A spinal cord injury changes everything in an instant. Whether it happened on Highway 288 near Pearland, on the Sam Houston Tollway, or at a worksite in Brazoria County, the physical and financial toll of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. Gustin Law Firm, with its principal office in Houston, Texas, represents spinal cord injury victims throughout the greater Houston area, including Pearland. Attorney Patrick Gustin and his team have recovered more than $50 million for injured clients, and they are ready to fight for you. If you or a loved one is dealing with a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, call us today at (713) 491-4792.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pearland sits along some of the busiest corridors in the Houston metro area. State Highway 288, Broadway Street, and Beltway 8 all run through or near the city, and heavy traffic on these roads creates real danger for drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists every single day. A sudden, violent collision on any one of these roads can compress, fracture, or sever the spinal cord in ways that cause permanent damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), motor vehicle crashes rank first as a cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries at 38%, followed by falls at 32%, acts of violence at 15%, and sports at 8%, based on all injuries reported since 2015. For Pearland residents, that means a car accident on Highway 288, a slip and fall at a Pearland Town Center retailer, or a truck accident near the Brazoria County line all represent real and documented risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most recent estimate puts the annual incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury at approximately 54 cases per one million people in the United States, which equals about 18,421 new cases each year. That number does not include victims who die at the scene. Behind every statistic is a real person, a family, and a life that has been turned upside down. Spinal cord injuries can result from car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian knockdowns, premises liability incidents, and even acts of negligent security. Each of these scenarios involves a party whose careless or reckless conduct caused the harm, and Texas law allows victims to hold that party accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your injury occurred because a distracted driver ran a red light near Shadow Creek Ranch, or because a property owner failed to fix a hazardous condition near Pearland Parkway, you have the right to pursue compensation. The team at Gustin Law Firm investigates the cause of every injury thoroughly, gathers evidence before it disappears, and builds the strongest possible case on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas law gives spinal cord injury victims the right to seek full compensation from the person or entity responsible for their harm. The foundation of most spinal cord injury claims is negligence, which requires proving that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injury and damages as a direct result. Whether you were injured by a negligent driver on State Highway 35 or by a property owner who ignored a dangerous condition near the Pearland Recreation Center, the same legal framework applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. That means you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and you lose your right to compensation, regardless of how serious your injuries are. For spinal cord injury victims who are focused on surgeries, rehabilitation, and adapting to a new way of life, two years can pass faster than anyone expects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas also follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you are barred from recovery entirely if you are found to be 51% or more responsible for the accident. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured victim to reduce or eliminate a payout. Having an experienced legal team on your side protects you from those tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 139 also governs structured settlement offers in cases involving substantial disablement. Under Section 139.002, this chapter applies to cases where the personal injury has resulted in the substantial disablement of the injured person. If a defendant offers a structured settlement in your spinal cord injury case, your attorney is required to present that offer to you and advise you on whether it is appropriate given your circumstances. At Gustin Law Firm, we make sure our clients fully understand every offer before making any decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spinal cord injuries carry some of the highest lifetime costs of any traumatic injury. Injuries to the spinal column and spinal cord are a major cause of disability with important socioeconomic consequences, and the costs incurred over a lifetime can easily exceed one million U.S. dollars per patient, excluding financial losses related to lost wages and productivity. That figure does not account for the emotional pain, loss of independence, and relationship strain that accompany a serious spinal cord injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Texas, a spinal cord injury victim can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, home modification costs, in-home care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a spouse or family member. In cases involving gross negligence, such as a drunk driver or a company that knowingly ignored safety violations, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41 allows for the recovery of exemplary (punitive) damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average yearly expenses and estimated lifetime costs directly attributable to traumatic spinal cord injury vary greatly based on education, neurological impairment, and pre-injury employment history, and indirect costs such as losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity averaged $95,309 per year in 2024 dollars. These numbers make clear that a quick insurance settlement rarely covers what a victim truly needs. Insurance companies will offer the minimum they think they can get away with. Gustin Law Firm fights to secure the full value of your claim, including damages for the care and support you will need for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n