The signs of a spinal injury after a car accident can include pain, weakness, numbness, and trouble moving or controlling parts of your body. Some symptoms show up right away, while others may appear hours or even days later.
Spinal injuries can change your life, so take them seriously and get medical care right away. These cases are not simple. They often involve tough medical questions and insurance companies that try to pay less than they should. That’s why having a lawyer matters.
Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Milwaukee will protect your rights, build strong medical evidence, and fight for the damages you deserve.
Spinal Injury Symptoms to Watch for After a Car Accident
Spinal injuries are not always obvious right after a crash. Some of the most common signs to look for include:
- Neck or back pain: Sharp or steady pain that may signal damage to the spine or nerves
- Numbness or tingling: Loss of feeling in your hands, feet, arms, or legs
- Weakness or paralysis: Trouble moving a limb or not being able to move at all
- Loss of bladder or bowel control: A serious warning sign that needs emergency care
- Difficulty walking or balancing: From slight to severe unsteadiness
- Headaches or dizziness: Often go along with neck or spine injuries
If you notice any of these symptoms after a car accident, seek medical care right away. Once your health is stable, our neck and back injury lawyer in Milwaukee can discuss your claim.
Why Spinal Cord Damage Is So Serious
The spinal cord controls how your body moves and feels. Any damage can have lasting effects, including paralysis. Even injuries that seem small at first can get worse if ignored. Getting treatment early gives you the best chance to heal and avoid long-term disability.
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How Doctors Diagnose Spinal Injuries
After an accident, doctors may order several tests to check for spinal injuries:
- X–rays: Show broken bones near the spine
- CT scans: Give detailed images of spinal bones and surrounding tissues
- MRI scans: Reveal damage to the spinal cord and nerves
- Physical exams: Test reflexes, strength, and ability to feel touch
A clear diagnosis helps guide treatment and strengthens any legal case you pursue.
Treatment Options After a Spinal Injury
The right treatment depends on how severe the injury is. Options include:
- Emergency care: Stabilizing the spine with braces or surgery
- Medication: To reduce swelling or prevent infection
- Rehabilitation: Physical and occupational therapy to regain strength and independence
- Assistive devices: Wheelchairs, braces, or adaptive tools for mobility
Because recovery can take months or even years, the costs are often very high.
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How Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Can Help You With a Claim
Spinal cord injury cases are complex because they can involve high medical bills, lost income, and long-term needs. Insurance companies may try to pay less than what you deserve.
Our car accident lawyer in Milwaukee will lead your case by:
- Collecting medical records and expert testimony: We will gather your hospital charts, doctors’ notes, and treatment history. We may also bring in medical experts who can explain how your injury affects your health and daily life.
- Calculating future care and income losses: Our legal team will look beyond your current bills to estimate future medical needs, therapy costs, and lost pay. This ensures your claim covers not just today’s expenses but the long-term impact on your life.
- Negotiating with the insurance company: Insurers can try to pay less than you deserve, but we will challenge low settlement offers with strong evidence. We will take care of the back-and-forth discussions and protect you from an unfair settlement.
- Taking the case to court if needed: If we cannot settle your claim with the insurance company, we can file a lawsuit and present your case before a judge or jury. This step shows you’re serious about protecting your rights and pursuing your damages.
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Damages After a Car Accident-Related Neck or Back Injury
A spinal injury often changes nearly every part of your life. The law allows you to seek damages, which are the losses you suffered because of the accident. These damages can include financial costs and personal harm, such as pain or loss of independence.
Some examples include:
- Medical costs: Hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, lab exams, medications, and any long-term care you may need
- Lost income: Paychecks you missed while recovering and future wages if you cannot return to your old job
- Loss of earning ability: If you can still work but not in the same role or at the same income
- Pain and suffering: Lasting physical pain or discomfort that affects your daily life
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, or trauma linked to the injury or the accident
- Impaired quality of life: Not being able to do hobbies, sports, or family activities you once enjoyed
- Wrongful death damages: Damages for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship if a loved one dies
Because spinal injuries often require lifelong care, the cost of these injuries can be very high. Insurance companies may try to pay less than what your case is truly worth, but we will fight to make sure all your current and future losses receive consideration.
Possible Parties We Can Hold Liable for Car Accident Injuries
When a spinal injury happens in a car accident, more than one person or company may be responsible.
Depending on the situation, responsibility for the crash could fall on:
- Another driver: The most common cause is another motorist who was speeding, distracted, drunk, or careless.
- An employer: If the at-fault driver was on the job at the time, their employer may share responsibility.
- A vehicle manufacturer: Defective brakes, tires, or airbags can contribute to a crash. In these cases, the maker of the faulty part may be liable.
- A government agency: Poorly maintained roads, missing signs, or dangerous intersections can make local or state agencies partly responsible.
- Multiple parties: Sometimes several people or companies share fault, and a lawyer can sort out who should pay for your damages.
Identifying the right parties is critical in spinal injury cases because treatment and recovery are often expensive and long-term. Our personal injury lawyer in Milwaukee can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and hold all responsible parties accountable.
Meeting Filing Deadlines for Injury Lawsuits in Wisconsin
Taking these actions early helps you recover physically while also building a stronger case for damages. In Wisconsin, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Wis. Stat. § 893.54.
Reaching out to us quickly helps protect your rights and gives our team time to build the strongest case possible.
What to Do After a Spinal Injury From a Car Accident
If you have been in a car accident and think you may have a spinal injury, take these important steps now:
- Get emergency medical care: Call 911 or go to the hospital right away. Even if you can walk, you may still have serious spinal damage that needs treatment.
- Follow your doctor’s orders: Attend all appointments, take prescribed medications, and stick to physical therapy. Gaps in care can harm both your recovery and your claim.
- Document everything: Keep copies of medical records, bills, and any notes from your doctors. These records prove the extent of your injury.
- Avoid talking to the insurance company alone: Insurers may ask questions that could weaken your claim. It’s best to let a lawyer handle these conversations.
- Reach out for legal help: Our spinal cord injury lawyer will review your case, explain your options, and handle your claim or lawsuit.
Get Legal Help After Noticing Signs of a Spinal Injury From a Car Accident
At Gruber Law Offices, we understand how devastating a serious injury can be. If you are noticing signs of a spinal injury after a car accident, get medical help right away. You also shouldn’t face the insurance company on your own.
These cases are complicated, and the other side will have legal teams working against you. For more than 40 years, we have stood up for tens of thousands of people across Wisconsin. With over 130 legal professionals on staff, we have the resources to fight for the compensation you deserve. We are based in Milwaukee and proudly serve clients across the state.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there’s never a fee until we win. Your first consultation is always free, and it costs nothing to learn how we can help. Make “One Call…That’s All!” to speak with our team about your spinal injury.
Call or text (414) 276-6666 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
