Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

The Reality of Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is not a broken bone that heals. When the spinal cord is damaged, the brain can no longer communicate with the body below the injury site. Depending on the location and severity, the result can be partial loss of sensation, chronic pain, limited mobility — or complete paralysis.

Approximately 18,400 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the United States every year. About 308,600 Americans are currently living with a spinal cord injury. Roughly 78% of new SCI cases are male, and the average age at injury has risen from 29 years old in the 1970s to 44 years old today — meaning more people are being injured during their peak earning years, with families who depend on them.

Vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, followed by falls, acts of violence, and sports or recreational accidents. In Colorado, the combination of high-speed interstate traffic, mountain road conditions, construction activity, and outdoor recreation creates an elevated risk environment for these devastating injuries.

The lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury can exceed $5 million depending on the severity. First-year medical costs alone range from $350,000 to over $1.1 million. Annual ongoing costs run $40,000 to $185,000 per year for the rest of the victim’s life. Insurance companies know these numbers — which is exactly why they fight so hard to minimize what they pay.

---

18,400

new traumatic spinal cord injuries every year in the United States — approximately one every hour of every day.

Source: NSCISC, 2025

---

For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving Denver, call (303) 465-8733

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Understanding the type and level of your spinal cord injury is essential to determining the full value of your claim. The distinction between complete and incomplete injuries — and where on the spine the damage occurred — determines your prognosis, your care needs, and the lifetime costs a jury or insurance company should be accounting for.

Complete vs. Incomplete

Complete spinal cord injury — the spinal cord is fully severed or damaged to the point where no signals pass below the injury site. The result is total loss of motor function and sensation below that level. Complete injuries cause permanent paralysis.

Incomplete spinal cord injury — the spinal cord is partially damaged, meaning some signals still pass through. The victim may retain partial sensation, limited movement, or both below the injury level. Recovery varies widely, but incomplete injuries still frequently result in significant permanent impairment.

By Location

Cervical injuries (C1-C7) — damage to the neck region of the spine. These are the most severe spinal cord injuries. Cervical injuries can cause tetraplegia (quadriplegia) — paralysis of all four limbs and the torso. Higher cervical injuries (C1-C4) may require a ventilator to breathe. Lower cervical injuries (C5-C7) may allow limited arm and hand function but typically cause paralysis of the legs and torso.

Thoracic injuries (T1-T12) — damage to the mid-back. These injuries typically cause paraplegia — paralysis of the legs and lower body, with full use of the arms and hands. The victim usually retains the ability to breathe independently but loses mobility and sensation below the chest or waist.

Lumbar injuries (L1-L5) — damage to the lower back. These injuries affect the legs, hips, and bladder/bowel function. Some walking ability may be retained with assistive devices, but significant impairment is common.

Sacral injuries (S1-S5) — damage to the base of the spine. These injuries typically affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function, along with some leg function. While the least severe category of SCI, sacral injuries still cause significant quality-of-life impacts.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Colorado

Spinal cord injuries almost always result from sudden, violent trauma to the vertebrae. The fractured or displaced bones compress, crush, or sever the spinal cord. Common causes include:

Motor vehicle accidents — the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, responsible for roughly 39% of all new SCI cases nationally. Car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian impacts all generate the violent forces needed to damage the spinal cord. Colorado’s high-speed interstates (I-25, I-70, I-76) and mountain highways are particularly dangerous.

Falls — the second leading cause, accounting for approximately 32% of SCI cases. Falls from ladders, scaffolding, rooftops, and elevated workspaces are common in Colorado’s active construction industry. Falls also affect older adults, who are more susceptible to vertebral fractures.

Acts of violence — primarily gunshot wounds, accounting for roughly 14% of SCI cases.

Sports and recreation injuries — diving accidents, skiing and snowboarding crashes, horseback riding falls, and mountain biking collisions. Colorado’s outdoor recreation culture creates elevated risk for these types of spinal injuries.

Workplace accidents — construction falls, industrial equipment accidents, and being struck by heavy objects. Colorado OSHA data consistently shows construction as one of the state’s highest-risk industries for serious workplace injuries.

You retain an attorney and that just takes all of that away. And we tell you what all those things mean — like collateral source and subrogation and common fund doctrine and ERISA plans as opposed to state funded plans and why that matters to you at the end of the day. We explain those things to you and then you go back to work and you live your life and you see your medical doctors. That’s what we’re here for.

Jason Jordan, Founding Partner, Jordan Law

Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me (303) 465-8733

The Lifetime Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury

The medical bills are just the beginning. A spinal cord injury reshapes every aspect of the victim’s life — and a fair settlement or verdict must account for all of it.

Medical care — emergency stabilization, surgery, ICU stays, acute rehabilitation, and ongoing specialist care. The average acute care hospital stay for a new SCI is 19 days, followed by an average of 37 days in inpatient rehabilitation. Many patients require additional surgeries for hardware placement, spinal fusion, or complication management.

Rehabilitation — physical therapy, occupational therapy, and vocational rehabilitation that can continue for years. Colorado’s Craig Hospital in Englewood is one of the top spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers in the country — a world-class resource, but one that underscores just how extensive SCI recovery is.

Adaptive equipment and home modifications — wheelchairs (manual and power), vehicle modifications, home accessibility renovations (ramps, widened doorways, roll-in showers, stair lifts), assistive technology, and specialized medical equipment. These costs compound over a lifetime.

Personal care assistance — many SCI survivors require daily assistance with bathing, dressing, transfers, bladder and bowel management, and other activities of daily living. For higher-level injuries, 24/7 attendant care may be necessary.

Lost earning capacity — the average SCI victim loses approximately $95,309 per year in wages, benefits, and productivity. For someone injured at 30 who would have worked until 65, that’s over $3.3 million in lost income alone — before accounting for career advancement, promotions, or retirement contributions.

Psychological impact — depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief over lost independence, relationship strain, and identity disruption. Studies show significantly elevated rates of depression among SCI survivors compared to the general population.

Secondary medical complications — pressure sores, urinary tract infections, respiratory complications, chronic pain, spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, and deep vein thrombosis. Managing these complications is a lifelong medical reality.

“Tell us what you’re going through. Tell us what life is like at home because of your injuries. Tell us if you’re not feeling like yourself, if you’re feeling foggy, you just seem a little off lately. We really want you to share that kind of information with us because it helps us understand your story — so we can tell the jury one day what you’ve been through.”

Michael Harris, Litigation Attorney, Jordan Law

How We Build Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Spinal cord injury cases are high-value, high-stakes litigation. The insurance companies assign their best adjusters and most aggressive defense attorneys to these claims because the potential payout is enormous. You need attorneys who match that intensity.

Comprehensive medical documentation — We work with your treating physicians, surgeons, neurologists, and rehabilitation specialists to document the full extent of your injury, your current functional limitations, and your prognosis. We don’t rely on the insurance company’s medical review — we build our own medical narrative.

Life care planning — We retain certified life care planners who project the lifetime cost of your future medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home modifications, attendant care, and transportation needs. These projections are based on your specific injury level, your age, and published life expectancy data for your injury severity. They often total millions of dollars.

Economic expert testimony — We work with forensic economists who calculate your lost earning capacity, lost benefits, lost household services, and the present value of your future damages. These calculations ensure the jury understands the true financial impact of your injury over your remaining lifetime.

Liability investigation — We identify every responsible party: the negligent driver, the trucking company, the property owner, the employer, the equipment manufacturer, the government entity that failed to maintain a road. Multiple defendants mean multiple insurance policies and a higher potential recovery.

Trial preparation from day one — Every expert report, every deposition, every medical record is developed with a jury presentation in mind. Insurance companies settle SCI cases for more when they know the attorneys across the table are ready to walk into a courtroom.

“Insurance carriers know which law firms try cases and you get better value on your case because of it. A lot of the ones that are running those big volumes, they don’t try anything. In fact, a lot of times they’re calling us to litigate and try their cases.”

Jason Jordan, Founding Partner, Jordan Law

Click to contact our Denver Injury Lawyerss today

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Colorado

Spinal cord injury cases generate some of the largest verdicts and settlements in personal injury law because the damages are so extensive and so clearly documented. You may be entitled to:

Medical expenses — all past and future medical care, including emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, specialist visits, prescription medications, and ongoing management of secondary complications.

Adaptive equipment and modifications — wheelchairs, vehicle modifications, home accessibility renovations, assistive technology, and specialized medical equipment over your lifetime.

Attendant care — the cost of personal care assistance, whether from professional caregivers or family members who have had to leave their jobs to provide care.

Lost wages and earning capacity — compensation for income lost during recovery and the permanent reduction in your ability to earn for the rest of your working life.

Pain and suffering — the physical pain of the injury and its complications, the emotional anguish of losing mobility and independence, and the daily reality of living with paralysis. As of January 1, 2025, Colorado’s cap on noneconomic damages increased to $1.5 million under HB 24-1472.

Loss of enjoyment of life — the activities, hobbies, sports, and daily pleasures that the spinal cord injury has permanently taken away.

Loss of consortium — compensation for the impact on your spouse or partner’s relationship, including loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy.

Wrongful death damages — if a loved one died from a spinal cord injury, surviving family members can seek compensation under Colorado’s wrongful death statute.

“Colorado has one of the highest percentages of people driving around with no insurance. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is coverage that you get to protect yourself and your family. I call it “you coverage” because it is coverage for you.”

Sarah Freedman, Director of Pre-litigation, Jordan Law

How Long Do You Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Colorado?

The deadline depends on how the injury occurred:

Motor vehicle accidents — three years from the date of the accident under C.R.S. § 13-80-101.

Falls, workplace injuries, and general negligence — two years from the date of injury under C.R.S. § 13-80-102.

Defective products — two years under the product liability statute.

Government entity involvement — if a government-owned vehicle, road defect, or public facility contributed to the injury, you may need to file notice within 182 days under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.

Wrongful death — two years from the date of death.

Do not wait. Spinal cord injury cases require extensive investigation, expert retention, and medical documentation that takes months to assemble. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case will be.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury

Get emergency medical treatment. Spinal cord injuries require immediate stabilization. Do not move if you suspect a spinal injury — wait for emergency responders. In Colorado, Craig Hospital in Englewood and the University of Colorado Hospital at the Anschutz Medical Campus are among the top SCI treatment facilities in the country.

Preserve evidence. If family members or witnesses can photograph the accident scene, vehicle damage, hazardous conditions, or equipment involved, that evidence is invaluable. If it’s a workplace injury, report it to your employer and file a workers’ compensation claim.

Do not give recorded statements. Insurance companies for the at-fault party will begin investigating immediately. Their goal is to minimize liability and reduce what they pay. Do not give statements or sign documents without speaking to an attorney.

I have people tell me all the time, “I’ve been dealing with this insurance company for 20 years and they’ve always treated me great.” And I say, “Have you ever made a claim?” And they say, “No.” Well, okay. So the person who has been taking your money has been treating you great. Not surprising. Wait till you go to the claims department.

Jason Jordan, Founding Partner, Jordan Law

Contact a spinal cord injury attorney. We begin investigating immediately — sending preservation demands, retaining medical experts, and building your case while you focus on stabilization and early rehabilitation.

Why Jordan Law for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case

Over $550 million recovered for injury victims. Our results include multiple eight-figure verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury cases involving traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and permanent disability. We know how to value SCI cases at their true lifetime cost — not the discounted number the insurance company offers.

We understand lifetime damages. Spinal cord injury cases aren’t just about current medical bills. They’re about projecting 30, 40, or 50 years of future care needs, adaptive equipment, attendant care, and lost earning capacity. We retain the life care planners, economists, and medical experts needed to present the full picture to a jury or in settlement negotiations.

True trial lawyers. Insurance companies assign their most experienced adjusters and defense attorneys to SCI cases because the stakes are so high. We match that intensity. We prepare every spinal cord injury case for trial, and other personal injury firms regularly refer their most complex catastrophic cases to us for litigation.

Craig Hospital is in our backyard. Our office in Greenwood Village is minutes from Craig Hospital, one of the top spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers in the world. We understand the treatment protocols, the rehabilitation timelines, and the long-term care needs that SCI survivors face — because we’ve represented clients going through it.

No fee unless we win. We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We invest in life care planners, economists, medical experts, and litigation at our own expense. Consultations are always free.

Our Office Location