Albuquerque Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Albuquerque, NM

A spinal injury, no matter how slight or severe it may be, can be totally debilitating, cause a great deal of pain, and prevent you from working your regular job. To get back on your feet, both financially and literally, through a successful and complete medical recovery, the right choice might be to team up with an Albuquerque spinal cord injury lawyer from Berenson & Associates, PC.

With nearly two decades of legal and trial experience under our belts, we have the ability to craft you a solid, persuasive case that seeks to compensate you fully after someone else has caused you major harm.

Your solution could be our involvement – schedule your free consultation today.

Devastating Accidents, Debilitating Consequences

Our spines are large yet sensitive structures in our bodies, making them susceptible to serious damage in all sorts of dangerous situations. When people act negligently and fail to follow even the most basic of safety protocols, the result can often be some sort of harm to the spine and the spinal cord.

Situations and accidents that frequently cause spinal injury include:

1. Car accidents. In 2023, there were 301 people who suffered suspected serious injuries in Albuquerque vehicle collisions, according to reports by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, out of 1,227 people with serious suspected injuries in the state. If you need help with your car accident case, contact our car accident lawyer in Albuquerque.
2. Truck accidents. Commercial truck accidents often result in much more significant injuries for those in smaller passenger cars.
3. Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists are often thrown from their vehicles in crashes, suffering the impact twice.
4. Slip and fall accidents. Falls can lead to serious injuries, especially for those over 65 years old or when a fall occurs from an upper floor.
5. Chronic, untreated illnesses that result from medical malpractice. In New Mexico, there were 201 medical malpractice payment reports made in 2024, 22 of which were for $1 million or more.

A single preventable accident may cause spinal cord damage that lasts a lifetime. Emergency procedures and rehabilitation programs that last for years can be draining to savings accounts and personal finances. Of course, the physical consequences of a spinal injury can be even worse.

After a spinal injury, you may experience:

• Constant pain up and down your back
• Difficulty standing for an extended period
• Discomfort when sitting or lying down
• Paralysis (quadriplegic or paraplegic)

There is also the distinct possibility that you may have suffered a serious spinal cord injury and not even realize it immediately. If you have been through any sort of accident recently in Albuquerque, NM, and have experienced sensitivity or soreness in your back, you are encouraged to see a medical physician as soon as possible. A proper diagnosis could reveal that you have a back injury that requires treatment.

Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are categorized as either:

• Complete spinal cord injury. This injury type means that there’s no nerve function below the injury site, resulting in the patient having no muscle control, feeling, or function.
• Incomplete spinal cord injury. This injury type means that the spinal cord is still able to send messages to the patient’s brain, resulting in some feeling, function, and muscle control below the injury site.

The injury location can affect the severity of the injury. Common types include:

• Cervical. The cervical spine supports the skull, allowing motion of the neck and protection of the spine. This type of injury is less common than other spinal injuries. Still, it often causes long-term disability, breathing struggles, paralysis, bladder issues, and neurological complications that result in loss of motor function.
• Thoracic. The thoracic spinal cord helps maintain stability and supports essential bodily functions, including fine motor control in the hands, the muscles in the upper chest, and the lower abdomen. When damaged, nerve function is disrupted, often resulting in paralysis, loss of bladder control, pain in the arms, legs, or rib cage, lower back pain, and fever.
• Lumbar. The lumbar spinal cord supports the weight of the body and allows individuals to walk, run, and lift. Injury to this area typically results in loss of function in the hips and legs, bladder issues, difficulty walking, and numbness in the lower body, often affecting balance and coordination.
• Sacral. The sacral spinal cord lies beneath the lumbar spine and above the tailbone. It helps manage lower-body functions in the pelvic region. When injured, patients often experience loss of function in the hips and legs, bladder control issues, and difficulty walking, depending on the severity of the injury.

A spinal cord injury typically results in paralysis, classified as one of the following:

• Tetraplegia. This type of paralysis is also referred to as quadriplegia. This affects the bodily function from the neck down, and complications can vary based on where the injury is.
• Paraplegia. This type of paralysis affects only the lower body, usually affecting bodily functions and abilities from the chest down.

Long-Term Needs After a Spinal Cord Injury

Depending on the type of spinal cord injury, patients may experience:

• Pressure injuries and sores
• UTIs
• Respiratory infections
• Spasticity and muscle spasms
• Autonomic dysreflexia. This condition happens when a spinal cord injury patient’s blood pressure spikes, resulting in various symptoms such as a pounding headache, sweating above the injury site, cold and clammy skin below the injury site, nausea, and an altered heart rate.

Patients typically need various forms of treatment after getting a spinal cord injury. This can include physical rehabilitation, medical equipment, modifications to the home and vehicle, and in-home nursing care. These services cost a substantial amount, making the need to open a legal case to recover compensation necessary for most patients.

Why Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque?

When you hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Albuquerque, you have a better chance of filing a successful spinal cord injury claim. A skilled lawyer can recover the most financial compensation possible in your case.

Many people think they can save money by navigating their case without an attorney, but they often fail to recover much compensation in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Although your lawyer generally takes a percentage of the settlement or verdict, most people still recover more after this fee than they would have without an attorney.

A seasoned lawyer can improve your case by:

• Limiting your stress during the process
• Determining if you have the grounds for an insurance or civil claim
• Assessing the person or entity who can be held liable for your injuries
• Gathering evidence to support your claim
• Determining the full value of your damages
• Negotiating your settlement
• Taking your case to court if the other party does not agree to a fair settlement

Spinal Cord Injury Laws: What Are Recoverable Damages?

Whether you suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident, slip-and-fall incident, or some other cause, New Mexico’s spinal cord injury laws enable you to recover some of the following damages:

• Medical expenses, both existing and expected long-term costs
• Missed income during the time you had to heal or attend doctors’ appointments
• Reduced earning capacity if your employment is permanently affected by your spinal cord injury
• Property damage if a vehicle or other personal property was damaged
• Pain and suffering for the physical harm and emotional strain the injuries caused you
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life when your spinal cord injury impacts your ability to do daily tasks or enjoy hobbies

The more serious your injuries are, the more likely these costs are to be higher. It’s important to hire an Albuquerque spinal cord injury attorney to get as much financial compensation as possible from these claims.

FAQs About Spinal Cord Injuries

What Is the Average Settlement for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Every settlement for a spinal cord injury is unique, as every injury is different and leads to different costs. In a systematic review of published healthcare literature, costs of care for a spinal cord injury ranged from $56,380 to $2.46 million, including expenses for immediate injury treatment, inpatient rehabilitation, care for a year after the injury, and long-term injury management.

How Long Do I Have to File My Spinal Cord Injury Claim in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, if your spinal cord injury happened due to the actions of another party, you typically have three years from the date of the incident to file your legal claim against them. This timeline is long, but filing early is recommended to help increase your chances of success.

How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Spinal Cord Injury?

The compensation you can get for a spinal cord injury depends on the severity of your injuries, the long-term costs to your employment, the level of fault you share in the accident, the insurance coverage limits of the at-fault party, whether the case goes to court, and whether you work with a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque.

Is a Spinal Cord Injury a Permanent Disability?

A spinal cord injury can be a permanent disability, depending on the severity of the injury and how it affects someone’s life and employment. Some spinal cord injuries cause pain and nerve damage, which may heal with time, but other injuries sever the spinal cord. This can lead to partial or complete paralysis.

Take Help From an Albuquerque Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Being caring and dedicated spinal cord injury lawyers means more than just providing strong legal counsel to the people of Albuquerque; it also requires true compassion and zeal. We are genuinely concerned with your well-being and want nothing more than to see you treated with respect and properly compensated. As our past client testimonials can affirm, we really do put our clients first and keep them there from start to finish.

Contact us​ today for the responsive, reliable representation you deserve.