Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Denver Personal Injury Lawyers » Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Why Choose Fuicelli & Lee for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case

Choosing the right law firm after a catastrophic injury like a spinal cord injury is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. You deserve a legal team that not only understands the complexity of your case but genuinely cares about your future. 

Individuals and families in Denver and throughout Colorado have trusted Fuicelli & Lee to handle their personal injury claims for several important reasons:

• Focused on Catastrophic Injury Cases: We deliberately limit our caseload to ensure every client with a catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury, receives our full attention and resources.
• Trial-Ready Lawyers: Our attorneys prepare every case as if it is going to court, giving our clients a strong advantage for maximum compensation, whether through settlement or trial verdict. We never accept settlement offers that fail to compensate you fairly.
• Proven Track Record: Fuicelli & Lee has secured over $175 million in life-changing settlements and verdicts for our clients, including many multi-million-dollar results.
• Boutique Firm, Personalized Service: You are never just a case number to us. We build real relationships with our clients, keeping you informed and involved at every stage.
• Award-Winning Legal Team: Our attorneys have been recognized by Colorado Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and many others.
• No Upfront Costs: We take cases on a contingency fee basis. Our no-win, no-fee guarantee means that you pay nothing unless we win your case. 
• Based in Denver, Representing Clients Statewide: From downtown Denver to Cherry Creek and surrounding neighborhoods, we proudly advocate for spinal injury victims throughout the metro area and beyond.

When you work with Fuicelli & Lee, you gain not just a lawyer but a dedicated advocate who stands by you and your family every step of the way.

Key Takeaways

• Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent complications that require lifelong medical care and support.
• Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Denver.
• Complications from spinal cord injuries can significantly increase lifetime care costs.
• Victims of spinal cord injuries often face lifetime expenses in the millions of dollars, depending on the severity of the injury.
• Colorado law gives you a limited time to take legal action for your spinal cord injuries, so acting quickly can protect your right to compensation.
• Even if you are partially at fault, you may still be entitled to compensation under Colorado’s comparative negligence rule.

Hiring an experienced Denver spinal cord injury lawyer can help maximize your compensation and protect your rights against aggressive insurance companies.

About Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) involve damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal. These injuries often cause permanent changes in strength, sensation, and bodily functions below the site of the injury. For many victims, spinal cord injuries mean a lifetime of challenges, from mobility loss to chronic pain to dependency on assistive devices.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 17,810 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year. Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause, accounting for about 38% of all new cases. Sadly, young adults and men represent the majority of those injured, often at the peak of their lives and careers.

The lifetime costs of living with a spinal cord injury can be staggering. Depending on the severity, estimated lifetime expenses range from $1.2 million to over $5 million, excluding lost wages and benefits. Beyond the financial burden, victims also face immense emotional and psychological hurdles, as everyday activities become much more difficult or impossible without assistance.

Working with a personal injury attorney to estimate the true scope of a spinal cord injury is vital, not just for your medical recovery, but for building a strong legal claim that fully accounts for your needs today and in the future.

The Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

At Fuicelli & Lee Injury Lawyers, we investigate spinal cord injury cases thoroughly to determine exactly what happened and who was responsible.

Here are some of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries in Denver:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are the top cause of spinal cord injuries nationwide. In Denver, busy highways like I-25 and I-70 are common sites of serious collisions that result in catastrophic trauma to the spine. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles in Denver are also on the rise, leaving many survivors with serious neck and back injuries. 
• Falls: Falls from heights, such as off ladders, scaffolding, or stairs, or even same-level slip and fall accidents, can cause significant spinal damage, especially among older adults.
• Violence: Gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and assaults arising from negligent security sometimes cause direct trauma to the spine. 
• Sports injuries: High-impact sports like football, skiing, snowboarding, and diving pose a risk for spinal trauma. Colorado’s active, outdoor lifestyle can make these injuries more common locally.
• Workplace accidents: Jobs involving heavy equipment, construction, or dangerous work environments carry a higher risk of spinal injuries, particularly when employers fail to follow safety regulations.

Each cause brings its own set of legal challenges. Having a skilled Denver spinal cord injury lawyer on your side ensures that every potential avenue for compensation is explored thoroughly.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

The location and severity of a spinal cord injury determine how much—and what kind of—function may be lost.  Here are the main types of spinal cord injuries:

Complete spinal cord injuries

In a complete spinal cord injury, the brain and the body below the injury site lose all ability to communicate. This typically results in complete paralysis below the point of injury. Individuals with complete injuries often experience permanent loss of motor function and sensation.

Complete injuries may lead to quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) or paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body, including both legs).

Incomplete spinal cord injuries

In an incomplete spinal cord injury, there is still some communication between the brain and parts of the body below the injury site. Victims of incomplete injuries might retain some sensation, movement, or function, depending on the extent of the damage.

Examples of incomplete spinal injuries include anterior cord syndrome, central cord syndrome, and Brown-Séquard syndrome, each affecting mobility and sensation differently.

Tetraplegia (quadriplegia)

Tetraplegia, often called quadriplegia, results from spinal cord injuries to the cervical (neck) region. Victims lose movement and feeling in both the arms and legs, and often require assistance with basic daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Severe cases may require ventilator support if breathing muscles are paralyzed.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia results from injuries that occur lower in the spine, typically in the thoracic or lumbar regions. It involves the loss of movement and sensation in the legs and lower body, but the arms and upper body typically remain functional.

Paraplegia still requires extensive rehabilitation and often necessitates the use of wheelchairs or other assistive devices.

Triplegia

Triplegia is the paralysis of three limbs, often affecting both legs and one arm. It typically results from an incomplete spinal cord injury or brain injury that disrupts the brain’s communication with certain parts of the body.

While rarer than paraplegia or tetraplegia, triplegia requires specialized medical care and accommodations to improve quality of life.

Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries bring much more than loss of movement or sensation. Victims often face a range of secondary complications that can significantly affect health, independence, and quality of life. These complications should be taken into account when making any legal claim to ensure full and fair compensation.

Some of the most common complications after spinal cord injuries include:

• Chronic pain: Even with loss of sensation, many victims experience persistent nerve pain or musculoskeletal pain.
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction: SCI can disrupt the body’s ability to control bladder and bowel function, leading to infections and other health issues.
• Respiratory issues: Higher-level spinal injuries may weaken breathing muscles, increasing the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.
• Pressure ulcers (bedsores): Limited mobility can cause dangerous sores on the skin that are slow to heal and prone to infection.
• Muscle spasms and spasticity: Muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions are common and can make movement even more difficult.
• Sexual dysfunction: Spinal injuries often affect sexual function, fertility, and intimacy.
• Depression and anxiety: Emotional trauma is common after a spinal cord injury, as victims adjust to a new reality and ongoing challenges.
• Autonomic dysreflexia: A life-threatening condition that causes sudden, extreme spikes in blood pressure, particularly among individuals with injuries above the T6 vertebra.

Anticipating these complications—and building a case that accounts for their long-term impact—is a vital part of securing maximum compensation.

Negligence and the Foundation of a Spinal Cord Injury Case

Winning a spinal cord injury case in Denver comes down to proving that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Negligence means more than just making a mistake; it means failing to act with reasonable care, and that failure results in harm.

To succeed in your spinal cord injury claim, your lawyer must establish four key elements:

• Duty of care: The other party had a legal responsibility to act reasonably to prevent harm to you and everyone else. For example, drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely.
• Breach of duty: A breach occurs when someone acts carelessly or recklessly, such as texting while driving, running a red light, or failing to maintain a safe property.
• Causation: The breach directly caused your spinal cord injury. This link between the careless action and your injury must be clear and supported by evidence such as medical records, accident reports, and expert testimony.
• Damages: You suffered actual damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering, because of the injury. Without measurable losses, there is no personal injury claim, even if negligence is clear.
• At Fuicelli & Lee, we understand how to build strong spinal cord injury cases from the ground up. 

Available Compensation in Denver Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most expensive and life-altering injuries anyone can experience. Compensation in a spinal cord injury case should account for not just your immediate losses, but your long-term needs as well.

At Fuicelli & Lee, we seek complete and fair compensation for every client to cover the full range of damages suffered, including:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Costs for assistive devices like wheelchairs or home modifications
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• In-home care services and long-term assisted living expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of intimacy and companionship

No two lives are the same, and no two injuries impact people the same way. We take the time to fully understand your story and show how your injury has affected your ability to live the life you once enjoyed.

Let Fuicelli & Lee Handle the Insurance Companies

After a spinal cord injury, the last thing you should have to worry about is dealing with aggressive insurance companies. Unfortunately, insurers often move quickly to minimize payouts, even while you are still in the early stages of recovery. Their goal is to protect their bottom line, not your future.

Having a skilled Denver spinal cord injury lawyer to handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies is the best way to protect the value of your claim and your future. 

When you work with Fuicelli & Lee:

• We handle all conversations with the insurance companies, so you don’t have to risk saying something that could harm your case.
• We thoroughly document your injuries and future care needs to present a powerful demand for compensation.
• We know the tactics insurance companies use to pressure victims into accepting lowball settlements—and we refuse to let them take advantage of you.

By letting us handle the insurance companies, you can focus on your health, your family, and your future. You deserve the time and peace of mind to heal while we fight for the outcome you need.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When you’re dealing with a spinal cord injury, it’s natural to have questions about your rights, the legal process, and what your future might look like. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from injury victims in Denver.

What is the deadline for filing a spinal cord injury claim in Denver?

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident-related injuries, including spinal cord injuries, is three years from the date of the accident. If your injury was caused by something other than a motor vehicle accident, such as a fall or an act of violence, the deadline is generally two years.

Missing the deadline could mean losing your right to compensation forever. That’s why it’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after your injury.

What happens if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Colorado follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault, as long as you were less than 50% responsible. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

How much does it cost to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer in Denver?

We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you owe us nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. We only get paid when you do. This approach allows you to focus entirely on your recovery without worrying about how to afford skilled legal representation.

Call Fuicelli & Lee Today to Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Case

A spinal cord injury changes everything—but it doesn’t have to take away your future. With the right legal team on your side, you can secure the resources you need to access medical care, financial security, and a better quality of life.

At Fuicelli & Lee Injury Lawyers, we know that no amount of money can undo what has happened. But we also know that fair compensation can make a tremendous difference in helping you move forward. Our team is ready to listen, offer guidance, and stand up for your rights with the compassion, determination, and experience you deserve.

Call us today at (303) 444-4444 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Let us fight for the justice and support you need, starting today.

Contact our Lawyers for a free consultation

Fuicelli & Lee Injury Lawyers, PC – Denver Office

1731 Gilpin Street
Denver, CO 80218
P: (303) 444-4444