Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

A spinal cord injury changes life in an instant, and the months that follow can feel like a blur of hospital stays, mounting bills, and questions no one prepared you for. If a crash, fall, or someone else’s carelessness left you or a family member with this kind of injury in Greensboro, you may be entitled to compensation for the care and support you need now and in the years ahead.  

The catastrophic injury lawyers at Lewis & Keller help injured people across North Carolina hold negligent parties accountable, and we offer a free consultation so you can understand your options before you decide anything. 

This page explains what a spinal cord injury is, how these cases are built, what compensation may be available, and the North Carolina laws that affect your claim. When you have questions about your own situation, reach out to our team, and we can walk through it with you. 

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury? 

Your spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body. When it is damaged, those signals are disrupted, which can result in a loss of movement, sensation, or function below the point of injury. This is different from a typical back injury. A pulled muscle, a herniated disc, or a fractured vertebra affects the bones and soft tissue of your back, but a spinal cord injury reaches the nerves themselves, and the effects are often permanent. 

Doctors generally describe these injuries in two ways. A complete injury means there is no movement or feeling below the level of the damage. An incomplete injury means some signals still get through, so a person may keep partial function. Where the injury falls along the spine also matters. 

Two terms come up often: 

• Paraplegia: Loss of movement and feeling in the lower body and legs, usually from an injury in the mid or lower back. 
• Quadriplegia: Also called tetraplegia, this involves loss of movement and sensation in the arms, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs, usually resulting from an injury higher up in the neck. 

The higher on the spine the injury occurs, the more of the body it tends to affect. Resources like the Reeve Foundation offer plain-language explanations of how these injuries work if you want to learn more about a specific diagnosis. 

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Greensboro 

Most spinal cord injuries trace back to a sudden, forceful impact. Across the country, the leading causes are remarkably consistent, and they show up just as often on Greensboro roads and worksites as anywhere else. 

The most frequent causes include: 

• Motor Vehicle Crashes: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are the single leading cause of spinal cord injuries nationwide. The sudden force of a collision can fracture vertebrae and damage the cord. 
• Falls: A fall from a ladder, a roof, or even at ground level can injure the spine, and falls are an especially common cause of injury among older adults. 
• Acts of Violence: Gunshot wounds and other violent acts account for a meaningful share of spinal cord injuries. 
• Sports and Recreation: Diving into shallow water, contact sports, and similar activities cause injuries more often among younger people. 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries — about 38% of new cases, closely followed by falls — according to the NSCISC. 

Because so many of these injuries come from collisions, our Greensboro car accident attorneys frequently represent people whose lives changed in a single wreck. When another driver, a property owner, or an employer created the danger, that party may be legally responsible for the harm that followed. 

How Our Lawyers Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim 

To recover compensation, your claim generally must show four things: that the other party owed you a duty of care, that they broke that duty, that the breach caused your injury, and that you suffered real losses as a result. Put simply, you need to prove that someone acted carelessly and that their carelessness hurt you. 

Building that proof takes evidence, and the sooner it is gathered, the stronger your case tends to be. The kinds of evidence that matter most include: 

• Medical Records: Your records connect the injury to the accident and document its severity, treatment, and likely future needs. 
• Accident Reports: Police reports, incident reports, and scene documentation help establish what happened and who was involved. 
• Witness Testimony: People who saw the accident, or who can speak to your abilities before and after it, help establish both fault and impact. 
• Photos and Video: Images of the scene, the vehicles, or the hazard, along with footage of your condition over time, can show how the injury occurred and how it has affected you. 
• Employment Records: Work records can document lost income and show that you had no disability before the accident. 

Insurance companies often try to argue that a spinal cord injury was a pre-existing condition rather than the result of the accident. Thorough documentation is the most effective response to that tactic. We can investigate the accident, gather the necessary records, and work with medical professionals to demonstrate how the injury occurred. 

Compensation Available for a Spinal Cord Injury 

A spinal cord injury is one of the most expensive injuries a person can suffer, and the costs stretch far beyond the first hospital bill. North Carolina law allows you to seek compensation for both the financial losses you can add up and the personal losses that are harder to put a number on. 

Economic Damages 

These are your measurable financial losses, and for a spinal cord injury, they can be substantial: 

• Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation, plus the ongoing treatment many spinal cord injuries require. 
• Future Medical Care: Long-term needs such as assistive equipment, home modifications, and attendant care are often projected using a life care planner. 
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Income you have already lost, plus the wages you may never earn if the injury keeps you from returning to your job. 

Non-Economic Damages 

These cover the human toll of the injury, including physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of activities and independence you once took for granted. They are harder to quantify, but for a life-altering injury, they are often a significant part of a claim. We can help you to account for the full scope of what this injury has cost you, not just the bills that have already arrived. 

North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Laws You Should Know 

Two North Carolina rules can make or break a spinal cord injury claim, and both are reasons to talk with a lawyer early. 

The Statute of Limitations 

In North Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52. Miss that deadline and you can lose the right to recover anything, no matter how strong your case is. Acting early also helps preserve evidence and witness memories while they are still fresh. 

Contributory Negligence 

North Carolina follows a strict rule called pure contributory negligence. Under it, if you are found even one percent at fault for the accident, you can be barred from recovering compensation at all. Insurance companies know this, and they often try to shift a share of the blame onto you. Having an experienced lawyer push back on those arguments can be the difference between a recovery and nothing. 

When a Spinal Cord Injury Happens at Work 

If your spinal cord injury happened on the job, you may have a workers’ compensation claim in addition to any personal injury case. Workers’ compensation can cover medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages regardless of who was at fault, which makes it an important source of support after a workplace injury. 

There is a tradeoff to understand. Workers’ compensation generally does not pay for pain and suffering the way a personal injury claim can. In some situations, though, a third party other than your employer shares responsibility for the injury, and that can open the door to a separate claim. We can help you sort out which options apply to your situation. 

How a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help 

After an injury this serious, your energy belongs on your recovery, not on fighting an insurance company. That is the part we can take off your plate. When you work with Lewis & Keller, we can: 

• Investigate the Accident: We gather evidence, identify everyone who may share responsibility, and build the record your claim needs. 
• Work With the Right Professionals: We can bring in medical and life care planning professionals to document the full long-term cost of your injury. 
• Handle the Insurance Companies: We handle the adjusters and paperwork, so you do not have to navigate them alone. 
• Pursue Fair Recovery: We negotiate hard and prepare every case as if it may go to trial. 

You also do not have to worry about upfront costs. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. If you have questions, you can contact us for a free consultation at any time. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Do Lawyers Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Case? 

Lawyers prove negligence by showing the other party owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injury, leaving you with real losses. This is built on evidence such as medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photos, and input from medical professionals. The stronger and earlier the evidence, the harder it is for an insurer to dispute fault. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in North Carolina? 

You generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina, under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52. Some claims involve shorter deadlines, so it is wise to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Filing late can permanently bar your recovery. 

What Compensation Can I Recover for a Spinal Cord Injury? 

You may recover economic damages such as medical bills, future care, and lost wages, along with non-economic damages like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Because spinal cord injuries often require lifelong care, future costs are usually a major part of the claim. A lawyer can help you better account for losses that have not yet materialized. 

Can I File a Claim if My Spinal Injury Happened at Work? 

Yes. A spinal cord injury on the job typically qualifies for workers’ compensation, which covers medical care and part of your lost wages regardless of fault. If a third party other than your employer contributed to the injury, you may also have a separate personal injury claim. The two can sometimes be pursued together. 

What if I Was Partly at Fault for the Accident? 

North Carolina follows pure contributory negligence, meaning being even one percent at fault can bar your recovery. This is why insurers work so hard to assign you part of the blame. An experienced lawyer can challenge those arguments and protect your right to compensation. 

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer? 

Lewis & Keller works on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs to hire us. You do not pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, so there is no risk in finding out where you stand. 

Talk to a Greensboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today 

A spinal cord injury affects everything, and you should not have to face the legal side of it alone. The catastrophic injury lawyers at Lewis & Keller understands what is at stake for you and your family, and we can help you pursue the compensation you need to move forward. Let us fight for the money you deserve while you focus on healing. 

Call our Greensboro office today at 336-933-9566, or contact us online for a free consultation. You don’t pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you.