Santa Cruz Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm - (800) 978-0754

Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Santa Cruz County

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people who have sustained spinal cord injuries in accidents throughout Santa Cruz County. Spinal cord injuries are among the highest-value personal injury claims because of their permanence, the cost of lifetime care, and the profound effect they have on every aspect of the injured person's life. These cases demand experienced legal representation — the damages at stake are too significant to be handled informally, and the insurance industry knows it.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are classified by the level of the injury and its completeness. Cervical injuries (C1–C8) affect the neck and can produce quadriplegia — loss of function in all four limbs. Thoracic injuries (T1–T12) affect the mid-back and typically produce paraplegia — loss of function in the legs and lower body. Lumbar and sacral injuries affect the lower back and may produce partial paralysis or loss of bowel and bladder control without complete leg paralysis.

A complete injury involves total loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury. An incomplete injury involves partial preservation of function. The American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (ASIA) grades injuries from A (complete) to E (normal function), and this classification directly affects the medical treatment, rehabilitation requirements, and long-term prognosis relevant to a damages claim.

The Legal Basis for a Spinal Cord Injury Claim

California Civil Code §1714 imposes a duty of ordinary care on every person whose conduct creates a risk of harm to others. The California Supreme Court confirmed in Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108 that this duty is the default rule and no exception applies to vehicle operation or property management on public roads. A driver who causes a collision producing spinal cord injury, a property owner whose dangerous condition causes a fall resulting in paralysis, has breached that duty and is liable under Civil Code §3333 for all detriment proximately caused.

Damages in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Civil Code §3283 expressly permits recovery of future damages certain to result from the injury. In spinal cord cases, future damages are typically the dominant component of the claim. A life care plan — prepared by a certified life care planner in consultation with treating physicians — documents the full scope of future medical needs: surgical interventions, wheelchair and adaptive equipment, home modifications, in-home attendant care, and ongoing specialist care. These costs, projected over a lifetime, regularly reach seven figures in complete cervical and thoracic injuries.

Future lost earnings are calculated by a vocational rehabilitation specialist and an economist, accounting for the injured person's pre-injury occupation, earning trajectory, and the extent to which the injury eliminates or limits future employment. Noneconomic damages — pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium — are also recoverable and are frequently substantial in cases involving permanent paralysis.

How Spinal Cord Cases Proceed in Santa Cruz Superior Court

Spinal cord injury lawsuits are filed at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz. Under Local Rule 2.2.02, spinal cord cases are typically designated long cause given the volume of expert testimony and the length of trial. All jury instructions, motions in limine, witness lists, and exhibit lists must be filed by the master calendar call Thursday two weeks before the trial date.

The Statute of Limitations

Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Tolling doctrines may apply in some circumstances. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the timeline in your case.

Retain Attorney Michael Rehm

Attorney Michael Rehm handles spinal cord injury cases throughout Santa Cruz County on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 for a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. California law changes — statutes are amended, courts issue new decisions, and regulations are revised. Nothing on this page should be treated as a current statement of law without independent verification. Whether any deadline, legal doctrine, or rule applies to your specific case requires individual analysis based on the facts of your situation. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss your case directly.