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At Pinnacle Injury Law, we believe that when a catastrophic spinal cord injury occurs, the legal representation you choose should be as resilient and unwavering as the spirit required to recover. A spinal injury is not just a medical diagnosis; it is a life-altering event that impacts your mobility, your career, and your family's financial stability. In New Jersey, the legal landscape for these cases is complex, filled with insurance hurdles and aggressive defense tactics designed to minimize your suffering. Our firm is dedicated to providing the excellent legal advocacy. We combine deep medical knowledge with a relentless pursuit of justice to ensure that those responsible for your injury are held fully accountable. We don't just fight for a settlement; we fight for the resources you need to live with dignity and security for the rest of your life. If you or a loved one has unfortunately suffered a spinal injury as a result of a car accident, slip and fall or any other negligent act for that matter, Pinnacle Injury Law can help. We serve all of New Jersey, from Atlantic County to Bergen County and everywhere in between. To set up a free initial consultation today, please contact our office at 1 (800) 434-3799.
The anatomy behind Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the primary highway for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. When that highway is damaged by trauma—whether from a high-speed collision on the New Jersey Turnpike or a fall on a poorly maintained property—the consequences are immediate and often permanent. In New Jersey law, spinal cord injuries are categorized based on their severity and the level of function lost.
Understanding Your Injury Type
This occurs when the spinal cord is fully compressed or severed, resulting in a total loss of sensation and motor function below the site of the injury. This often leads to paraplegia (affecting the lower half of the body) or quadriplegia/tetraplegia (affecting all four limbs and the torso).
In these cases, the spinal cord is partially damaged. Victims may retain some degree of movement or sensation on one or both sides of the body. While "incomplete" may sound less severe, these injuries often involve chronic pain, spasticity, and significant long-term disability.
Even injuries that do not sever the cord, such as severe herniated discs or cauda equina syndrome, can result in permanent nerve damage, loss of bladder control, and debilitating radiculopathy.
Suing for a spinal injury in New Jersey requires more than just proving you were hurt; it requires navigating specific statutory frameworks that can bar recovery if not handled correctly.
1. Overcoming the "Verbal Threshold": Many New Jersey drivers have auto insurance policies with a "Limitation on Lawsuit" or Verbal Threshold. This law (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8) prohibits victims from suing for non-economic damages (pain and suffering) unless they sustained a "permanent injury."
For a spinal injury to qualify, a medical expert must certify that the affected body part—the spine—has not healed to function normally and will not heal even with further treatment. At Pinnacle Injury Law, we would work with neurologists and orthopedic surgeons to provide the "objective clinical evidence" (such as MRIs, CT scans, and EMG testing) necessary to defeat the insurance companies' attempts to dismiss your claim.
2. Establishing Negligence and Liability: To win, you must prove that another party's negligence was the direct cause of your spinal trauma. This involves four critical steps:
Proving the defendant owed you a duty of care (e.g., a driver must stay in their lane).
Showing the defendant failed that duty (e.g., a commercial truck driver exceeding hours-of-service limits).
Connecting the breach directly to your spinal injury.
Documenting the extensive physical and financial toll the injury has taken.
One of the most dangerous mistakes an unrepresented victim can make is accepting a settlement too early. Spinal injuries are "expensive" injuries because they require a lifetime of care. Studies suggest that the lifetime cost for a 25-year-old with high tetraplegia can exceed $5 million.
We meticulously calculate every dollar you have lost and will lose:
New Jersey law allows for the recovery of "subjective" losses, which are often the most profound parts of an SCI:
In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for a spinal injury. While two years may seem like a long time, building a winning spinal cord injury case takes months of investigation, expert consultation, and evidence gathering. Delaying can lead to the loss of critical evidence—like black box data from a truck or surveillance footage from a building—that could prove the defendant's fault.
Choosing the right attorney after a spinal injury is the most important decision you will make for your future. At Pinnacle Injury Law, we take that responsibility to heart. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we front all the costs of litigation and expert witnesses. We don't get paid unless you get paid. You are currently facing an uphill battle against powerful insurance corporations, but you don't have to climb that mountain alone. Our team is ready to stand by your side, providing the elite legal strategy and personal support you need to navigate the New Jersey court system. Let us handle the legal fight so you can focus on your health and your family. Contact Pinnacle Injury Law today for a free, confidential consultation, and let us help you reach the pinnacle of recovery.
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If you are dealing with the aftermath described on this page, Pinnacle Injury Law can review what happened, what evidence may matter, and what next steps may be available.
