A spinal cord injury changes everything. The physical pain, medical bills, lost income, and emotional toll can feel overwhelming. If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in Greenbelt, Maryland due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve an experienced attorney who understands your case and the challenges you face.
CHASENBOSCOLO has helped spinal cord injury victims throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. recover the compensation they need for lifetime care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our team of 25 attorneys includes multiple Super Lawyers and AV-rated professionals who have recovered over $750 million for injured clients since 1986. We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
When you’re facing a spinal cord injury, you need more than just any lawyer. You need an attorney with experience handling catastrophic injury cases and a proven track record of results.
CHASENBOSCOLO brings decades of experience to spinal cord injury claims. Our team includes attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters and holding AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. These recognitions reflect our commitment to excellence and our success in securing substantial settlements and verdicts for clients.
We understand what spinal cord injury victims face. Our attorneys have handled construction site falls, motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, and other incidents that result in paralysis and permanent disability. We’ve secured settlements exceeding $1.8 million for clients with catastrophic spinal cord injuries, covering lifetime medical care, vocational rehabilitation, and compensation for lost quality of life.
CHASENBOSCOLO treats every client with the care and attention their case deserves. We investigate thoroughly, consult with medical experts, and prepare carefully for trial if necessary. We’re available 24/7 because injuries don’t happen during business hours. And we work on contingency, so you never pay upfront—we only get paid if you recover.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Impact
A spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can sustain. The spinal cord carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body. When it’s damaged, those signals are interrupted, often resulting in permanent loss of function below the injury site.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries fall into two main categories: complete and incomplete.
A complete spinal cord injury means the damage is so severe that no signals pass through the injured area. This typically results in total paralysis below the injury site. Someone with a complete injury at the neck level (cervical spine) may lose function in all four limbs, a condition called quadriplegia. An injury lower in the spine (thoracic or lumbar) may result in paraplegia, affecting the legs and lower body.
An incomplete spinal cord injury means some signals still pass through the damaged area. The extent of recovery varies widely depending on the severity and location of the injury. Some people regain partial function over time, while others experience minimal improvement.
Long-Term Effects and Complications
The impact of a spinal cord injury extends far beyond the initial injury. Victims often face:
- Chronic pain and nerve damage
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Sexual dysfunction
- Respiratory complications (especially with high cervical injuries)
- Pressure ulcers and skin breakdown
- Blood clots and cardiovascular complications
- Infections and urinary tract problems
- Depression and psychological trauma
- Reduced life expectancy
These complications require ongoing medical care, specialized equipment, home modifications, and sometimes 24-hour attendant care. The lifetime cost of caring for someone with a spinal cord injury can exceed $1 million or more, depending on the severity and the person’s age at the time of injury.
Understanding the full scope of your injury’s impact is crucial when pursuing a legal claim. CHASENBOSCOLO works with medical experts and life care planners to document all current and future medical needs, ensuring your settlement reflects the true cost of your care.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in Greenbelt
Spinal cord injuries result from trauma to the spine. In Greenbelt and the surrounding area, several common causes create liability for negligent parties.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are leading causes of spinal cord injuries. High-impact collisions can fracture vertebrae, dislocate the spine, or compress the spinal cord. Distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and drunk driving increase accident severity and the likelihood of catastrophic injury. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident and spinal cord injury, you have the right to pursue compensation.
Workplace Accidents
Construction sites, warehouses, factories, and other workplaces present hazards that cause spinal cord injuries. Falls from heights, being struck by falling objects, machinery accidents, and improper lifting techniques can all result in severe spinal damage. While workers’ compensation may cover some expenses, you may also have a third-party claim against a negligent contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner.
Slip and Fall Incidents
Slip and fall accidents on someone else’s property can cause spinal cord injuries, especially if the fall is from a height or involves a hard impact. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises and warn visitors of hazards. If negligent maintenance, inadequate warnings, or unsafe conditions caused your fall and injury, the property owner may be liable.
Medical Malpractice
Sometimes spinal cord injuries result from medical errors during surgery, improper handling during treatment, or failure to diagnose a condition that caused spinal damage. Medical malpractice claims involving spinal cord injuries are complex and require expert testimony to establish that the healthcare provider’s actions fell below the standard of care.
In each of these situations, establishing negligence is key to your claim. CHASENBOSCOLO investigates thoroughly to identify all responsible parties and build a strong case for compensation.
Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Maryland law allows spinal cord injury victims to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Understanding what you can recover helps you appreciate the true value of your claim.
Medical Expenses and Future Care Costs
You can recover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your injury, including:
- Emergency room and hospitalization costs
- Surgery and surgical procedures
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Ongoing medical treatment and monitoring
- Medications and medical equipment
- Home modifications (wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, specialized beds)
- Assistive devices and technology
- Future medical care and anticipated surgeries
Because spinal cord injuries often require lifetime care, courts and insurance companies consider the full scope of your future medical needs. CHASENBOSCOLO works with life care planners and medical experts to calculate these costs accurately, ensuring your settlement accounts for decades of care.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
If your injury prevents you from working, you can recover lost wages from the date of injury through settlement or trial. More importantly, you can recover damages for lost earning capacity—the income you would have earned over your lifetime if not for the injury.
For someone injured in their prime working years, lost earning capacity damages can be substantial. An attorney, engineer, or skilled tradesperson who can no longer work may recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost future income. CHASENBOSCOLO uses vocational experts and economic analysis to calculate these damages based on your age, education, work history, and earning potential.
Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life
Non-economic damages compensate you for the physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your injury. These damages recognize that money cannot fully compensate for paralysis, chronic pain, depression, lost relationships, and the inability to participate in activities you once enjoyed.
Maryland courts recognize that spinal cord injury victims deserve substantial compensation for these intangible harms. Settlements and verdicts in catastrophic spinal cord injury cases often include significant pain and suffering awards, sometimes exceeding the medical expense component of the claim.
The Legal Process for Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Understanding what to expect helps you prepare for the journey ahead. The legal process for spinal cord injury claims typically follows these stages.
Investigation and Evidence Gathering
CHASENBOSCOLO begins by thoroughly investigating your case. We obtain medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and any available video or photographic evidence. For workplace injuries, we request OSHA reports and safety records. For motor vehicle accidents, we obtain police reports and may hire accident reconstruction experts. This investigation establishes liability and documents the severity of your injury.
Medical Evaluation and Expert Consultation
We work with medical experts to evaluate your injury, document your condition, and project your future medical needs. These experts provide crucial testimony if your case goes to trial and help establish the full value of your claim.
Demand and Negotiation
Once we’ve gathered evidence and documented your damages, we prepare a detailed demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company. This letter presents the facts, explains liability, and requests compensation. Most cases settle during the negotiation phase. CHASENBOSCOLO negotiates thoroughly to maximize your recovery while keeping you informed of all settlement offers.
Litigation and Trial
If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, we prepare your case for trial. This involves filing a lawsuit, conducting discovery (exchanging information with the other side), taking depositions, and preparing witnesses and evidence for court. CHASENBOSCOLO has extensive trial experience—our attorneys have tried over 500 jury trials in the past five years. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which often results in better settlement offers.
Settlement or Verdict
Your case concludes either through a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict. Either way, CHASENBOSCOLO ensures you understand the terms and that your interests are protected.
Throughout this process, we keep you informed and involved. You’re never surprised by developments in your case, and you have input on major decisions.
Why Time Matters: Maryland’s Statute of Limitations
Maryland law imposes strict time limits on filing personal injury lawsuits. For most spinal cord injury claims, you have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. This deadline is absolute—if you miss it, you lose your right to recover, regardless of the strength of your case.
This three-year window may seem like plenty of time, but it passes quickly. During this period, you need to:
- Seek medical treatment and document your injuries
- Investigate the accident and identify responsible parties
- Gather evidence before it disappears
- Consult with an attorney and evaluate your claim
- Attempt to negotiate a settlement
- File a lawsuit if settlement negotiations fail
Waiting too long can harm your case. Witnesses’ memories fade, evidence gets lost, and defendants may dispute facts that would have been clear if documented immediately. Additionally, the sooner you consult with an attorney, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and building your case.
If your injury resulted from a workplace accident, different rules may apply. Workers’ compensation claims have different deadlines, and you may have additional time to file a third-party lawsuit against someone other than your employer.
Don’t delay. Contact CHASENBOSCOLO as soon as possible after your injury. We offer free consultations and can begin investigating your case immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
How much is my spinal cord injury case worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors: the severity of your injury, your age and earning capacity, the extent of your medical needs, the clarity of liability, and the insurance coverage available. A complete spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia will typically be worth more than an incomplete injury with partial recovery. An injury to a 30-year-old will typically be worth more than an injury to a 65-year-old due to longer life expectancy and earning years. CHASENBOSCOLO evaluates all these factors to estimate your case’s value. We can discuss a realistic range during a free consultation.
What if I was partially at fault for my injury?
Maryland follows a “contributory negligence” rule. If you were partially responsible for the accident that caused your injury, you can still recover damages, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages total $1 million, you would recover $800,000. This rule makes it even more important to have an experienced attorney who can minimize your percentage of fault and maximize your recovery.
How long does a spinal cord injury case take?
The timeline varies. Simple cases with clear liability and adequate insurance coverage may settle within months. Complex cases with disputed liability or multiple defendants may take years. Most cases settle within 1-3 years, though some proceed to trial. CHASENBOSCOLO works efficiently to resolve your case but never rushes to accept an inadequate settlement. We keep you informed about the expected timeline for your specific case.
Will my case go to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial. However, CHASENBOSCOLO prepares every case for trial and is ready to take your case to a jury if necessary. Our trial experience and willingness to litigate often results in better settlement offers from insurance companies who know we’re serious about going to court. If your case does go to trial, you’ll have experienced trial attorneys representing you.
What should I do immediately after a spinal cord injury?
First, seek emergency medical care. Your health is the priority. Then, if possible, document the scene with photos or video, get contact information from witnesses, and report the incident to police (for accidents) or your employer (for workplace injuries). Preserve any physical evidence. Avoid discussing the accident on social media or with the other party’s insurance company. Finally, contact CHASENBOSCOLO for legal guidance. The sooner we’re involved, the better we can protect your rights.
Do I have to pay upfront for legal representation?
No. CHASENBOSCOLO represents spinal cord injury victims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. This means our interests align with yours—we’re motivated to maximize your recovery because that’s how we’re paid. You’ll never face unexpected legal bills or hourly charges.
Contact CHASENBOSCOLO for Your Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in Greenbelt, Maryland, don’t face this alone. CHASENBOSCOLO is ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Call (301) 220-0050 today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to discuss your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., and we’re prepared to fight for your recovery.
Your spinal cord injury claim is too important to delay. Contact CHASENBOSCOLO now.
