Houston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

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Houston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury changes everything in an instant. One moment you are driving down I-10 near the Katy Freeway interchange, and the next you are in the emergency room at Memorial Hermann, facing a diagnosis that could affect the rest of your life. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you have legal rights under Texas law, and the team at Gustin Law Firm in Houston, Texas is ready to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Attorney Gustin and his team have recovered more than $50 million for injured Texans, and they handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you. Note that court costs and litigation expenses may be deducted from any gross recovery.

Table of Contents

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury and Why Is It So Serious?

The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body. When trauma damages that cord, those signals get disrupted or cut off entirely. The result can be partial or total loss of movement, sensation, and basic bodily functions below the injury site. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, 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 people who die at the scene.

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete. An incomplete injury partially damages the spinal cord and does not affect all connections between the brain and areas below the injury level. A complete injury, by contrast, cuts all the way across the spinal cord, meaning no connections between the brain and areas below the injury exist. People with cervical (neck) injuries often face paralysis in all four limbs, while lower-level injuries may affect only the legs. Either way, the consequences are life-altering.

The estimated number of people with traumatic spinal cord injuries living in the United States is approximately 308,620 persons. Many of them face a lifetime of medical care, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and lost income. Indirect costs, including losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity, averaged $95,309 per year in 2024 dollars. When you add direct medical costs on top of that, the financial burden becomes overwhelming fast. That is exactly why having a skilled Houston personal injury lawyer in your corner matters so much from day one.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Houston

Houston’s dense traffic, busy commercial corridors, and active construction zones create conditions where serious accidents happen every day. Motor vehicle crashes rank first as the leading cause of spinal cord injuries at 38%, followed by falls at 32%, acts of violence at 15%, and sports at 8%. In a city like Houston, where millions of drivers share highways like I-45, the 610 Loop, and the Gulf Freeway every day, that statistic is not surprising.

Car accidents are among the most common causes we see. A distracted driver, a speeding commercial vehicle near the Port of Houston, or a drunk driver on Westheimer Road can cause the kind of violent collision that fractures vertebrae and damages the cord. Motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable, since they have no structural protection when another driver cuts them off or fails to yield. Pedestrians crossing busy intersections near the Texas Medical Center or along Main Street face similar risks from inattentive drivers.

Falls are the second leading cause, and they happen in a variety of settings. A worker who falls from scaffolding at a construction site along the Ship Channel, or a visitor who slips on an unmarked wet floor at a Galleria-area hotel, can suffer the same catastrophic result. Negligent property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions can be held liable under Texas premises liability law. Workplace accidents, diving accidents in backyard pools, and violent incidents also account for a significant share of spinal cord injuries across the Houston metro area. No matter how your injury happened, if someone else’s careless or reckless conduct caused it, you may have a valid claim.

Texas Law and Your Right to Compensation

Texas law gives spinal cord injury victims the right to pursue compensation from the party responsible for their injuries. Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you can seek both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover things you can put a dollar figure on, including past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and the cost of in-home care or adaptive equipment. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 139 is directly relevant to spinal cord injury victims. Under Section 139.002, that chapter applies to suits for damages arising from personal injury that has resulted in the substantial disablement of the injured person. Spinal cord injuries almost always meet that standard. When a structured settlement offer is made in such a case after suit is filed, Section 139.101 requires the offer to be made in writing and presented to the claimant’s attorney. Section 139.102 then requires the attorney to present that offer to the client and advise them on its terms and whether it is appropriate given the circumstances. This protects you from being pressured into accepting a lowball offer without fully understanding what you are giving up.

If the injury proves fatal, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.004 allows the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased to bring a wrongful death action. Under Section 71.021, a personal injury cause of action also survives the death of the injured person, meaning the estate can still pursue a claim for the harm the victim suffered before death. These provisions matter greatly in the most severe spinal cord cases, where victims may not survive their initial injuries.

The Deadline to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Texas

Time is not on your side after a spinal cord injury. 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 in court. Miss that deadline, and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how strong the evidence is.

Two years may sound like plenty of time, but it goes fast. You spend the first weeks and months focused on survival, surgery, and rehabilitation. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Building a strong spinal cord injury case takes time, and the earlier you contact an attorney, the better your chances of preserving the evidence you need. The two-year clock typically starts on the date of the accident, but there are important exceptions. If the injured person was a minor at the time, the clock may not start until they turn 18. If the at-fault party leaves Texas, the time they are out of state may not count toward the deadline. If you filed a claim against a government entity, the Texas Tort Claims Act requires a notice of claim within six months of the injury, which is a much shorter window than the standard deadline.

Insurance companies know these deadlines, and they use delay tactics to run out your clock. Do not let that happen. Contact Gustin Law Firm at (713) 491-4792 as soon as possible after your injury. We will investigate your case, identify all responsible parties, and make sure every deadline is met. Our principal office is in Houston, Texas, and we are ready to meet with you today.

What Gustin Law Firm Does for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Houston

Gustin Law Firm handles spinal cord injury cases from start to finish. We begin with a thorough investigation of how the injury happened. That means gathering police reports, medical records, accident reconstruction analysis, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage from cameras near the scene, whether that is along Beltway 8, inside a downtown parking garage, or at a job site near Hobby Airport. We identify every party whose negligence contributed to your injury, because spinal cord cases often involve more than one defendant.

We work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to build a complete picture of your damages. A spinal cord injury does not just cost you today’s medical bills. It can cost you decades of future care, lost career earnings, home modifications, and the ongoing support of caregivers. We make sure every one of those losses is documented and presented to the insurance company or a jury in a way that reflects the true scope of what you have suffered.

We handle negotiations with insurance carriers directly, so you can focus on your recovery. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial at the Harris County Civil Courthouse downtown. Gustin Law Firm has recovered more than $50 million for injury victims across Houston and throughout Texas. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning there are no attorney’s fees unless we win. Court costs and litigation expenses are deducted from any gross recovery at the end of the case, and we will explain exactly how that works during your free consultation. Call us today at (713) 491-4792 to get started.

FAQs About Houston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case and you will lose your right to compensation. Exceptions exist for minors, cases involving government defendants, and situations where the injury was not immediately discoverable, but these exceptions are narrow and must be proven. Contact Gustin Law Firm at (713) 491-4792 as soon as possible so we can protect your rights and make sure no deadlines are missed.

What compensation can I recover for a spinal cord injury in Houston?

You may be entitled to economic damages, including past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and the cost of home modifications or adaptive equipment. You can also seek non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving especially reckless conduct, Texas law may also allow punitive damages under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41. The total value of your claim depends on the severity of your injury, your age, your occupation, and the strength of the evidence. Gustin Law Firm will evaluate your case at no cost to you.

What if I cannot afford to hire a Houston spinal cord injury lawyer?

Gustin Law Firm handles spinal cord injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Court costs and litigation expenses are deducted from any gross recovery at the conclusion of the case. We will explain the full fee arrangement clearly before you sign anything. Our goal is to make sure that the cost of hiring a lawyer is never a barrier to getting the justice you deserve. Call us at (713) 491-4792 to schedule your free consultation.

Who can be held liable for a spinal cord injury in Texas?

Liability depends on how the injury happened. In a car accident, the at-fault driver and possibly their employer (if they were driving for work) can be held responsible. In a workplace accident, a third-party contractor or property owner may be liable. In a slip and fall, a negligent property owner may bear responsibility. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 95 addresses property owner liability in certain contractor situations. Multiple parties can share fault under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rules, and you can still recover as long as your own share of fault is not greater than 50 percent. Gustin Law Firm investigates every angle to identify all responsible parties.

What should I do immediately after suffering a spinal cord injury in Houston?

Seek emergency medical care right away, even if you are uncertain about the severity of your injury. Spinal cord damage can worsen without prompt treatment. Follow all medical advice and keep records of every doctor’s visit, prescription, and therapy session. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Preserve any evidence you can, including photos of the scene, the contact information of witnesses, and any physical items involved in the accident. Then contact Gustin Law Firm at (713) 491-4792 as soon as you are able. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be.

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