A spinal cord injury can change a life in an instant. Whether it results from a car crash, a fall, a construction accident or other trauma, it often brings lifelong medical costs, rehabilitation needs and emotional challenges. Djougourian Law Corp represents people with spinal cord injuries, and their families, throughout Los Angeles County. Trial attorney Arthur Djougourian graduated from UC Berkeley and Pepperdine University School of Law, was admitted to the California Bar in 2018 and was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2022.
🚨 SCI: A Critical Local & National Health Concern
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center’s 2025 Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures at a Glance:
- About 18,421 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year, not counting people who die at the scene.
- About 308,620 Americans are living with a traumatic spinal cord injury (estimated range 259,374 to 393,913).
- The average age at injury is now 44, and about 78% of new injuries since 2015 have been to men.
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey is home to the Southern California Spinal Cord Injury Model System, one of the federally funded SCI Model Systems.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the main communication link between your brain and body. Damage, even partial, can disrupt movement, sensation and automatic body functions.
- Complete spinal cord injury: no sensory or motor function below the injury site, often causing paraplegia or tetraplegia (quadriplegia).
- Incomplete spinal cord injury: partial loss of function; some sensation or movement may remain. Incomplete tetraplegia is now the most frequent category, according to the NSCISC.
Common complications include chronic pain, loss of bladder or bowel control, respiratory problems, muscle spasticity or paralysis, pressure sores, and depression or post-traumatic stress. Rehabilitation is long and complex, involving physical and occupational therapy, assistive technology and lifelong support. Since 2015, about 29% of people with a traumatic spinal cord injury have been re-hospitalized at least once in any given year after the injury.
Why Choose a Local SCI Attorney in LA County
- Life-changing injuries require thorough legal representation to pursue compensation for lifelong care, home modifications and lost income.
- SCIs often involve complex liability, whether from car crashes, falls, workplace incidents or a dangerous public road or property, so they require detailed investigation.
- Deadlines are short: many California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years, and claims against a government agency generally require a written claim within six months. See our article on the six-month deadline for claims against cities, buses and schools.
Key Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Since 2015, vehicle crashes have caused 37.3% of new traumatic spinal cord injuries and falls 32.0%, followed by violence (15.5%, mostly gunshot wounds) and sports and recreation (7.7%) (NSCISC). In Los Angeles County, common causes include:
- Motor vehicle collisions: high-speed crashes on freeways like the I-5, I-10 and 405 can cause serious spinal trauma. Learn more about car accident claims in Los Angeles County.
- Falls: construction sites, workplace ladders, unsafe stairs and slip-and-fall incidents.
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: people struck by vehicles often suffer back or neck (cervical spine) trauma.
- Sports and recreation: diving, skateboarding or contact sports.
- Violence or assault: gunshot wounds or blunt trauma.
- Medical negligence: surgical errors, anesthesia complications or untreated infections.
Each situation raises different liability questions, from negligent drivers to unsafe property conditions or defective equipment.
DJ Law Corp: Your Legal Advocates in LA County
- Free, private case review: we evaluate your incident, the people or businesses responsible, your legal options and your deadlines, with no obligation.
- Full evidence and medical record gathering: we request crash, police or OSHA reports, hospital and rehabilitation records, MRI and imaging, witness statements and opinions from medical specialists and engineers.
- Careful damages valuation: working with life-care planners and economists, we calculate lifetime costs: medical care, therapies, lost income, home modifications and pain and suffering.
- Strategic negotiation and mediation: we present a detailed demand package and negotiate with insurers.
- Trial-ready advocacy: if offers fall short, we file suit and prepare your case for trial in Los Angeles County courts.
Potential Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses (hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications)
- Home and vehicle modifications (ramps, lifts, wheelchairs)
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Lifelong care costs (nursing, physical therapy, assistive devices)
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (the injury’s effect on a marriage or partnership)
- Punitive damages, in the limited cases where the law allows them
The costs can be very large. NSCISC estimates average first-year expenses of $1,410,163 for high tetraplegia (C1–C4) and $687,262 for paraplegia, in 2024 dollars, before lost wages and other indirect costs. These are national averages, not a measure of what any claim is worth.
What to Do Immediately After a Spinal Cord Injury
- Get emergency care: follow your doctors’ instructions on imaging and treatment.
- Document the details: accident location, date, witnesses, equipment involved and photos if possible.
- Keep all medical records and bills: they form the backbone of your claim.
- Avoid discussing fault or signing statements: insurance adjusters may try to minimize what they pay.
- Contact a lawyer early so evidence can be preserved while it is still available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the filing deadlines?
Many California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1), but exceptions can change that deadline. If a government agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months. The California Courts deadline guide explains the general rules.
Do I still qualify if I share fault?
Yes. California’s comparative negligence rule allows you to recover even if you were partly at fault, with your recovery reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
What is my spinal cord injury claim worth?
Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of the injury, future care needs, lost income, pain and suffering, who is responsible and the insurance available. We work with life-care planners to project lifetime costs. A result obtained in another matter is not a prediction or guarantee for yours.
Does insurance cover long-term spinal injury care?
Health insurance often covers acute care but may not cover all rehabilitation, mobility equipment or home modifications. A claim against the responsible party can address those costs.
What if my injury happened at work?
You may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate personal injury claim against a third party, such as an equipment maker, contractor or driver, who contributed to the injury.
Will there be any fees upfront?
No. DJ Law Corp works on contingency: no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. The written fee agreement explains the percentage and how case expenses are handled.
✅ Act Now: Your Future Depends on It
Spinal cord injuries are lifelong. If you or a loved one in Los Angeles County has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact DJ Law Corp for a free, confidential case review. Call 818-530-0000.
