A spinal injury in St. Louis, Missouri, can permanently change your life. When that kind of trauma happens, especially in a car or truck crash, the result is often permanent.
If someone else caused the accident that resulted in your spinal injury in St. Louis, Missouri, you have every right to hold them responsible for the damage they’ve caused. Our experienced St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyers have helped residents across Missouri recover after serious spine and back injuries for over 35 years.
Our skilled legal team has handled cases involving fractured vertebrae, nerve damage, and other forms of spinal trauma. Contact us today and let our spinal cord injury attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri, help you move forward.
Have you been in an accident which resulted in spinal cord injuries in St. Louis, Missouri? Our knowledgeable legal team at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers are available 24/7 to assist. Call (314) 207-9996 now!
What Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in St. Louis, Missouri, Will Do To Help
Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck have been helping people with serious back and spine injuries since 1990. Here is how we can assist you after a spinal cord injury:
We Take Time To Hear What You’ve Been Through
The first thing we do is sit down with you and go over exactly what happened. We take the time to understand how the crash unfolded, what life for you has looked like since, and the kinds of struggles you’ve faced physically and financially.
That helps us see where things stand and figure out who’s responsible. From there, we can start talking about what kind of outcome to push for.
We Put Together the Proof
After we’ve had that conversation, we begin pulling together everything we’ll need to build a solid case. That might mean getting your medical and hospital records, reviewing photos from the crash, or talking to people who saw it happen.
In more complex cases, we’ll bring in professionals who can help us show exactly how the injury occurred and how it’s changed your life. We also look at your job history to show what you’ve lost, and what you would’ve earned if this never happened.
We Take the Pressure Off You
You won’t have to worry about calls from insurance adjusters or lawyers on the other side. We handle all of that for you. And if they don’t offer a fair number, we don’t back down—we’re ready to take the case to trial if that’s what it takes.
The Serious Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can alter nearly every part of a person’s life. The effects depend on where the injury occurs along the spine and how severe it is. Even a relatively “mild” injury can lead to major long-term problems.
Where the Injury Happens Matters
Different sections of the spine control different body functions:
Cervical (neck area) injuries may lead to:
- Full or partial paralysis (including quadriplegia)
- Loss of sensation from the neck down
- Breathing problems
- Loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function
Thoracic (upper back) injuries can cause:
- Paralysis or weakness below the chest
- Reduced balance and core strength
- Loss of control over some bodily functions
Lumbar and sacral injuries often result in:
- Weakness or paralysis in the legs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Sexual dysfunction
Symptoms Can Appear Quickly or Gradually
Right after the injury, someone might feel sharp pain in the neck or back, or notice their limbs going numb. Other warning signs include:
- Trouble walking or staying balanced
- Weakness or tingling in hands, arms, or feet
- Breathing difficulty or coughing issues
- Loss of sensation or coordination
- Muscle spasms or exaggerated reflexes
Injuries to the coccyx (tailbone) usually don’t cause lasting damage, but they can still be painful and take time to heal.
Looking for a “spinal cord injury lawyer near me” in St. Louis, Missouri? We have been helping victims of serious back injuries since 1990. Call (314) 207-9996 to speak with our skilled legal team now.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen
Common reasons that spine injuries occur include:
Collisions Involving Cars, Trucks, or Motorcycles
Traffic accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. You don’t need to be going fast or get hit hard for damage to happen.
A low-impact crash can still leave you with an injured spine, especially in the neck area. People often assume it’s just whiplash, but without imaging and proper care, you might not know how serious it is.
Falls and Sudden Impact
In people over 65, falling from even a short distance can be enough to injure the spine. When someone lands hard on their back or twists it suddenly, the spinal cord can get pinched or torn.
That kind of injury is more likely if there are underlying problems like weak bones or trouble keeping balance.
On-the-Job Injuries
Spinal injuries at work often involve heavy equipment or unsafe conditions. When your back is under repeated strain or hit by machinery, it’s easy for a spinal cord injury to occur—even if it’s not obvious at first.
Medical Errors
Although less common, some spinal injuries happen because of surgical mistakes or delays in diagnosis. When a serious issue like a ruptured disc or spinal infection goes untreated, the damage can be permanent.
Who Can Be Held Liable
When a spinal cord injury results from someone else’s poor decisions or lack of caution, our experienced St. Louis spinal cord injury attorneys can hold them legally responsible. In many cases, a claim is filed through their insurance.
But with severe injuries, it’s often necessary to pursue more than one party. That’s because a single insurance policy usually isn’t enough to cover long-term medical bills, in-home care, or lost earnings.
Depending on the facts of your crash, the following may be liable:
- A car, truck, motorcycle, or bus driver who made a dangerous mistake
- A trucking company that pushed drivers past their legal hours
- A rideshare company or delivery service responsible for its driver’s actions
- A city, county, or contractor that failed to fix or design a safe road
- A vehicle owner who let someone drive an unsafe or defective car
How Shared Fault Works in Missouri
Missouri follows pure comparative fault rules, which means you can still get compensation even if you were partly responsible. For instance, if you’re found 35% at fault, you can still recover 65% of your damages.
That’s why it’s important to fully investigate every detail of the crash.
You don’t have to be completely blameless to hold someone else responsible. If they contributed to what happened, our experienced St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyers can still take legal action to hold them responsible for their part.
In short, Missouri law doesn’t require one person to be fully to blame for you to have a case.
Spinal Cord Injury Damages You Can Recover
When someone else is legally responsible for your spine injury, you have the right to seek compensation damages including:
Economic Damages
These cover the direct financial impact of the injury. They’re based on real costs and what you’re likely to spend going forward.
- Medical treatment includes surgeries, rehab, medication, assistive devices, and anything else tied to your care.
- Lost income applies if you missed work or can’t return to the same job.
- Reduced earning ability looks at long-term effects on your career or future earnings.
- Rehabilitation and home care needs—whether short-term or ongoing—can also be part of your claim.
- Home modifications and mobility aids may be included if your injury limits movement or independence.
Non-Economic Damages
These focus on the toll the injury takes on your quality of life.
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
- Loss of enjoyment of life, including hobbies and social activities
- Loss of companionship or intimacy in close relationships
Each case is different, but all of these factors can be considered in a claim.
How Much is My Spine Injury Settlement Worth?
The overall value of your claim often depends on factors such as:
Injury Severity
This refers to how extensive the damage is. Complete spinal cord injuries where function and sensation are lost below the injury site typically result in higher compensation because of the permanent care and support they require.
In contrast, incomplete injuries, though serious, may allow for partial recovery, which changes the calculation. The more severe the long-term effects, the more compensation is usually needed to cover them.
Past and Future Costs
To estimate a fair settlement, your financial losses must be calculated in detail. This includes existing medical bills, but also projected costs for surgeries, rehabilitation, home modifications, and personal care.
Future income loss is another key factor, especially if you can’t return to your previous job. Experts may evaluate how much you would have earned over time if the injury hadn’t occurred.
Loss of Comfort and Quality of Life
Though harder to quantify, emotional distress and the impact on your daily life are a significant part of your settlement. Evaluators look at how your ability to enjoy life has changed, your independence, and the toll it’s taken on your mental well-being.
These non-financial damages are typically calculated using established methods, often involving a multiplier applied to your economic losses, adjusted based on your unique circumstances.
Supporting Documentation
Strong records are critical. Medical reports, employment history, witness statements, and expert evaluations all help establish the full extent of your losses.
How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?
Under Missouri law, you generally have five years to file a personal injury claim. That’s set by RSMo Statute 516.120. If you miss that deadline, the court can reject the case altogether, no matter how serious the injury is.
In some situations, the time limit may be shorter, like when the claim involves a government agency. There are also a few exceptions that can pause the clock, but those are rare. To avoid issues, it’s better to treat the five-year deadline as firm and start the process sooner rather than later.
Knowledgeable Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri
Our skilled spinal cord injury attorneys at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers have helped many people across Missouri deal with the aftermath of spinal cord and back injuries.
These cases often involve more than just proving what happened. They also require a long look at what the injury will mean going forward. We’re familiar with that process, and we take the time to build each case with care.
When you contact us, we’ll listen, walk you through your options, and let you know where things stand. We’re here to help you figure out the next step.
