What Are Lifetime Care Costs and Are They Included in My Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on June 19, 2025 in Personal Injury
Updated on July 11, 2025

A spinal cord injury can change your life forever and create ongoing medical needs that can last decades. These injuries often come with lifetime care costs that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, making them a critical component of any Minneapolis spinal cord injury claim.

At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis personal injury lawyers help spinal cord injury victims secure compensation that covers both immediate and long-term care needs. We can work with medical professionals to ensure your lifetime care costs are properly calculated and included in your claim.

Request a FREE case review today. Call: (612) TSR-TIME

How Much Does Lifetime Care Really Cost After a Spinal Cord Injury in Minneapolis?

Lifetime care costs for spinal cord injuries can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. The severity of your injury directly impacts these expenses throughout your lifetime. Complete spinal cord injuries typically leave victims with ongoing financial burdens that are greater than incomplete injuries.

Your specific spinal cord injury level determines your mobility, independence, and daily care requirements. For example, cervical spinal cord injuries can create the highest lifetime care costs due to extensive paralysis and breathing complications. Secondary complications like pressure sores, infections, and autonomic issues increase lifetime care costs. Spinal cord injury victims often face consistent health challenges that require increasingly complex care over time.

Lifetime Care Plans: How Your Lifetime Care Costs Are Calculated in Minnesota

Lifetime care plans provide detailed roadmaps for calculating your future medical expenses after a spinal cord injury. Insurers and courts rely on these documents to determine fair compensation for your long-term care needs.

Home Modifications You Will Need After Your Spinal Cord Injury

Your home may require extensive changes to adjust to your spinal cord injury and mobility limitations. These changes include:

Wheelchair Ramps: External and internal ramps enabling you to move freely around your home entrances and rooms.
Widened Doorways: Standard doorways could require an expansion of around thirty-two inches minimum to accommodate wheelchairs throughout your home.
Accessible Bathrooms: Roll-in showers, grab bars, and accessible toilets become necessary to maintain personal hygiene and safety.
Lowered Kitchen Counters: Counter heights need adjustment to accommodate wheelchair users for meal preparation and daily tasks.
Wheelchair-Friendly Flooring: Remove carpets and install smooth flooring materials to make using your wheelchair around the house easier and reduce injury risks.
Stairlifts or Elevators: Multi-story homes require mechanical assistance for safely accessing upper floors and basement areas.

These modifications often cost between thirty thousand and one hundred thousand dollars initially.

Daily Personal Care Hours You Could Require

You may require around-the-clock personal care to assist with basic daily tasks, depending on injury severity. Care needs could include help with bathing, dressing, cooking, and managing medications. Higher-level spinal cord injuries may require 24/7 attendant care every day. Lower-level injuries might need eight to twelve hours of daily assistance. Minnesota personal care rates vary significantly based on your location and care provider qualifications.

Assistive Equipment You Will Replace Throughout Your Lifetime

Wheelchairs, hospital beds, and breathing equipment require regular replacement throughout your lifetime after a spinal cord injury. Manual and power wheelchairs typically last three to seven years and require consistent maintenance. Even pressure relief cushions could require replacement every two to three years to prevent skin breakdown. In short, a spinal cord victim’s need for replacement assistive equipment will be an ongoing, lifetime cost.

Transportation Changes Required After Your Spinal Cord Injury

Vehicle modifications become necessary for driving independence. Hand controls, wheelchair lifts, and transfer seats enable safe transportation. Your current vehicle may need to be completely replaced with an accessible van or modified car.

Public transportation accessibility varies throughout Minnesota and may require additional planning and costs. These transportation changes can grow to several thousand dollars in vehicle modifications and replacement costs.

Your Current Health Conditions That Impact Future Care Costs

Pre-existing health conditions significantly affect your lifetime care cost calculations after spinal cord injury. Diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions require specialized management alongside spinal cord injury care.

Your age and overall health before the injury influence recovery potential and care requirements. Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries increase when combined with existing health problems. Healthcare providers must address both your injury and pre-existing conditions in care planning.

Job Training You Will Need to Return to Work

Vocational rehabilitation helps spinal cord injury victims develop new career skills for workplace reentry. After the injury, your previous job may no longer accommodate your physical limitations. Computer training, adaptive technology skills, and career counseling may become essential for future career success.

Minnesota vocational rehabilitation programs provide job placement assistance and ongoing workplace support services. These retraining costs vary based on your chosen career path and accommodation requirements.

Who Creates Life Care Plans for Minneapolis Injury Cases?

Life care plans require specialized medical professionals who understand spinal cord injuries and long-term care requirements. These professionals work closely with Minneapolis attorneys to create lifetime cost projections for legal cases.

Life Care Planners: Certified rehabilitation nurses or case managers who specialize in projecting lifetime medical needs for injury victims.
Physiatrists: Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors who understand spinal cord injury progression and care requirements over time.
Occupational Therapists: Licensed therapists who assess daily living needs and recommend assistive equipment for spinal cord injury victims.
Physical Therapists: Movement rehabilitation experts who project ongoing therapy needs and mobility equipment requirements throughout your lifetime.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors: Professionals who evaluate work capacity and career retraining needs after spinal cord injuries.
Economists: Financial professionals who calculate inflation rates and project future costs for medical care in Minnesota.
Medical Social Workers: Licensed professionals who assess family dynamics and community support systems affecting care plans.
Personal Injury Attorneys: Minneapolis lawyers who coordinate life care plan creation and ensure all future needs are included for maximum compensation.

Is Mental Health Included in My Lifetime Care Plan?

Yes, mental health care is included in comprehensive lifetime care plans for spinal cord injury victims. Spinal cord injuries can create significant psychological challenges that require ongoing professional therapy and support services.

Counseling Sessions: Regular therapy appointments with psychologists or licensed counselors who understand spinal cord injury trauma and recovery.
Psychiatric Medications: Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and other prescriptions needed to manage mental health conditions after your injury.
Specialized Therapy Costs: Cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma counseling, and other evidence-based treatments for spinal cord injury patients.
Mental Health Professionals: Psychiatrists and psychologists specializing in long-term adaptation challenges.
Support Groups: Peer support meetings and group therapy sessions that connect you with other spinal cord injury survivors.
Family Counseling: Therapy services for your spouse, children, and family members affected by your spinal cord injury.
Crisis Intervention Services: Emergency mental health support during difficult periods of adjustment and psychological challenges.

Types of Care Costs That Are Often Overlooked in Minneapolis Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Many spinal cord injury victims risk missing care costs that significantly impact their lifetime financial needs. These overlooked expenses can add a significant amount to your total care calculations.

Service Animal Costs: Training, veterinary care, food, and replacement costs for service dogs throughout your lifetime.
Lost Household Services: Cleaning, lawn care, home maintenance, and other tasks you can no longer perform independently.
Increased Utility Bills: Higher heating, cooling, and electricity costs due to medical equipment and extended home time.
Travel Expenses for Medical Care: Transportation costs, lodging, and meals for specialized treatment in Minneapolis or other Minnesota cities.
Technology Training Costs: Computer classes, adaptive software training, and ongoing technical support for assistive devices.
Clothing Modifications: Specialized clothing, adaptive fasteners, and frequent replacements due to wheelchair wear and medical needs.
Emergency Backup Systems: Generator costs, battery backups, and emergency communication devices for power outages affecting medical equipment.
Recreation and Social Activities: Adaptive sports equipment, accessible venue costs, and modified recreational activities for quality of life.
Legal and Administrative Fees: Ongoing legal costs for disability benefits, insurance disputes, and estate planning updates.

How Minnesota Weather and Geography May Affect Your Care Costs

Due to harsh weather conditions, Minnesota winters create additional care costs for victims. Snow removal, increased heating bills, and transportation challenges significantly impact lifetime care expenses.

In the event you are immobile, your home would require professional snow removal services since you cannot safely clear walkways and ramps. Winter heating increases costs substantially due to medical equipment needs and extended indoor time. Emergency backup heating systems become essential during power outages that affect medical devices.

Transportation costs rise during winter due to accessible vehicle maintenance and specialized tire requirements. Geographic distances between medical facilities also increase travel expenses.

Financial Records Needed to Document Your Lifetime Care Expenses

Accurate financial documentation proves your lifetime care costs and strengthens your injury claim. Complete records demonstrate the financial impact of your injury to insurance companies and courts.

Essential financial records for your case include:

Medical Bills: Hospital invoices, doctor bills, therapy costs, and insurance explanation of benefits from your injury.
Equipment Purchase Receipts: Wheelchair costs, hospital bed invoices, and assistive technology purchase records for documentation.
Tax Returns and Employment Records: Pre-injury wage statements and employment history that establish your earning capacity before the injury.
Home Modification Invoices: Contractor bills for ramps, bathroom modifications, and accessibility improvements to your Minneapolis home.
Transportation Receipts: Vehicle modification costs, accessible van purchases, and ongoing transportation expense records.
Caregiver Payment Records: Personal care assistant wages, nursing service bills, and family caregiver compensation documentation.
Bank Statements and Credit Cards: Financial records showing injury-related expenses and payment patterns since your spinal cord injury.
Minnesota Healthcare Provider Invoices: Local medical facility bills and specialized rehabilitation center costs for ongoing care.
Prescription Medication Receipts: Pharmacy bills and medication costs related to your spinal cord injury treatment and management.

Without thorough lifetime cost documentation, insurance companies may minimize your settlement offer and leave you financially unprepared for decades of necessary medical care and support.

How Insurance Companies May Challenge Your Life Care Plan

Insurance companies often dispute life care plans to reduce their financial liability in injury claims. These challenges aim to minimize your compensation by questioning medical necessity and cost projections.

Questioning Medical Necessity: Insurance adjusters challenge whether specific treatments, equipment, or services are necessary for your spinal cord injury care.
Disputing Cost Projections: Companies hire their own economists to argue that projected care costs are inflated or unrealistic for Minnesota.
Arguing for Generic Equipment: Adjusters push for cheaper, basic equipment instead of specialized assistive technology recommended by your medical professionals.
Minimizing Care Hours: Insurance companies might dispute the number of personal care hours you require daily for basic living activities.
Questioning Geographic Costs: Companies argue that Minnesota care costs are lower than your life care plan projects for specialized services.
Challenging Vocational Rehabilitation: Companies minimize job retraining costs by arguing that employees can return to their previous careers without modifications.
Using Independent Medical Exams: Insurance companies hire their own doctors to contradict your treating physicians and life care plan recommendations.

Why You Need an Experienced Minneapolis Lawyer to Protect Your Life Care Plan

Our TSR personal injury lawyers understand how insurance companies attack life care plans and develop strategies to protect your compensation. Your attorney can coordinate with medical professionals to ensure your life care plan accurately reflects your needs.

Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, lawyers, and medical reviewers to challenge every aspect of your care plan. Your TSR lawyer fights these challenges by presenting compelling medical evidence and expert testimony that supports your lifetime care requirements. Without experienced legal representation, insurance companies may successfully reduce your settlement and leave you financially vulnerable for decades of necessary care.

Injured With a Spinal Cord Injury? Contact Our TSR Injury Lawyers Today

Your spinal cord injury creates lifetime costs that extend far beyond initial medical bills and rehabilitation expenses. At TSR Injury Law, we have a proven track record in securing favorable compensation for spinal cord injury victims throughout Minnesota.

Our experienced attorneys work with medical professionals to build comprehensive life care plans that protect your financial future. We fight insurance company challenges and ensure your lifetime costs receive proper recognition in settlement negotiations.

Contact TSR Injury Law today for your free consultation or complete our online form to discuss your spinal cord injury case and lifetime care needs.

Millions recovered for our clients. Call: (612) TSR-TIME today

Spinal Cord Injuries and Secondary Complications in a Legal Claim

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on June 12, 2025 in Personal Injury
Updated on June 20, 2025

Spinal cord injuries don’t just stop at the initial trauma—they can lead to serious complications like dangerous blood pressure spikes, kidney issues, respiratory infections, and painful pressure sores. These problems often stick around for the long haul and can end up costing more over a lifetime than the injury itself. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize these long-term effects should be factored into their legal claim.

That’s where we come in. At TSR Injury Law, we’re proud to stand up for people who’ve been hurt. Our Minneapolis-based attorneys have helped countless Minnesota crash victims get real results, and we fight to make sure the people responsible are held financially accountable.

Not sure if you even have a case? No pressure—we’re here to listen and help you understand your options.

Call us for your FREE case review: (612) TSR-TIME.

What Are Secondary Complications From Spinal Cord Injuries?

Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries are separate medical conditions that develop because of the original spinal cord damage. Secondary complications create some challenging and dangerous health risks for spinal cord victims, and they are both challenging and costly to treat.

Secondary complications that are common to spinal cord injury victims include:

Spinal Shock

Spinal shock occurs within hours of the initial injury and can last for weeks or months. During this period, your body loses all the reflexes and sensations below the injury site. This condition makes it difficult for doctors to assess the full extent of permanent damage, often leading to uncertainty about the victim’s long-term prognosis and treatment planning.

Respiratory Complications

Spinal cord injuries affecting the cervical spine (C4 and higher up the spinal column) have the greatest risk of developing respiratory complications. However, victims with lower cervical or higher thoracic spinal injuries may have some breathing difficulties as well.

Respiratory complications after spinal cord injuries occur due to:

Paralyzed Breathing Muscles: High-level spinal injuries (cervical/neck region) can paralyze the diaphragm and intercostal muscles between the ribs that control breathing, making it difficult or impossible to breathe independently.
Weakened Cough Reflex: Spinal cord damage reduces the ability to cough effectively, preventing victims from clearing mucus, saliva, and secretions from their lungs and airways.
Reduced Lung Capacity: Paralyzed chest muscles cannot expand the lungs fully, leading to shallow breathing and decreased oxygen intake.
Increased Infection Risk: Accumulated secretions in the lungs create breeding grounds for pneumonia and other respiratory infections, which are leading causes of death in spinal cord injury patients.
Aspiration Risks: Difficulty swallowing or clearing the throat can cause food, liquids, or saliva to enter the lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia.
Ventilator Dependency: Severe cases require mechanical ventilation for life support, creating additional risks of ventilator-associated pneumonia and other complications.

These respiratory issues often require expensive interventions like ventilators, frequent suctioning, chest physical therapy, and specialized nursing care. These costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and continue for a victim’s entire lifetime.

Cardiovascular Instability

Your spinal cord helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. When damaged, these vital functions become unstable. You might experience dangerous drops in blood pressure when sitting up, irregular heart rhythms, or poor circulation throughout your body. These issues can lead to fainting and increase your risk of stroke or heart attack.

Loss of Bladder and Bowel Control

Neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction may occur if spinal cord damage disrupts the nerve signals controlling these functions. This condition leads to frequent urinary tract infections, kidney problems, and the need for catheterization or surgical interventions.

Chronic Pain Syndromes

Many spinal cord injury victims develop severe, persistent pain, different from typical injury pain. Traditional pain medications often prove ineffective, requiring specialized treatments like nerve blocks, implanted pain pumps, or experimental therapies.

What Secondary Complications Are Common With Spinal Cord Injuries?

Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries affect nearly every major body system and become more debilitating and expensive to treat as time goes on.

The most frequent immediate complications are:

Neuropathic Pain Syndromes: Spinal cord injury victims may experience excruciating pain that feels like burning, stabbing, or electric shocks. These sensations often resist traditional pain medications.
Pressure Ulcers: Reduced sensation means you cannot feel when prolonged pressure damages your skin. These wounds commonly occur on your tailbone, heels, and other areas.
Muscle Spasticity: Involuntary muscle contractions and stiffness can affect spinal cord injury victims. Your muscles below the injury level might suddenly contract without warning, causing painful spasms.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots in the legs may develop, making this one of the most dangerous early complications. Immobility allows blood to pool in your leg veins, forming clots that can break loose and travel to your lungs.

How Do Secondary Complications Affect My Minneapolis Injury Claim?

Secondary complications resulting from spinal cord injuries create complex legal challenges that significantly impact the value and timing of your claim. These additional medical conditions often prove more expensive than the original injury itself, yet insurance companies routinely try to minimize or deny coverage for complications they claim are unrelated to your initial trauma.

Increased Claim Value

These medical complications dramatically increase your claim’s value because they represent additional lifetime damages. Conditions like respiratory infections, pressure sores, and blood pressure crises require expensive treatments, specialized equipment, and round-the-clock care costing hundreds of thousands annually. Insurance companies frequently deny coverage by arguing complications are unrelated to your original injury, making clear medical documentation and estimates of future medical costs essential.

Timing and Legal Challenges

Many complications develop months or years after your initial injury. Minnesota’s statute of limitations and settlement deadlines create pressure to resolve claims before complications fully emerge or before lifetime costs are fully known. Experienced lawyers consult medical specialists to predict future complications and include projected costs in settlement negotiations.

Future Care Planning

Successful claims must account for both current and future medical complications. This requires comprehensive life care planning addressing respiratory care, infection prevention, and mental health services. Without proper representation, victims often settle for amounts covering only immediate expenses, leaving them vulnerable when inevitable complications arise later.

How Long After My Spinal Cord Injury Can Secondary Complications Appear?

Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries can develop anytime from minutes after the injury to decades later. This timeline creates significant challenges for determining medical treatment and assessing legal claims. Complications that seem minor initially can evolve into severe, expensive conditions requiring lifelong management.

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate and that the time can vary depending on each person’s unique circumstances.

Cardiovascular Instability: Blood pressure and heart rate problems typically appear within 24 to 48 hours.
Respiratory Failure: Injuries lower on the spinal cord might not show respiratory issues for 24 to 72 hours as swelling around the spinal cord progresses.
Neurogenic Bladder and Bowel: Loss of bladder and bowel control may become apparent within the first few days as spinal shock begins to resolve.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: Due to immobility and changes in blood circulation, blood clots are most at risk of forming within the first two weeks after the initial injury.
Pressure Ulcers: Skin breakdown can begin within days of injury but often takes 1 to 2 weeks to become visible. Due to immobility, pressure ulcers can also develop any time after the initial injury.
Autonomic Dysreflexia: This dangerous complication typically does not appear until spinal shock resolves, usually 2-6 weeks after injury.

How Do Doctors Predict Secondary Complications in Spinal Cord Injury Cases?

Doctors use a combination of scientific research, standardized assessment tools, and clinical experience to predict which secondary complications are most likely to develop after spinal cord injuries. This prediction process is essential for medical treatment planning and legal claim valuation, as it helps establish the long-term care needs and associated costs that injury victims will face.

In each case, doctors use these primary factors to assist in forecasting secondary complications for spinal cord injury cases.

Injury Level and Severity: The location and completeness of your spinal cord injury serves as the foundation for predicting complications.
ASIA Impairment Scale Classification: Doctors use the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale to identify injuries severity.
Age at Time of Injury: Younger victims typically face longer lifespans with complications. Older victims’ capacity and pre-existing health conditions may reduce healing time and could lead to complications.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Your health status before the injury significantly impacts complication predictions. For example, diabetes increases the risk of infection and skin breakdown.

Can I Claim Compensation for Future Secondary Complications?

Yes, you can claim compensation for future secondary complications from spinal cord injuries, and these claims often represent a large portion of your settlement or jury award. Minnesota law recognizes that spinal cord injuries create ongoing medical needs that extend far beyond your initial treatment, and courts regularly award compensation for complications that have not yet developed but are medically probable.

Why Insurance Companies Dispute or Deny Secondary Complication Claims

Insurance companies frequently dispute or deny secondary complication claims because these complications represent expensive and long-lasting aspects of spinal cord injury cases. Insurers may challenge the validity, causation, or severity of secondary complications, leading to a reduction in the amount that is offered to injury victims. Their objective is to protect their bottom line. Therefore, some injured victims may not receive the medical care they need.

Medical Records Needed to Prove Secondary Complications

Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries require detailed medical documentation that establishes clear connections between your original injury and subsequent health problems. The strength of your medical records often determines whether insurance companies accept or dispute your complication claims, making proper documentation crucial for securing fair compensation.

Essential medical records may include:

Emergency Room Records: provide the foundation for all future complication claims
Trauma Center Records: Detailed trauma center documentation includes neurological examinations, imaging studies, and surgical reports
Initial Surgical Reports: Operative notes from spinal fusion, decompression, or stabilization surgeries describe the damage observed during surgery.
ICU and Acute Care Records: Intensive care unit records could document respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability, and neurogenic shock

Secondary Complications That Require Lifelong Medical Treatment

Secondary complications from spinal cord injuries often demand continuous medical management for the remainder of your life, creating ongoing expenses.

Permanent Bladder Dysfunction

This condition may require lifelong management because the nerve connections controlling bladder function cannot regenerate. You will need ongoing urological care, including regular cystoscopy examinations and urodynamic studies. Additionally, you will need medication adjustments to prevent kidney damage and manage infection risks.

Chronic Urinary Tract Infections

These infections require continuous monitoring, prophylactic antibiotic treatments, and immediate intervention when infections develop. Severe infections often necessitate hospital admissions and intravenous antibiotic therapy.

Kidney Damage Prevention

Long-term bladder dysfunction leads to progressive kidney damage requiring lifelong nephrology care. Regular blood tests, imaging studies, and specialist evaluations monitor kidney function decline. Many victims eventually need dialysis or kidney transplantation, both requiring intensive ongoing medical management.

How Minneapolis Weather Affects Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Complications

Minnesota’s extreme seasonal weather creates unique challenges for spinal cord injury victims, triggering serious secondary complications that significantly impact medical care needs and associated costs.

Winter Weather Complications

Temperature Regulation Emergencies:Minnesota winters with sub-zero temperatures pose serious hypothermia risks for spinal cord injury victims who cannot regulate body temperature normally.
Increased Spasticity and Pain: Cold weather significantly worsens muscle spasticity and neuropathic pain.
Respiratory Complications: Cold, dry winter air exacerbates breathing problems common in cervical spinal cord injuries, triggering bronchospasms and increasing pneumonia risks.
Mobility Restrictions: Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures severely restrict wheelchair mobility for months.

Summer Heat Complications

Dangerous Overheating: Minnesota summers, with temperatures reaching the 90s and high humidity, create life-threatening conditions for victims who cannot sweat below their injury level.
Circulation and Swelling Problems: Hot, humid weather causes increased swelling in paralyzed limbs due to poor circulation.

Proving the Connection Between Your Crash and Secondary Complications

A clear link between your car crash and secondary complications is crucial for securing compensation. However, insurance companies often challenge these connections to reduce claim payouts.

You will need medical evidence and strategic legal documentation that demonstrates how your spinal cord injury directly led to each complication.

Evidence you may include in your claim:

MRI and CT Scan Results: Imaging studies reveal the exact location and extent of spinal cord damage, directly correlating with specific complication risks.
Follow-Up Imaging Studies: Serial MRI scans over time can show the development of complications like spinal cord cysts (syringomyelia) or progressive cord damage.
Specialized Diagnostic Tests: Urodynamic studies document neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Electromyography (EMG) tests reveal nerve damage causing muscle spasticity.
Outpatient Specialist Records: Neurologists, urologists, pain management specialists, and other experts provide crucial evidence linking complications to your spinal cord injury.

Why You Need Experienced Minneapolis Legal Help for Secondary Complication Claims

Secondary complication claims in spinal cord injury cases represent some of the most complex and high-stakes legal challenges in personal injury law. The difference between experienced spinal cord injury representation and general legal help can mean more compensation and access to proper ongoing medical care.

An attorney can gather the evidence you will need to strengthen your case. They can investigate the full spectrum of secondary complications and ensure your claim accounts for problems that might develop years or decades later. Based on this information an attorney can help guide you on what compensation to seek in your claim.

Experienced attorneys have established relationships with spinal cord injury specialists, life care planners, and rehabilitation experts. These relationships are crucial because secondary complication cases require multiple expert witnesses who can explain complex medical concepts to juries and establish clear causal connections between your injury and each complication.

If your case does have to go to trial, an attorney knowledgeable about court proceedings can help you prepare your testimony and knows what evidence needs to be presented to a jury. When you take on a court case alone, you may not be sure what steps to take and could become overwhelmed.

Call TSR Injury Law After You Have Suffered From a Minneapolis Car Collision Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries alter a person’s life in ways that are hard to imagine unless you are experiencing it. A single traumatic event can turn into multiple secondary complications, adding layers of suffering and expense to your recovery journey.

At TSR Injury Law, we have a strong reputation for managing complex cases. Although we cannot change what has happened to you, we can fight to recover the compensation you need for a better tomorrow.

Worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer? Don’t be. We take injury cases on contingency, which means you pay us no upfront costs or fees.

Call our trusted law firm today for a FREE consultation. (612) TSR-TIME

Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Minnesota: Compensation and Legal Rights

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on June 5, 2025 in Auto Accidents

Here in Minnesota, we know how quickly life can change—especially after a serious injury like damage to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries (SCI) aren’t just physically and emotionally overwhelming—they often come with a mountain of medical bills, long-term treatments, and a lot of uncertainty about the future.

If your injury happened because someone else was careless, it’s not just frustrating—it’s infuriating. And trying to figure out your legal options or whether a settlement offer is even fair while you’re still in pain? That’s too much for anyone to handle alone.

At TSR Injury Law, our Bloomington team is here to help you through it. We fight hard for injured Minnesotans, and while many cases settle, we never hesitate to take things to court if that’s what’s needed to get you the full compensation you deserve.

Call TSR Injury Law today for a free, no-pressure case review: (612) TSR-TIME.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury encompasses a range of medical conditions following damage to any part of the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. Victims may suffer partial or full loss of function, mobility, or sensation to the area of the spine that was injured. These injuries vary widely in severity and can affect any portion of the spinal column from the neck to the lower back.

Complete Spinal Cord Injuries: When a victim sustains a complete spinal cord injury, they have total loss of function below the injury site. The victim loses sensation and voluntary movement in the affected areas.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: Victims with incomplete spinal cord injuries may retain some degree of function below the injury location, with varying levels of mobility and sensation remaining intact.
Vertebral Fractures: Occurs when the bones protecting the spinal cord break during the intense force of a crash, potentially causing instability or spinal cord compression.
Herniated Discs: This painful injury occurs when the cushioning discs between vertebrae rupture or shift due to crash impact. Victims may experience excruciating pain and neurological symptoms due to the vertebrae pressing against nerves.
Spinal Contusions: Involves bruising of the spinal cord tissue from crash forces, creating temporary or permanent neurological effects depending on severity.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Trauma-Related Spinal Cord Injuries?

Car crashes undoubtedly are responsible for the majority of spinal cord injuries in this country. Although slip and falls, workplace incidents, and sports activities also cause these life-altering injuries.

Each type of incident presents unique legal considerations and potential liability issues that can impact the outcome of a case.

Car Crashes

Motor vehicle crashes generate powerful acceleration and deceleration forces. The severity and extent of a trauma-related spinal cord injury depends on the type of crash, as well as the force of impact and the point of impact.

Certain types of vehicle crashes create dangerous conditions where spinal cord injuries are more likely to occur, due to the specific forces and impacts involved.

Rear-End Collisions: The sudden impact from the rear of a vehicle often causes whiplash. While many insurance companies try to minimize these injuries, they can cause significant damage to the cervical spine when the head violently snaps forward and backward suddenly.
Rollover Crashes: Occupants involved in a rollover crash are subjected to multiple impact points and crushing forces. The violent and forceful nature of these crashes can fracture vertebrae or directly injure the spinal cord.
Side-Impact Collisions: The impact to the side of a vehicle transfers tremendous force to occupants’ spines from lateral directions to a part of a vehicle that offers the least structural protection.
High-Speed Crashes: The extreme forces generated in a high-speed crash can compress, stretch, or twist the spinal column beyond its natural tolerance.
Ejection From Vehicles: When drivers or passengers get ejected, there are no protective barriers. Crash victims are far more vulnerable to direct spinal trauma upon impact with other objects or surfaces.

These types of crashes demonstrate why spinal cord injuries from vehicle collisions are often life-altering. Victims with spinal cord injuries can greatly benefit from having an experienced legal team managing their claim to protect their interests and secure maximum compensation.

TSR Injury Law is prepared to fight for the compensation you need and deserve to help you move forward after a spinal cord injury caused by another party’s negligence.

Slip and Fall Incidents

Falls are another common cause of trauma-related spinal cord injuries, particularly during Minnesota’s harsh winter months when ice and snow create hazardous walking conditions.

Property owners who fail to maintain safe premises may face liability when visitors suffer spinal trauma from slipping on icy sidewalks, wet floors, or poorly maintained stairways. Construction sites are especially at a high risk of workers falling from scaffolding and other high places. Retail establishments and residential properties all have unique fall risks that can result in serious spinal injuries if the owner has failed to take reasonable measures to resolve or remove hazards.

Workplace Injuries

Industrial and construction environments pose substantial risks for spinal cord damage, but even office staff can suffer serious slip-and-fall injuries in the workplace and sustain damage to their spinal cord.

Heavy machinery incidents, falling objects, and equipment malfunctions all create crushing forces that could fracture someone’s vertebrae or compress the spinal cord. Workers in high-risk occupations such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation have an especially high risk of these injuries.

Depending on the circumstances that led to the injury, people who sustain life-altering spinal injuries on the job may qualify for both workers’ compensation benefits and third-party liability claims.

Sports and Recreational Activities

Sports always pose some risk for athletes. Contact sports, especially football and hockey, can lead to spinal cord injuries through high-impact collisions, awkward landings, or equipment failures. Diving, skiing, and gymnastics also carry potential for spinal trauma.

When inadequate safety measures, defective equipment, or negligent supervision contribute to these injuries, victims may have legal recourse beyond their standard insurance coverage.

Can I Sue for a Spinal Cord Injury in Minnesota?

Minnesota law provides multiple legal pathways for spinal cord injury victims to pursue compensation beyond basic insurance coverage, depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury. The availability of legal action depends on factors such as who caused your injury, where it occurred, and what type of insurance applies to your situation.

These are some of the potential legal options that may be available to cover your extensive medical costs and ongoing expenses related to this life-altering injury.

Minneapolis Motor Vehicle Claims

Minnesota’s no-fault insurance system provides the first layer of coverage for spinal cord injuries from vehicle crashes. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, up to the limits, cover medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. Spinal cord injuries would also likely meet Minnesota’s serious injury threshold, which allows victims to pursue additional compensation in a third-party liability claim.

Premises Liability Cases

Property owners may be held liable if dangerous conditions on their premises cause spinal cord injuries through slip and fall incidents or other hazards. Minnesota law requires property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. Any failure to reasonably address known dangers like icy walkways, poorly maintained stairs, or inadequate lighting can result in legal responsibility for resulting injuries. These cases often involve thorough investigation of property maintenance records and safety protocols.

Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims

Those who sustain spinal cord injuries on the job typically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of fault. Workers’ comp provides coverage for medical expenses and partial wage replacement. However, if third parties such as equipment manufacturers, contractors, or other companies contribute to your injury, additional claims may be possible beyond workers’ compensation. These dual-track approaches can significantly increase total compensation available for catastrophic workplace spinal injuries.

Product Liability Lawsuits

Defective products that cause spinal cord injuries may result in claims against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers under Minnesota product liability law. Sports equipment failures, defective medical devices, faulty safety equipment, or vehicle design defects are all potential contributors to spinal trauma. These cases focus on whether products contain design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate safety warnings.

What if I Am Partially at Fault for a Car Crash That Caused My Minneapolis Spinal Cord Injury?

Minnesota operates under a modified comparative fault system. This means even if you are partly to blame for the crash that injured you, it may still be possible for you to recover some compensation. However, you must not be more than 50 percent at fault for the crash.

If you are assessed with a percentage of fault for the collision that resulted in your spinal cord injury, any compensation awarded to you would be reduced.

At TSR Injury Law, we fight efforts from the insurance company to unfairly assess fault against our clients. When we manage your claim, we help you avoid common mistakes that could make it easier for insurers to shift blame.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Spinal Cord Injury in Minnesota?

Compensation for a spinal cord injury varies widely because it is based on several unique factors related to your specific injury and the ongoing impact it has on your life.

Here are some types of compensation you may be eligible to recover for your losses:

Medical Costs: Spinal cord injuries result in excessive financial costs for victims and their families. Tangible costs covered in your claim may include the emergency care you received, along with diagnostic testing and initial treatment. Future medical costs you may recover include surgeries to aid your recovery, hospital stays, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. If you need home modifications or mobility assistive devices, those costs may be included as well. Medication costs for pain management, both prescribed and over the counter, may also be included, along with your projected future medical needs.

Loss of Income: Income recovery takes into consideration the wages you lost during your recovery. Permanent physical limitations that reduce your future earning capacity will also be considered.
Home and Vehicle Modifications: If your injuries are severe enough that you need modifications to your home and vehicle to accommodate mobility challenges, these costs may also be recoverable as part of your claim.
Pain and Suffering: These damages acknowledge your ongoing physical pain and emotional distress associated with your spinal cord injury. Pain and suffering is subjective, which makes it harder to prove. However, we can guide you on how this evidence is established, such as keeping a daily pain journal, to strengthen your case.
Loss of Quality of Life: This compensation recognizes how spinal injuries fundamentally alter your life, including your independence and ability to engage in previously enjoyed activities and relationships.

How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, spinal cord injury victims generally have six years from the date of a motor vehicle collision to file a lawsuit. However, there are certain circumstances that may cut that time shorter – or, in some cases, extend it. Here are a few examples:

Minor Crash Victims: Underage crash victims have until one year past their 18th birthday to file a claim.
Wrongful Death Claims: If the spinal cord injury results in the victim’s death, surviving family members have three years from when their loved one died to bring a file a wrongful death claim in Minnesota on behalf of their loved one.
Medical Malpractice Claims: Victims who sustained spinal cord injuries due to medical malpractice in Minnesota must file their lawsuits within four years of the injury.

This is not an exhaustive list. Additional exceptions may impact your filing deadline, which is why it is a good idea to consult with an attorney sooner, rather than later. Building a strong case, especially for a spinal cord injury, takes time. The longer you wait to file, the harder it is to get evidence, especially if you are relying on the memory of a witness.

How Do Insurance Companies Handle Spinal Cord Injury Claims?

Insurance companies employ specific tactics when managing high-value spinal cord injury claims, for the simple reason that these cases often involve large potential damages. The catastrophic nature of these injuries prompts insurers to attempt tried and true strategies to minimize their financial exposure.

Assign Specialized Claims Adjusters

Insurance companies may assign specialized catastrophic injury adjusters to work closely with attorneys. These adjusters treat spinal cord injury claims as litigation cases rather than routine settlement negotiations due to the high stakes involved.

Requesting Independent Medical Examinations

Insurers frequently request Independent Medical Examinations (IME) with doctors who specialize in minimizing spinal cord injury severity or attributing limitations to pre-existing conditions. They may seek multiple medical opinions to create doubt about the severity or permanence of spinal cord injuries.

Surveillance and Investigation

Insurance companies may go as far as employing surveillance teams to monitor claimants’ activities, looking for visible evidence of physical movement that contradicts the victim’s reported limitations.

Delay and Financial Pressure Strategies

Insurers may do what they can to delay settlement negotiations, knowing that mounting medical bills and lost income creates financial pressure on injured parties. This strategy can tempt victims to accept lower settlements due to immediate financial needs and extraordinary ongoing expenses.

Causation Challenges

Insurers often try to look for evidence that casts doubt on the link between the incident and the spinal cord injury, particularly if the victim waited to seek treatment. Victims who experienced a delayed onset of symptoms or who have pre-existing spine problems may also have their injuries called into question. They may dispute the necessity of expensive treatments like adaptive equipment, home modifications, or long-term care services essential for quality of life.

What Makes a Strong Spinal Cord Injury Case in Minnesota?

A strong spinal cord injury case contains several key elements. These key elements include:

Evidence of clear liability to establish the other party’s negligent actions leading up to the incident that injured you.
Medical documentation establishing a direct link between your spinal cord injuries and the crash that caused them.
Expert testimony from medical specialists, life care planners, and economic analysts to help quantify the full lifetime impact of permanent spinal cord injuries.
Detailed documentation of all your injury-related expenses is vital is it creates a tangible and comprehensive record of the financial burden resulting from the crash.
Compelling evidence of impact to your daily life through before-and-after testimony from family, friends, and even work colleagues.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Avoiding certain pitfalls can protect the value of your spinal cord injury claim throughout the legal process.

Waiting to Seek Medical Treatment: Not seeking medical care right away is a huge mistake. It leaves time gaps in your medical records that insurance companies will exploit to dispute the severity or cause of your injuries.
Agreeing to a Recorded Statement: Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company without legal representation often leads to misinterpreted comments that damage your claim.
Accepting an Early Offer to Settle: Accepting early settlement offers before understanding the full extent of your injuries can cost you hundreds of thousands after a spinal cord injury. Any additional costs not included in that settlement would have to come out of your own pocket.
Posting to Social Media: Anything posted to social media can be taken out of context to challenge your reported limitations, even when such activities cause significant pain.
Ignoring Your Doctor’s Care Plan: Failing to follow your physician’s medical advice gives insurers reason to argue that your own actions worsened your condition rather than the crash itself.

What Should I Do Right After a Spinal Cord Injury in Minnesota?

Taking specific actions immediately following a crash can protect both your health and legal rights when dealing with spinal injuries.

Call Police: Report the incident to police or complete an accident report to create an official record documenting the incident and preserving critical details about what happened.
Seek Medical Help Immediately: This step is vital, even if you believe your symptoms seem mild. Spinal cord injuries can worsen rapidly without prompt assessment or treatment.
Notify Your Insurance Company: You will need to notify your insurer about the incident that injured you, but do not provide detailed statements or accept blame.
Consult TSR Injury Law: You can contact our law offices 24/7 to request a free case review. We will get back to you quickly to discuss your situation and potential legal options. We can also communicate with your insurance company on your behalf.

Call TSR Injury Law After a Minneapolis Spinal Cord Injury

When you work with TSR Injury Law, you benefit from a highly skilled and compassionate legal team working to build your case. We will thoroughly investigate your crash, consult with medical and economic specialists about your specific injuries, and develop a comprehensive strategy to pursue maximum compensation. We maintain regular communication throughout your case, explaining each development in clear terms, and we are always available to answer your questions or address any concerns you may have.

Contact our law office today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your spinal cord injury claim. Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you determine the best path forward during this challenging time.

There are no upfront costs to hire TSR Injury Law. We only get paid if we secure compensation for you.

Ready to take the next step? Call TSR Injury Law today! (612) TSR-TIME