cord damage. Whether you were injured at a store, restaurant, apartment complex, or another location in East Lansing or elsewhere in mid-Michigan, our slip and fall lawyers can investigate the property owner’s negligence and pursue compensation on your behalf.

Construction sites, warehouses, and industrial facilities present significant risks for spinal cord injuries. Falls from heights, being struck by heavy objects, and equipment malfunctions can all cause SCI. While Michigan workers’ compensation provides some benefits, you may also have a third-party claim if someone other than your employer contributed to your injury. Our workplace accident attorneys can help you pursue all available compensation.

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the victim typically suffers severe injuries including spinal cord trauma. Pedestrian accidents in parking lots, crosswalks, and residential streets throughout the Lansing area can have life-altering consequences. If a driver’s negligence caused your injuries, we’ll fight to recover full compensation for your losses.

Surgical errors, delayed diagnosis of spinal conditions, and improper treatment can cause or worsen spinal cord injuries. Medical malpractice cases involving SCI are highly complex and require extensive expert testimony. Our team has the resources and experience to take on hospitals, surgeons, and their insurance companies.

Elderly residents in nursing facilities are vulnerable to falls and other accidents that can cause spinal injuries. When facilities fail to provide adequate supervision, assistance, or safety measures, they must be held accountable. Our nursing home abuse attorneys fight to protect vulnerable victims and prevent future harm.

We meet with you to discuss your accident, review your medical records, and explain your legal rights. This initial consultation costs you nothing, and there’s no obligation to hire us. We simply want to help you understand your options.

Our team investigates every aspect of your accident. We gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, video footage, and any other evidence that proves negligence. For complex cases, we work with accident reconstruction experts and medical specialists.

Spinal cord injury cases require detailed medical evidence. We coordinate with your treating physicians and consult with medical experts who can explain the extent of your injuries, your prognosis, and your future care needs. This documentation is critical for proving the full value of your claim.

Once we’ve built a comprehensive case, we present a detailed demand to the insurance company outlining why they must compensate you fairly. We negotiate aggressively on your behalf, always prepared to take your case to trial if the insurer won’t offer reasonable compensation.

If settlement negotiations fail, we file a lawsuit and take your case to court. We handle all aspects of litigation in Ingham County Circuit Court or other appropriate venues, from discovery through trial. Our attorneys are experienced courtroom advocates who present compelling cases to juries.

After we secure compensation through settlement or verdict, we help you access the funds you need for ongoing medical care and other expenses. We remain available to answer questions and provide guidance as you move forward with your life.

Economic damages compensate you for financial losses with clear dollar amounts. These include past and future medical expenses, which for spinal cord injury victims can include emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, home modifications, and ongoing attendant care. You can also recover lost wages for time missed from work and loss of future earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job or reduces your ability to earn income.

Non-economic damages compensate you for intangible losses that don’t have clear price tags. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (the impact on your relationship with your spouse) all fall into this category. Michigan law previously capped non-economic damages in many cases, but recent court decisions have eliminated or limited these caps in certain situations, allowing seriously injured victims to recover full compensation.

The source of your compensation depends on how your injury occurred. If you were hurt in an auto accident, Michigan’s no-fault insurance system provides medical benefits and wage loss benefits regardless of who caused the crash. However, if your injuries meet Michigan’s threshold for “serious impairment of body function,” you can also file a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses. For non-auto cases like slip and fall accidents or workplace injuries, you pursue compensation through liability insurance policies or, when necessary, directly from the responsible parties.

Michigan law generally gives you three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under MCL 600.5805. However, this deadline can be shorter in some situations, such as claims against government entities, which may require formal notice of claim within 120 days to six months depending on the governmental agency involved. Medical malpractice claims have different and complex timing rules. Additionally, if your spinal cord injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident and you’re seeking No-Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, be aware of the strict “one-year back rule” under MCL 500.3145. This rule means you cannot recover PIP benefits for medical expenses or attendant care costs incurred more than one year before the date you file your lawsuit, even though you have three years to file the liability claim itself. Missing these deadlines means losing your right to compensation forever, which is why it’s critical to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after your injury.

Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence standard under MCL 600.2959. If you are more than 50% at fault for your accident, you are barred from recovering non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life). However, you may still recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, home modifications, and other out-of-pocket expenses), which will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your total economic damages are $2 million and you’re found to be 60% at fault, you could still recover $800,000 in economic damages (40% of $2 million), but you would receive nothing for pain and suffering. In spinal cord injury cases where economic damages for lifetime medical care can reach into the millions, understanding this distinction is critical. Insurance companies often try to shift blame to injury victims to reduce their payout, so it’s important to have an attorney who can defend against these tactics.

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits that cover medical expenses and wage loss for people injured in motor vehicle accidents. Recent changes to Michigan law allow drivers to choose their level of PIP coverage, but victims with catastrophic injuries like spinal cord trauma typically need the unlimited medical coverage option. Your attorney can help you navigate the no-fault system and ensure you receive all benefits you’re entitled to.

To recover compensation, you must prove that another party’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury. This means showing that they owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through careless or reckless conduct, and directly caused injuries that resulted in damages. Different types of cases involve different standards. For example, property owners must maintain reasonably safe premises, drivers must follow traffic laws and operate vehicles safely, and medical professionals must provide care that meets accepted standards.

With an Attorney:

• Full investigation of liability and all responsible parties
• Expert medical testimony to prove extent of injuries
• Accurate calculation of lifetime medical costs and care needs
• Skilled negotiation with insurance companies
• No upfront costs or fees unless you win
• Protection from insurance company tactics

Without an Attorney:

• Limited ability to investigate and gather evidence
• Difficulty obtaining and presenting expert opinions
• Risk of underestimating future expenses
• Pressure to accept inadequate settlement offers
• Must navigate complex legal system alone
• Vulnerable to statements being used against you

We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

When we win your case through settlement or verdict, our fee comes as a percentage of your recovery. We also advance all case expenses like expert fees, investigation costs, and filing fees, so you never pay anything out of pocket. This arrangement allows everyone to afford excellent legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

Michigan’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits under MCL 600.5805.

However, some situations have shorter deadlines. Claims against government entities may require formal notice of claim within 120 days to six months depending on the governmental agency. Medical malpractice claims involving spinal cord injuries have complex timing rules that can vary based on when the injury was discovered. Don’t wait to contact an attorney, the sooner you act, the better we can protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.

Every case is unique, and the value depends on multiple factors including the severity and permanence of your injuries, the extent of your medical expenses, your lost income and reduced earning capacity, the degree of pain and lifestyle impact you’ve experienced, the strength of evidence proving liability, and the available insurance coverage.

Cases involving permanent paralysis or significant disability typically have higher values due to lifetime care needs. During your free consultation, we can discuss the specific factors that affect your case’s potential value. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Every case is unique and depends on specific facts and legal merits.

Most spinal cord injury cases in Michigan settle within 18 months to three years, though timelines vary based on the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, whether your condition has stabilized, and the willingness of insurance companies to negotiate fairly.

We don’t rush your case because settling too early can mean accepting less than you deserve. However, we also work efficiently to get you compensation as quickly as possible while maximizing your recovery.

While you’re not legally required to hire an attorney, spinal cord injury cases are among the most complex personal injury claims.

Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize what they pay you. You’re dealing with catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical documentation, expert testimony about future care needs, and accurate calculation of lifetime costs that may exceed millions of dollars.

An experienced attorney understands how to build strong cases, negotiate with insurance companies, and present compelling evidence that maximizes your compensation. Studies consistently show that injury victims recover significantly more compensation when represented by an attorney, even after legal fees.

You can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault.

Under Michigan’s modified comparative negligence law (MCL 600.2959), if you are more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovering non-economic damages (pain and suffering), but you can still recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, home modifications) reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you were 30% at fault and your economic damages total $2 million, you’d receive $1.4 million in economic damages but nothing for pain and suffering. If you were 60% at fault and your economic damages total $2 million, you’d receive $800,000 in economic damages (40% of $2 million) but again nothing for pain and suffering. Insurance companies often exaggerate injury victims’ fault to reduce payouts, so having an attorney who can defend against these tactics is essential.

Michigan workers’ compensation provides benefits regardless of fault, but it generally prevents you from suing your employer directly.

However, you may have a third-party claim if someone other than your employer contributed to your injury, such as a negligent driver, equipment manufacturer, or property owner. Our workplace accident lawyers can evaluate whether you have additional claims beyond workers’ compensation that would allow you to pursue full damages.

Most spinal cord injury cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go to court.

This preparation strengthens our negotiating position and shows insurance companies we’re ready to fight for full compensation. If your case does go to trial in Ingham County Circuit Court or another venue, our experienced trial attorneys will represent you effectively.

Whether through settlement or verdict, our goal is to secure the maximum compensation available under Michigan law.

Insurance companies sometimes request independent medical examinations (IMEs), which are typically not as independent as the name suggests. These doctors often work regularly for insurance companies and may downplay your injuries. You generally must comply with reasonable IME requests, but you should consult your attorney first. We can prepare you for the examination, ensure the request is appropriate, and arrange for the exam to be recorded or observed to protect your interests.

Several options may be available depending on how you were injured.

If your injury resulted from a car accident, Michigan no-fault insurance should cover your medical expenses. If you have health insurance, it should cover treatment for non-auto injuries, though there may be liens to resolve later. Some medical providers work on a lien basis, agreeing to wait for payment until your case settles.

We can help you explore all options to ensure you get the medical care you need without worrying about immediate payment.