Individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury may not only have severe pain, extensive medical treatments and a lengthy recovery time, but in many cases, these injuries are life changing. The mounting financial costs along with pain and suffering can place a tremendous burden on injury victims and their families.

At Geoff McDonald and Associates, we have more than 25 years of experience representing Virginia residents and have obtained more than $400 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. This includes $450,000 for a client who required lumbar fusion revision surgery following a rear-end collision.

Our Richmond spinal cord injury attorneys welcome the opportunity to review your circumstances and discuss the legal options that may be available to you in a free, no-obligation legal consultation. Since we work on contingency, there are no upfront fees if we represent you. We only collect payment if we help obtain compensation for you.

Call our firm today: 804-203-0678

How Do I Know If My Spinal Cord Injury Claim Is Valid?

If you or someone you love sustained a spinal cord injury caused by another’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a legal claim for damages. However, since the cause and extent of a spinal cord injury can vary greatly, each case is not only unique, but also complex. This is why we recommend you consult with an experienced lawyer to ensure your best interests are represented and your legal rights are protected.

Complete our FREE Case Evaluation form today to get started.

What Is The Value Of My Spinal Cord Injury?

There are many different types spinal cord injuries, and some are more severe than others. To accurately calculate the value of your potential case and subsequent damages, our lawyers will first need to fully understand the details of your injuries and any other contributing factors.

If your case has merit, some of the damages you may be able to recover include:

Loss of income – If you are unable to return to work during your recovery time, you may be eligible to recover past wages in your final compensation.
Medical expenses – This could include hospital stays, physical therapy, surgical interventions, emotional counselling, traveling to and from your medical appointments and cost of home care.
Loss of future earning capacity – These damages are intended to recover the income you would have been able to make in the future if you had not sustained an injury that caused you to become either partially or fully disabled.
Pain and suffering – This includes physical pain and mental suffering. Determining the value of these damages is difficult and requires an attorney who knows how to accurately calculate them.
Home modifications –These damages are designed to cover reasonable costs for any adjustments that are required to help an injury victim gain improved mobility management in his or her home.

We are prepared to provide answers to your legal questions and help you understand the claims process.

How Insurance Companies Minimize Spinal Injury Claims

Insurance companies do not operate on compassion. They operate on calculations, and spinal cord injuries are some of the most expensive claims they handle. Because of that, insurers often go to great lengths to limit what they pay. Understanding these tactics can help you see why experienced legal representation matters.

One common strategy is offering a quick, low settlement before your full medical picture comes into view. Many spinal cord injuries evolve. You might think you have reached recovery, only to face complications or new limitations months later. If you have already accepted a payout, you are likely out of options.

Other Tactics Insurers Use

Another frequent tactic is to argue that your condition stems from a pre-existing issue, even if that issue was asymptomatic before the accident. They may comb through years of your medical history looking for any reason to reduce the value of your claim.

Pain and suffering is another area insurers routinely undervalue. They may use outdated or generic models to quantify something incredibly personal. Without a strong attorney who can frame your experience in human terms, these numbers may fall far short of what is fair.

Geoff McDonald and Associates legal professionals challenge these tactics by working with medical experts, economists, and life care planners to demonstrate the full scope of your losses, not just for today, but for years to come.

Living With a Spinal Cord Injury in Virginia

A spinal cord injury does not end with a diagnosis or a hospital discharge. For many victims, it is the beginning of a new and difficult chapter that affects every part of life, from mobility and independence to emotional well-being and financial stability. Even with access to quality care, the path forward is often uncertain and marked by significant lifestyle changes.

Some injury victims need home modifications like wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, and roll-in showers. Others must relearn daily routines or adapt to using assistive technology for basic tasks. For those who once worked in physically demanding jobs, the loss of function may force a complete career shift or early retirement.

Emotional Challenges

These physical changes are often compounded by emotional hurdles. It is not uncommon for injury victims to experience anxiety and depression or even post-traumatic stress. For families, the transition into caregiving roles can strain relationships and finances. While Virginia has several support programs and medical providers, navigating these resources can be complex, especially without guidance.

That’s why having a Richmond spinal cord injury lawyer who understands the medical and human sides of this devastating health challenge can make all the difference. Your legal strategy should not just be about winning a case. It should be about creating a sustainable future.

Deadline for Filing Spinal Cord Injury Claims

The deadline for filing a spinal cord injury claim in the state of Virginia, also known as a statute of limitations, is two years from the date your injury occurred. However, there are exceptions that may cause your deadline to be significantly earlier or moved back, depending on the specifics of your situation.

This is why it is important to act immediately so you do not jeopardize your ability to bring a claim forward. We are prepared to review certain factors that may affect your filing deadline and invite you to contact our legal team even if you believe your deadline may have already passed.

Do not risk losing your opportunity to recover damages: 804-203-0678

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Attorney?

We understand the significant impact a spinal cord injury has injury victims as well as their loved ones. We also know how difficult it can be to try to handle your medical appointments, care for your family and do your own day-to-day tasks while trying to navigate the legal process to obtain fair compensation.

If we determine you have a case and we represent you, we are prepared to handle the following:

Investigate the cause of your spinal cord injury
Gather supportive evidence to help establish negligence
Communicate with insurance companies and other third parties on your behalf
File all necessary documents in a timely manner
Fight to protect your legal rights and best interests
Keep you fully informed about every aspect of your claim

It is worth mentioning that victims who hire an attorney are more likely to end up with a higher settlement award than someone without legal representation. We handle injury claims every day and have extensive knowledge about the legal system and how to pursue a claim to your best advantage.

How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Happen?

Spinal cord injuries can happen for a number of reasons, most often caused by accidents such as:

Car accidents
Motorcycle crashes
Commercial truck collisions
Slip and fall accidents
Boating accidents
Work-related accidents
Acts of violence
Sporting accidents

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are many different types and levels of spinal cord injuries. These include:

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries typically involve the cushion-like discs situated between the vertebrae. When these are fractured, dislocated, compressed or ruptured, they are intensely painful.

Overuse Injuries

Typically, these spinal injuries happen to workers or others who have to lift heavy items on a daily basis. When back muscles or tendons get stretched or twisted from overuse or misuse, they can get strained or torn. Muscle spasms are a common occurrence and happen when the back muscles suddenly contract.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

A complete fracture involving the spinal cord causes the victim to lose all mobility and sensation below the point of the injury. The full degree of paralysis varies and is determined by location of the fracture:

Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, affects all of the victim’s upper and lower limbs, as well as the torso and pelvic organs.

Paraplegia, while similar, affects the functionality of part or all of the lower limbs, pelvic organs and torso.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Although less severe than a complete spinal cord injury, it also causes injured victims to lose varied ranges of functionality and sensation.

Not Every Injury Is Instantly Obvious

Not all spinal cord injuries make themselves known right away. You might walk away from a car crash or slip-and-fall incident thinking you are lucky, only to experience symptoms like numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, or spasms hours or even days later. Because you can still move, it is easy to assume nothing serious happened.

Unfortunately, that assumption can carry serious consequences. Many people try to push through the discomfort, believing it will fade with rest or time. But spinal cord trauma can evolve. Delaying treatment may lead to long-term damage that could have been minimized, and it can also complicate your legal case. Insurance companies often seize on these delays as justification to deny or devalue your claim, arguing the injury was not related to the original event.

Getting prompt medical attention is not just about protecting your health. It is about creating a clear medical record that links your symptoms to the accident. Even if you are unsure how serious things are, that documentation can make a substantial difference when it is time to pursue compensation. Early action could mean the difference between a dismissed claim and a settlement that reflects the true impact of your injury.

Contact A Richmond Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

At Geoff McDonald and Associates, we understand the many challenges that a spinal cord injury victim faces. We have extensive experience in handling these cases and we are well-versed in Virginia state laws.

We have more than two decades representing injury victims and recovering millions in compensation for our clients. Our CEO and president, Geoff McDonald is a member of the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100.

Our office is located less than half a mile from Virginia iSpine Physicians, a pain management facility.

Geoff McDonald and Associates: 804-203-0678.

Richmond Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer