Key Takeaways
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, over one-third of all spinal cord injuries result from vehicle crashes. Back and spinal cord injuries can have far-reaching effects on a person’s life, potentially causing long-term suffering, leaving them permanently disabled, and changing their quality of life forever.
When a serious injury like this happens, financial hardship can add to the stress of recovery and being able to adjust to new circumstances. The Michigan spinal cord injury lawyers at Matz Injury Law work hard to help our injury clients obtain the financial resources and care they need to rebuild their lives — from medical care to rehabilitation services to compensation for losses.
If you or a family member has suffered a back or spinal cord injury, please contact our Michigan law firm as soon as possible for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers will review your case and explain how we can help you seek compensation to cover the costs associated with this type of injury.
Damage to the back and spinal cord are some of the most severe injuries a person can suffer from in an accident or other event that led to the injury. Each one can cause symptoms from minor discomfort to severe pain. For others, the damage can be life-changing and have permanent effects, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.
Back injuries are any damage to the muscles or bones in your back as a result of an accident. Common back injuries include:
Back injuries can range in severity from temporary pain or discomfort to permanent disability.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the center of your spine, extending from the base of your brain through your back. Its function is to deliver signals between the brain and the body. A spinal cord or brain injury can disrupt this system. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur when the spinal cord or the musculoskeletal structure around the spinal cord suffers damage. These injuries can be temporary or permanent, depending on the extent and severity of the injury. Either way, spinal cord injuries are extremely serious and can have far-reaching effects on the victim’s life.
Experts classify spinal cord injuries in two categories: complete and incomplete.
Individuals who sustain back injuries typically experience similar symptoms, which may include:
Victims of accidents or events that lead to a spinal cord injury may experience the following:
Receiving compensation following an auto accident can help you out not only financially, but provide peace of mind so that you can now start putting your life back together. Many times, accident victims worry that any won compensation will be eaten up in legal fees. However, by working with Matz Injury Law, you get to keep more of that compensation because our fees are less, and this can greatly impact what you take home.
Take this scenario as an example. Following a serious car crash, you win $750,000 compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. How much of that you keep will depend on legal fees.
In this scenario, by choosing Matz Injury Law with our lower fee of 22%, you significantly increase your take-home compensation compared to what you would receive under the standard legal fee of 33.3%.
For this reason, we use the slogan “22 not 33,” which speaks directly to our lower fee structure and the impact it can have on a client’s take-home compensation.
Spinal cord injuries and back injuries can occur in several ways. Unfortunately, many could have been prevented if another person or entity had acted responsibly and carefully.
Back injuries can happen suddenly, as anyone who has tweaked their back knows very well. Common causes of back injuries include:
Spinal cord injuries often result from trauma, such as a blow or cut to the spine.
The most prevalent causes of spinal cord injuries in the United States include:
Unfortunately, workplace-related back injuries are common, especially in specific professions, such as construction or other physical laborers. The causes may be the result of negligence, repetitive movements, unsafe work practices, or workplace accidents, such as falls.
Car accidents often lead to traumatic effects on the body. If you suffered an auto accident, you may have sustained a back or spinal cord injury on impact. A car crash does not have to be serious to cause injury. Even relatively minor accidents can cause a spinal cord injury due to whiplash or airbag deployment.
Michigan’s no-fault insurance system means you do not need to prove fault to receive compensation for your injuries from the insurance company. However, that may not be enough to compensate you fully for your losses. In that case, you can still pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver for the non-economic damages you have suffered.
Back and spinal cord injuries from medical malpractice are rarer, but sadly, they occur. Doctors may make incorrect diagnoses or provide medical treatment that causes life-impairing back pain. If a doctor’s office, hospital, outpatient facility, or chiropractor’s office caused your back injury, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for medical negligence.
If a property owner fails to keep a public space or their property clear from obstructions and you are injured in a fall, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. According to the CDC, older adults are most vulnerable to slip-and-falls. If your elderly loved one sustained a spinal cord injury from a slip-and-fall accident due to someone else’s negligence (such as a nursing home facility), you may be eligible to sue.
Intentional violent acts can permanently impact the victim. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, many spinal cord injuries result from violence, primarily from gunshot wounds. If you or a family member suffered an injury due to violence, you may be eligible for civil litigation against the violent party and any other party whose negligence contributed to your injury. For example, if you were shot at a nightclub, you may be able to file a suit against the business owners for negligent security.
If your back or spinal injury is due to another person’s negligence, you can sue the at-fault party for compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
Injury claims for economic damages include:
Non-economic damages are compensation for any non-financial losses you’ve suffered, including, but not limited to:
The State of Michigan does not have punitive damages available for victims to pursue. Your injury claim must be for actual compensation, not to punish the wrongdoer. However, you are permitted to seek exemplary damages, which empowers you to collect compensation because of the outrageous behavior or conduct of the offender. This is almost exclusively available to victims of drunk or impaired drivers who have a history of driving under the influence.
The compensation you can be awarded will depend upon the severity of your injuries and how they directly affect your life.
To prove liability in Michigan for a back or spinal cord injury, the victim must be able to prove the negligent party was at least 50 percent at fault. Next, they must prove they sustained an injury that led to medical bills, loss of quality of life, or lost wages.
To confirm the extent of your injuries, you will be required to undergo medical examinations and likely need to provide expert testimony from your healthcare providers to describe the severity of your injury. Victims who work with Michigan spinal cord injury lawyers usually find they can establish a solid case to prove liability and be entitled to compensation to help cover their losses and suffering. Your attorney will examine circumstances, gather evidence, and assemble your case to negotiate a settlement or present in court.
To help you through your case and to gain a better understanding of how the legal process surrounding accident injuries works, we provide the following related resources.
The State of Michigan places a three-year statute of limitations for filing a negligence lawsuit for a back or spinal cord injury. It is essential to distinguish that the three-year timeframe begins on the date of the accident, not the date the spinal cord injury claim was filed.
After a back or spinal cord injury, there may be a need for significant long-term care and rehabilitative services, all of which can be very costly. A successful personal injury case can help pay for these medical expenses.
Michigan attorneys experienced in back and spinal cord injury lawsuits can assist with examining circumstances, collecting essential evidence, and deciding a course of action to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Insurance adjusters are usually out of touch with the reality of what a spinal cord injury victim faces each day. As a result, they are prone to offering low settlements to close the case as quickly as possible. A skilled Michigan personal injury law firm can provide you with essential help dealing with these adjusters and negotiating a fair settlement, thus keeping the case from going to trial and prolonging your receipt of compensation.
At Matz Injury Law, our priority is helping our clients get all the necessary medical care, long-term care, physical therapy, and other rehabilitative services. Our personal injury attorneys will work with medical specialists to map out the required lifetime of care and services. Then, we’ll stand up for you in settlement negotiations or at trial to obtain full compensation for your losses and all necessary medical care and services.
Whether it involves a herniated disc or paralysis, you can depend on Matz Injury Law for skillful, results-oriented representation. Call 866-226-6833 or reach us online through our contact form to get started.
“Steve Matz deserves more than 5 stars! He went above and beyond to help me with my automobile accident/lawsuit, and stayed in constant contact with me. He cared about me as a person and how I was feeling or doing. I will recommend him to anybody who ever asks me, he has been amazing!!!!! Mr. Matz I can never thank you enough for what you have done for us. Thank you for always being authentically and truly you. You are definitely a fighter for what’s right.” — Holly L.
“Steve Matz was there when I needed him. Nobody expects to be a victim of a car accident but when I found myself in that situation it was overwhelming. Steve made everything easy. Steve did not accept the insurance Company’s first offer. He held out and got me a better settlement. Steve is very kind and professional. I highly recommend Matz Injury Law.” — Sharyn K.
Whether it involves a herniated disc, paralysis, a separate disability, or another type of injury, you can depend on Matz Injury Law for skillful, results-oriented representation. Call 866-226-6833 or reach us online through our contact form to get started. We proudly serve all Michigan residents from Southfield to Grand Rapids.
Spinal cord injuries can cause or contribute to additional health concerns as you age. These health concerns may include:
Much will depend on the severity of your injury, lifestyle behaviors, and your family health history and genetics. As such, it is imperative that you receive regular medical care and also fair compensation for your injury and its lingering effects on your health and daily routine.
How much you can receive from a spinal cord injury will vary based on each individual case and the extent of your particular injuries. However, since these injuries can be severe, permanent, and debilitating, they generally lead to much higher settlements/awards.
The most vulnerable part of the spine is the lower back, or what is known as the lumbar area. Common injuries here include strains and sprains. However, when excessive force is exerted on the body, such as can occur during a crash, you may suffer:
$4,150,000 settlement on behalf of the family of a college student who was killed in a traffic crash while riding a motorcycle. The settlement came from three different insurance companies.
$3.45 million settlement against a cement company whose truck crossed a center line causing three deaths and severely injuring a 4 year-old boy. The settlement was $450,000 in excess of available insurance.
$1.74 million settlement against a 19 year-old driver and the fraternity where he was drinking immediately prior to a head on collision that killed a 52 year-old husband and father of 3 children.
$1.3 million Federal District Court settlement on behalf of a mother and daughter in a car/truck collision. Mom suffered a pancreas injury but returned to full-time employment within six months; eight year old daughter suffered an aggravation of a pre-existing learning disability as well as a ruptured spleen.
$1 million settlement for a 52 year-old woman in a rural county who broke both ankles and suffered a retrobulbar hemorrhage of her right eye after being struck by a gravel truck.
Matz Injury Law obtained a $1,000,000 settlement for a woman in Northern Michigan who fractured both ankles as a result of being rear-ended by a gravel truck.
A settlement of $3,450,000 for a family who lost loved ones as a result of an inattentive cement truck driver.
$100,000 uninsured motorist settlement (policy limit) for family of passenger killed in Detroit in suspected joyriding incident.
$1 million settlement on behalf of a 60 year-old woman with a mild closed head injury due to County Road Commission negligence.
$950,000 settlement on behalf of the mother of a young boy who died while a passenger in a one-vehicle crash.
$750,000 to the family of a passenger killed in a collision on an icy road.
$285,000 settlement on behalf of a 52 year-old woman who suffered from fibromyalgia after hurting her shin resulting from an auto injury.
Steven J. Matz is a founding shareholder of Matz Injury Law. The firm’s concentration is on personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injury.
We have earned over 300+ million dollars
for our Michigan clients.
"*" indicates required fields
The maximum contingency fee permitted by law is actually 331/3%. Michigan court rules require that the attorney fee be computed on the net sum recovered after deducting all disbursements properly chargeable to the enforcement of the claim.
We can charge 22% while virtually all other injury attorneys charge 331/3% because we are very, very, good at obtaining results for our clients.
We do not spend millions of dollars on television ads; instead, we offer a lower fee to all our clients. We do not have dozens of lower paid associates handling our work. All our clients are represented by Steven and Jared Matz. Steven Matz started the firm in 1977 and since then has dedicated his life to representing injury victims. Jared joined the firm in 2016 but grew up listening to stories, discussing theories, and generally learning at the dinner table about how to effectively and compassionately represent injury victims. Jared Matz was literally born to represent individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes.
All of our cases are handled on a contingency fee and all our cases are handled at 22%. Whether the case settles or goes through trial, the fee does not change. While our competitors make excuses as to why they charge so much, we are obtaining results for our clients at a lower fee.
At a typical television advertising law firm, your first call will be handled by a receptionist, who may refer you to an intake person, who will discuss your claim with an intake manager, who then discusses your claim with an associate, who may then report to a partner. You may never speak with the person whose name is at the top of the letterhead. At Matz Injury Law you will always speak with either Steven Matz or Jared Matz.
© 2024 Matz Injury Law