$4.4M
Redondo Beach slip and fall settlement: a visitor walking down the stairs at a waterfront restaurant fell and suffered permanent catastrophic injuries.
Personal Injury
California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Has a spinal cord injury upended your life? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help injured Californians pursue compensation for lifetime medical care, lost earnings, and more. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Spinal Cord & Paralysis Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
A spinal cord injury is damage that interrupts communication between the brain and the body, often causing permanent loss of movement or sensation. The location along the spine — cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral — and the severity of the damage determine how much function is affected. Because these injuries frequently require lifelong care, a legal professional can review your situation during a free case review.
Most spinal cord injuries result from a sudden, forceful impact. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause in California, and falls are the second most common cause nationally. Defective products, sports accidents, acts of violence, and surgical errors can also cause these injuries. Identifying who was negligent is central to your claim, and our attorneys handle that investigation for you.
You may have a civil claim when another party's negligence caused or contributed to your spinal cord injury. That can include a negligent driver, a property owner, a product manufacturer, or a medical provider. California follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can generally pursue compensation even if you were partly at fault. A legal professional can review whether you have a claim during a free case review.
Spinal cord injury victims can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages commonly include lifetime medical costs, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, loss of independence, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because these losses can span a lifetime, a legal professional can help value your claim.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that builds spinal cord injury cases around the full, lifelong cost of the injury. Our attorneys work with medical specialists, life-care planners, and economic experts to document current and future needs, handle the insurance companies, and pursue maximum recovery. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Meet Our Spinal Cord & Paralysis Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$3.8M
Menifee car accident settlement: a driver making an unsafe lane change struck a car carrying a passenger, who suffered serious neck and back injuries.
$3.7M
Salinas motorcycle accident settlement: a big rig making a wide turn struck a motorcyclist stopped at a stop sign, leaving the rider with serious back injuries.
$3.5M
Riverside County truck accident settlement: a big rig carrying a sleeping occupant hit a semi whose trailer allegedly lacked working lights, causing serious neck and back injuries.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in California?
You likely have a spinal cord injury claim if another party's negligence caused your injury, you suffered real damages, and there is evidence to prove it. Negligence can come from a driver, property owner, manufacturer, or medical provider. Damages include lifetime medical care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. California's statute of limitations applies — generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 — so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
Start Your Free Spinal Cord & Paralysis Case Review
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No fees unless you get paid.
Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Spinal Cord & Paralysis FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
A complete spinal cord injury causes total loss of movement and sensation below the level of injury, while an incomplete injury leaves some function. The location and completeness of the injury determine whether someone experiences paraplegia or quadriplegia and shape the lifetime care they will need.
Spinal cord injuries commonly bring lifelong costs — ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, personal attendants, adaptive equipment, and home and vehicle modifications — that far exceed the initial hospital bills. A life-care plan and economic experts document these future losses so a settlement reflects the full, lifelong cost rather than just current expenses.
Because these injuries are so costly, a single policy is often not enough. Additional recovery may come from your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, or other responsible parties. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is governed by your policy and the Insurance Code.
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims involving a government entity usually require a written claim within six months first, and other exceptions can apply — confirm your deadline promptly. Generally, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in California (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.