A Lifetime Injury Demands a Lifetime Plan

A spinal cord injury — whether resulting in paraplegia, tetraplegia (quadriplegia), or incomplete injury — is one of the most serious injuries a person can sustain. It can bring permanent paralysis, loss of bladder and bowel function, chronic pain, pressure sores, respiratory complications, and a lifetime of medical and personal-care needs. The compensation must reflect not just today's losses but a lifetime of them.

Catastrophic Impairment and Maximum Benefits

Traumatic paraplegia and tetraplegia generally meet the SABS definition of catastrophic impairment. That designation is critical: it raises the combined medical/rehabilitation limit and the attendant-care limit to up to $1 million each — far above the non-catastrophic limits — funding the treatment, equipment, and care a spinal-cord-injured person actually needs. We pursue the catastrophic designation from the outset with the necessary specialist evidence.

Securing the catastrophic designation can be the single most important step in a spinal cord injury case. The difference between the non-catastrophic and catastrophic limits can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in available benefits.

Quantifying a Lifetime of Need

Beyond accident benefits, the tort claim must capture the full lifetime cost of the injury. We retain life-care planners, physiatrists, occupational therapists, and economists to build a detailed, defensible projection of future needs, including:

  • Attendant and personal care, often 24 hours a day.
  • Power wheelchairs, assistive technology, and ongoing equipment replacement.
  • Home modifications or accessible housing, and an accessible vehicle.
  • Ongoing medical care, medications, and management of secondary complications.
  • Lost income and lost earning capacity over the person's working life.

The Tort Claim and the Family

The tort claim against the at-fault party pursues pain and suffering, the full future-care cost, and income loss. Family members who provide care or suffer the loss of their loved one's companionship may bring derivative claims under the Family Law Act.

Why Experienced Counsel Matters

Insurers know how much these claims are worth and resist them accordingly. Proper valuation requires the right experts, meticulous documentation, and a willingness to take the case to trial if a fair settlement is not offered. We prepare every spinal-cord case to that standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my spinal cord injury be considered catastrophic?
Traumatic paraplegia and tetraplegia generally meet the SABS definition of catastrophic impairment, and other serious spinal injuries may qualify on the basis of the resulting impairment. We pursue that designation early, because it dramatically increases the available medical/rehabilitation and attendant-care benefits.
How much can accident benefits provide for a catastrophic spinal injury?
For a catastrophic impairment, the medical/rehabilitation and attendant-care limits each rise to up to one million dollars — far above the non-catastrophic limits — to fund the treatment, equipment, and care these injuries require.
How is the future cost of care calculated?
Through life-care planning. We retain life-care planners, physiatrists, occupational therapists, and economists to project the lifetime cost of attendant care, equipment, home modifications, medical treatment, and lost earning capacity, producing a detailed and defensible figure.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
The general limitation is two years from the date you knew or ought to have known of the claim, while the accident-benefits process carries much shorter internal deadlines. Given what is at stake, you should consult us as soon as possible.
What does it cost to hire Azimi Law?
Nothing up front. We act on contingency and fund the substantial expert evidence these lifetime claims require, with our fee payable only from a successful recovery.