Queens Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can change every part of your life in one moment. If you or someone you love was hurt this way in Queens, you need a spinal cord injury lawyer who will fight for full payment. These cases are too serious for anything less. At The Orlow Firm, our Flushing lawyers have spent over 40 years fighting for badly injured people across Queens. We know how to build and win these claims.

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Spinal cord injuries are among the worst in personal injury law. A broken bone heals. A spinal cord injury often does not. Many victims face lasting paralysis, loss of feeling, and a lifetime of medical needs. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that direct costs alone can top $5 million.

These cases call for legal knowledge that goes well beyond a standard injury claim. Your lawyer must grasp the medical proof: MRIs, nerve studies, and ASIA scores. They also need to work with life care planners, money experts, and doctors to figure out the true cost of your injury. Insurance firms know the stakes are high. They push back hard on spinal cord injury claims to keep payouts low.

A family firm with more than four decades of this kind of work makes a real difference. At The Orlow Firm, partners handle your case. It never gets handed off to junior staff. Adam Orlow, Managing Partner and past President of the Queens County Bar (2022-2023), brings strong standing in Queens courts. Our founder, Steven S. Orlow, a Cornell Law grad and past Counsel to the Queens County Executive, built the firm on careful, detail-driven case prep. That approach is what serious injury claims demand.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Complete vs. Incomplete

The type and level of your spinal cord injury shapes your legal case, your health outlook, and the money you can seek.

Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

A complete spinal cord injury means total loss of movement and feeling below the injury site. The cord has been fully cut or crushed beyond repair. These injuries cause lasting paralysis. Victims usually need lifelong medical care, helper devices, and personal care.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

An incomplete injury means some function or feeling is kept below the injury site. The outlook may be better than a complete injury. But these injuries are still often severe. Many patients deal with chronic pain, limited movement, and months or years of rehab.

Paraplegia and Tetraplegia

Paraplegia means partial or total loss of function in the legs and lower body. It is caused by injuries to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spine. Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) affects all four limbs and the torso. It is caused by cervical spine injuries at levels C1 through C8. Cervical injuries are the most common and most severe. They account for roughly 55% of all new spinal cord injuries, making tetraplegia the most frequent neurological category per the NSCISC.

Where the injury falls on the spinal column decides which body functions are affected. A Queens paralysis injury lawyer ties these medical facts to each client's real-world losses. A builder with paraplegia from a fall faces different issues than a driver with a neck injury from a crash. The legal plan must match those differences.

How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen in Queens

Queens has specific risks for spinal cord injuries. Busy roads and active job sites create dangers that cause these injuries each year. Knowing how your injury happened is the first step in finding out who is at fault and which laws protect you.

Motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. They account for about 38% of all cases per the NSCISC. Car wrecks, bike crashes, truck hits, and walkers struck on roads like Queens Boulevard can cause severe neck and upper back injuries. Queens Boulevard is known as the "Boulevard of Death" for good reason.

Falls cause roughly 32% of spinal cord injuries. Job site falls from scaffolds, ladders, and raised work areas are common in Queens. Building projects continue across areas like Long Island City and Jamaica. New York Labor Law 240 (the Scaffold Law) gives strong protections to workers hurt in falls.

Other job site accidents also cause spinal cord injuries. Being struck by objects, getting shocked, and building collapses can all damage the cord. Our firm won $3.375 million for a worker who fell 12 feet off a ladder and hurt his neck and back badly enough to need surgery. We also won $935,000 for a worker who broke his spine in a fall at a building under work.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Violence accounts for roughly 15% of spinal cord injuries across the country, including gunshot wounds and assaults. Sports injuries make up about 8%, with diving being a common cause.

Medical mistakes can also lead to spinal cord damage. Errors during spinal surgery or a failure to spot spinal injuries in the ER can cause harm that should have been stopped.

The True Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury

The money burden of a spinal cord injury is huge. You need the full picture before saying yes to any offer.

Per the NSCISC (2025, in 2024 dollars), first-year medical costs alone vary widely:

• High tetraplegia (C1-C4): about $1,163,425 in the first year; lifetime costs around $5,162,152
• Low tetraplegia (C5-C8): about $840,676 in the first year; lifetime costs around $3,771,791
• Paraplegia: about $567,011 in the first year; lifetime costs around $2,524,270

Lost wages average $95,309 per year. Over a lifetime, these costs often exceed the medical bills. About 30% of spinal cord injury patients are rehospitalized one or more times during any given year following injury.

These numbers do not include home changes, wheelchair-ready vehicles, personal care aides, or counseling. Most patients need all of these.

Acting early matters. Saving proof and starting life care planning early makes a real difference. Getting future costs right before any talks can mean the gap between a recovery that lasts and one that runs out fast.

What You Can Recover in a Queens Spinal Cord Injury Case

New York law gives spinal cord injury victims several ways to recover money. Our lawyers go after every one.

Medical bills cover past and future costs: surgeries, rehab, physical therapy, drugs, helper devices, and home health aides. For spinal cord injuries, future medical costs are often the biggest part of the claim.

Lost wages and future earning power reflect the reality that many patients can never go back to their old jobs. Money experts figure out lifetime lost earnings based on age, job, and injury level.

Pain and suffering have no cap in New York. Juries can award what they believe is fair. This is a major plus for spinal cord injury victims in New York compared to many other states.

Loss of enjoyment of life covers the inability to take part in hobbies, activities, and bonds as before. Emotional distress covers depression, anxiety, and PTSD that often follow a spinal cord injury. Loss of consortium lets a spouse seek payment for lost closeness.

Home and vehicle changes like wheelchair ramps, roll-in showers, and modified cars are part of your claim.

Punitive damages may apply when the person at fault acted with reckless disregard for safety. In wrongful death cases, the estate can pursue damages under EPTL 5-4.1.

For car-related spinal cord injuries, the injury almost always meets New York's "serious injury" bar under Insurance Law 5102(d). This lets the hurt person seek full payment beyond no-fault benefits.

Our firm won $2.875 million for a man who fell 16 feet into an open elevator shaft and hurt his back. We won $2.75 million for a worker who fell through a floor hole and needed three surgeries on his neck and back. We also won $997,997 for a taxi driver hit head-on by a truck who needed back surgery.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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New York Laws That Affect Your Spinal Cord Injury Case

Several New York laws directly affect spinal cord injury claims. Knowing them is key to keeping your rights safe.

Statute of Limitations

You have three years after your injury to file a lawsuit in New York under CPLR 214. Three years may sound like plenty of time. But spinal cord injury cases need a lot of medical records, expert input, and life care planning. Starting early is key.

Notice of Claim Against Government Bodies

If a city or state body caused your injury, you have only 90 days to file a notice of claim under General Municipal Law 50-e. This covers the City of New York, the MTA, public hospitals, and city agencies. Missing this deadline can block your claim for good. Steven S. Orlow served as Counsel to the Queens County Executive. That gives our firm deep knowledge of these claims and the traps that can sink a case.

Pure Comparative Fault

New York follows pure comparative fault under CPLR 1411. Your recovery goes down by your share of the blame but is never blocked. Even at 90% fault, you can still recover 10% of your damages.

Labor Law Guards for Job Site Injuries

For job-site spinal cord injuries, New York Labor Law 240 (the Scaffold Law) and 241(6) protect workers hurt by fall hazards. These laws put the duty on property owners and general contractors no matter what the worker did. They are strong tools for hurt workers.

Workers' Comp and Third-Party Claims

Hurt workers may get both workers' comp benefits and a separate lawsuit if someone other than the employer caused the injury. An NYC spinal cord accident attorney can handle both tracks to get the most money back.

Queens Hospitals and Trauma Centers for Spinal Cord Injuries

Getting the right care after a spinal cord injury in Queens matters for your health and your legal case.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is a Level 1 trauma center in Queens. It is a top facility for brain and spinal trauma care, tied to Mount Sinai. It serves as a first stop for many severe spinal injuries across central Queens.

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens offers spinal trauma and fracture care through the Och Spine program. It has minimally invasive spinal surgery.

Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Program is the only CARF-credited SCI rehab program in New York City. It is also a named NSCISC Model System Center, one of the top research and treatment programs for spinal cord injuries in the country. It has a 25-bed inpatient rehab unit with focused recovery programs.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is a Level 1 trauma center serving southeast Queens. It gives critical acute care for spinal injuries in Jamaica, Rockaway, and nearby areas.

Full medical records from these places strengthen your legal claim. Life care planners work with your doctors to project future needs. Our main office at 71-18 Main Street in Queens is close to these hospitals. A spine injury lawyer from our Flushing team can visit you if you cannot come to us. This matters most for spinal cord injury patients who may be in the hospital or stuck at home. Se Habla Español.

Common Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Cases

What should I do right after a possible spinal cord injury?

Do not move the hurt person. Movement can make spinal cord damage worse. Call 911 right away and wait for trained help. Once the person is stable, write down what happened and get witness names and numbers. Call a Queens spinal cord injury lawyer before talking to any insurance company.

How much is a spinal cord injury case worth in New York?

These cases can be worth a few hundred thousand dollars or tens of millions. The amount depends on how bad the injury is, the person's age, and lost earning power. New York has no cap on pain and suffering. Lifetime medical costs alone can top $5 million for the worst injuries.

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit?

You usually have three years after your injury to file under CPLR 214. But if a city or state body caused your injury, you must file a notice of claim within just 90 days. Wrongful death cases have a two-year deadline. Call a lawyer right away.

Can I still get money if I was partly at fault?

Yes. New York follows pure comparative fault under CPLR 1411. Your payment goes down by your share of blame but is never wiped out. Even with a large share of fault, you can still recover damages for your spinal cord injury in Queens.

What if a city or state body in Queens caused my injury?

You must file a notice of claim within 90 days of the injury under General Municipal Law 50-e. This is far shorter than the three-year lawsuit deadline. It covers injuries caused by the City of New York, the MTA, public hospitals, and other agencies. Missing the 90-day window can block your claim for good.

Do I need a lawyer who handles spinal cord injury cases?

These cases call for specialized medical proof, complex life care planning, and often millions in future costs. A spinal cord injury attorney in Queens will work with brain and nerve doctors, rehab experts, and money analysts. They know how to show the full scope of your losses and push back on insurance tactics.

Can I file a lawsuit if I am an undocumented worker?

Yes. Under New York law, your immigration status does not affect your right to bring a claim. Workers without papers have the same legal protections. The Orlow Firm has a strong record of standing up for these workers in job site and workplace injury cases. We have won large awards on their behalf.

Sources & Official Resources

New York Laws Cited

1. CPLR 214 -- Statute of Limitations (Three Years for Personal Injury)
2. CPLR 1411 -- Comparative Negligence (Pure Comparative Fault)
3. General Municipal Law 50-e -- Notice of Claim (90-Day Requirement)
4. Insurance Law 5102(d) -- Serious Injury Threshold (No-Fault)
5. EPTL 5-4.1 -- Wrongful Death Actions
6. Labor Law 240 -- Scaffold Law (Fall Protection)
7. Labor Law 241 -- Construction, Excavation, and Demolition Work

Statistics Sources

8. NSCISC 2025 Facts and Figures -- Spinal Cord Injury Data Sheet (PDF)
9. NSCISC FAQ -- Causes and Demographics of SCI

Helpful Resources

10. Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Model System Center (MSKTC)

Contact The Orlow Firm Today

If you or someone you love has a spinal cord injury from an accident in Queens, do not take on the insurance firms alone. The Orlow Firm has stood up for badly injured people in Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, Jackson Heights, and all of Queens. We have been doing this for over 40 years.

Call (646) 647-3398 for a free consultation. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.

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