Accident victims suffering serious spinal cord damage often face a long road to recovery with numerous uncertainties, complicated medical needs, and incredible emotional turmoil. When you are hurting and struggling because of another person’s negligence, our Richmond spinal cord injury lawyer is ready to fight for you.
At MartinWren, P.C., we take your claims seriously. Set up a free consultation with a Richmond personal injury lawyer to discuss them. Our firm was founded in 2009 and has helped clients across the area recover millions of dollars for their injuries.
The Importance of a Knowledgeable Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Victims of spinal cord injuries face one of the most challenging types of injuries and recovery processes. When you are hiring a lawyer, you need a professional who understands the complexities of these types of incidents and has both the knowledge and resources to help you hold those who hurt you accountable. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure you verify the following:
- Experience winning spinal cord cases for maximum value. Spinal cord injuries are complex in that there are numerous types of injuries, various degrees of severity, and limitations on recovery that are often unknown. The bottom line is you need an attorney who knows how to maximize these claims so you recover damages fairly.
- A network of experts is a critical resource. Victims who have spinal cord injuries often face questions about severity and cause. With a team of medical experts and injury resources, our team knows how to demonstrate your losses. We have the team available to build a robust case for you.
- Commitment to going to trial is a critical factor. Many spinal cord accidents cause lifelong complications. A simple claim to the insurance company is not often enough. Our legal team works to ensure you receive exceptional support, even if that means going to trial to achieve it.
With our team, we can navigate your rights and build a comprehensive claim that maximizes the compensation you receive.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call (434) 817-3100
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Spinal Cord Injury Claims?
Yes, there is a strict statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Virginia. When filing a spinal cord injury claim, your lawsuit must be filed within two years of the accident date, according to Virginia Law § 8.01-243. Your claim may also be subject to notice periods that will prevent you from pursuing a recovery unless you provide certain notices in a short window of time. If your claim is not filed before time runs out, you may be prohibited from pursuing your case through the civil court system.
It may be the case that certain exceptions may exist to the standard statute of limitations. One typical example is if a minor child was the party who was injured. In that situation, the statute of limitations might be extended until the child reaches 18 years of age (though this may not apply in certain medical malpractice cases). Because determining the statute of limitations that applies can be a complicated legal question, be sure to address these concerns with your spinal cord injury attorney in Richmond.
The law may allow the statute of limitations to pause temporarily if extenuating circumstances apply. If so, you can find out how much longer you have to file your claim by discussing the specific details of your case with your Richmond catastrophic injury lawyer. Our FAQs section has more information.
Are There Caps on Damages in Richmond Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits?
Technically, there is no limit on the amount of compensatory damages you can be awarded in Virginia personal injury claims. You have the right to be repaid for the total value of your losses, according to the Virginia Model Jury Instructions. However, the state does have limits on the amount of compensation that can be recovered in specific types of cases.
First, if your spinal cord injury was caused by medical malpractice, there may be a cap of $2.7 million on your damages (as of July 1, 2025) depending on when your healthcare provider’s negligence occurred, according to Virginia Code § 8.01-581.15.
There is also a cap on the amount of compensation that can be awarded for punitive damages. According to Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1, the maximum amount of punitive damages you can be awarded in any type of personal injury case is $350,000.
Richmond Spinal Cord Lawyer Near Me (434) 817-3100
How Much Compensation Could I Be Awarded?
Your spinal cord injury lawyer in Richmond will need to carefully review the specific details of your case to determine how much compensation you may be entitled to. You should be paid for the total value of every economic and non-economic loss. Some examples of these compensatory damages could include:
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of future potential earnings
- Wage losses, including tips, salary, and hourly pay
- Current and future medical bills, equipment, devices, and expenses
- Loss of benefits provided by your employer, including retirement savings and health insurance
- Disfigurement, permanent disability, or scarring
- Loss of household services, including childcare and household upkeep
- Feelings of shame, inconvenience, apprehension, fear, or indignity
Our lawyer will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your incident and consider its ongoing impact on you, both now and in the future. With a focus on providing you with exceptional support, we understand the importance of identifying all potential losses and maximizing the value of your claim. We expect our legal team to work diligently to assist you throughout this process.
Will Punitive Damages Increase My Settlement?
If punitive damages can be awarded in your case, it may increase the value of your total settlement. However, punitive damages are a rare award and can only be issued if the defendant’s conduct warrants further punishment per Virginia Law § 8.01-38.1.
If we can demonstrate that the liable party was malicious, intended to cause your injuries, or engaged in conduct that consciously disregarded the risk of that conduct, we may be able to convince the judge to allow us to seek punitive damages in addition to the total value of your compensatory losses.
The details of your accident are critical to understand. Let us explore the possibility of punitive damages with you. The key to remember here is that you need a lawyer willing to fight for any compensation that you may be owed. We are that legal team.
Click to contact personal injury lawyers today
If the Insurer Quickly Offers Me a Lump Sum, Should I Accept It?
No, we do not recommend you accept a quick, lump-sum settlement offer from the insurance company, especially when you are dealing with a spinal cord injury. Injuries of this nature are some of the most complex and often have lasting consequences. You may find your condition worsens or deteriorates over time.
If you hastily accept a lump-sum settlement offer, the insurance company will not be responsible for covering any additional costs. If you blow through your insurance settlement covering your ongoing medical expenses, you may find yourself stuck covering these costs out of your pocket.
You can protect yourself and your finances by refusing a hasty lump-sum settlement offer from the insurance company and having us renegotiate settlement terms. Review our verdicts & settlements to see our success.
Spinal Cord Injuries Can Be Life-Altering
Many spinal cord injuries result in catastrophic losses. That means victims are unable to return to the same standard of quality of life they were living before the incident occurred.
Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
According to the Spinal Cord Team, more than 300,000 people currently living in the US have experienced some form of spinal cord injury. On average, patients with major spine damage will spend 11 days in the ICU, followed by 31 days of rehabilitation.
As you consider hiring an attorney to represent you, you must think about their ability and willingness to demonstrate the impact of catastrophic injuries on your life, including:
- Temporary or permanent paralysis: This often limits a person’s ability to care for themselves and engage in life the way they desire. Keep in mind that permanent disability may require a lifetime of support.
- Partial paralysis: Spinal cord injury victims may see improvement, but that does not mean they will heal fully. You may be able to walk again, for example, but you may struggle with improper movement leading to complex structural injuries. You deserve compensation for all of your losses, including partial paralysis.
- Full disability and an inability to work: Catastrophic injuries that lead to full disability can impact the entire trajectory of your life, making it impossible for you to care for yourself, build a career, and enjoy life the way you desire. You deserve full and fair compensation for these losses.
Catastrophic injuries often result in the need for more comprehensive compensation, including day-to-day in-home care, personal physical support, and future medical condition management and treatment. You may be facing a long life of complications or chronic pain. You deserve full and fair compensation for all of these losses.
Complete a Case Evaluation form now
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Richmond Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Now
Turn to MartinWren, P.C., for the answers you need in this difficult case. There is no doubt our legal team knows you deserve full and fair compensation that can directly impact the quality of life you can live after your accident.
Set up a free consultation with our Richmond spinal cord injury lawyer now to discuss what we can do to make this better. Your recovery is our priority.
Call (434) 817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
