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A Joliet spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, and the lifelong changes that follow paralysis or nerve damage.
At Conboy Law, we represent injured people and families across Joliet and Will County after crashes, falls, workplace incidents, and medical errors. Spinal cord injuries often require years of treatment, home changes, and specialized equipment, so the full value of a claim depends on careful documentation of future needs.
We investigate how the injury happened, identify every party who may share responsibility, and handle communication with insurers while you focus on treatment. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, and your first case evaluation is free.
Call Conboy Law at 312-726-9000 to discuss your legal options.
How Conboy Law Helps After a Spinal Cord Injury in Joliet
A spinal cord injury claim needs more than accident records. It needs proof of how the injury will shape your health, work, and independence for decades.
Our team helps Joliet clients in the following ways:
- Investigating the crash, fall, or incident to identify negligent parties
- Gathering medical records, imaging, and treating-physician opinions
- Working with life-care planners and economists to estimate future costs
- Handling insurer communication and settlement negotiation
- Preparing the case for trial in Will County when settlement talks stall
Our firm has published results that include a $6.4 million recovery in a trucking case and a $1.6 million recovery in a premises liability case. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries in Joliet and Will County?
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates about 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year. That figure excludes people who die at the scene.
Traffic remains a major risk in our area. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Will County crash summary, Will County recorded 13,748 crashes in 2023. Those crashes included 3,092 injury crashes, 331 serious injuries, and 42 deaths.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries We Handle
National data show that most spinal cord injuries since 2015 came from a handful of sources:
- Vehicle crashes (37.5%): Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions, along with injuries handled by our Joliet pedestrian accident lawyer and our Joliet bicycle accident lawyer.
- Falls (31.7%): Unsafe stairs, wet floors, and construction-site falls, which often lead to claims for our Joliet premises liability lawyer.
- Violence (15.4%): Assaults on poorly secured property, which may support a negligent security claim.
- Sports and recreation (8.0%): Diving, pool, and recreational injuries.
- Medical and surgical errors (3.7%): Injuries caused during spinal surgery, anesthesia, or delayed diagnosis.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact
The level and completeness of the damage shape both your medical outlook and the value of your claim.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury is classified by the absence of preserved sensory and motor function in the lowest sacral segments. Some function below the injury level may still remain.
An incomplete injury leaves some function intact; however, the remaining function varies widely from person to person. Incomplete tetraplegia is the most frequent category, accounting for 47.4% of cases in the national data.
Tetraplegia and Paraplegia
Tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia, affects the arms, hands, trunk, and legs. It usually results from injury to the cervical spine in the neck. Paraplegia affects the trunk and legs and often follows injury to the thoracic or lumbar spine.
What Is My Joliet Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
No lawyer can predict an exact value at the start of a case. National cost estimates show why these claims require careful planning. For a person injured at age 25, estimated lifetime costs include:
- About $6.08 million for high tetraplegia (C1 to C4)
- About $4.44 million for low tetraplegia (C5 to C8)
- About $2.97 million for paraplegia
Those figures exclude lost wages and other indirect costs. Early settlement offers rarely account for decades of attendant care, equipment replacement, and secondary complications such as pressure sores or infections. We review those future needs with medical and financial professionals before advising you on any offer.
Several factors can affect the value of your claim:
- Severity and level of the injury
- Your age and earning history
- Available insurance coverage
- Strength of the evidence showing fault
- Your share of fault, if any
What Damages Can You Recover in Illinois?
Illinois law allows injured people to pursue both financial and personal losses caused by another party’s negligence.
Economic Damages
- Hospital, surgery, and rehabilitation costs
- Future medical care and attendant care
- Wheelchairs, mobility devices, and home modifications
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of a normal life
- Disfigurement
Illinois Laws That Affect Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Several Illinois statutes control when you must file, how fault is divided, and which benefits may apply.
Two-Year Deadline to File a Lawsuit
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years after the claim accrues. Medical negligence claims may follow a separate two-year discovery-based deadline and a four-year outside limit under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, subject to exceptions. The applicable deadline depends on the claim and defendant.
One-Year Deadline for Claims Against Local Governments
If a city vehicle, public road, or local government property played a role, a shorter deadline may apply. The Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act generally requires filing within 1 year from the date of injury.
Modified Comparative Fault
Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You cannot recover damages if you were more than 50% at fault. If your share is 50% or less, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
Property Owners’ Duty of Reasonable Care
The Illinois Premises Liability Act requires owners and occupiers to use reasonable care under the circumstances toward lawful entrants. This duty covers the condition of the property and acts done or omitted on it.
Workplace Spinal Cord Injuries and Workers’ Compensation
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to pay necessary medical, surgical, and hospital care for work injuries. The loss of both legs or both arms counts as total and permanent disability, with compensation paid for life. When someone other than your employer caused the injury, a separate personal injury claim may also be available.
When a Spinal Cord Injury Is Fatal
If a loved one dies from a spinal cord injury, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act generally requires filing within 2 years after the death.
What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury in Joliet
The steps you take early can protect both your health and your claim:
- Get emergency care and follow every treatment recommendation.
- Report the incident to the police, the property owner, or your employer.
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, and discharge instructions.
- Photograph the scene and collect witness names and contact details.
- Decline recorded statements to the other party’s insurer.
- Contact a spinal cord injury lawyer before any filing deadline passes.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Responsibility depends on how the injury happened. Potentially liable parties include:
- Negligent drivers and other legally responsible parties
- Trucking companies and commercial vehicle owners
- Property owners and managers
- Contractors and subcontractors on construction sites
- Manufacturers of defective vehicles, equipment, or products
- Hospitals and surgeons, in cases our Chicago medical malpractice lawyer may review
Many spinal cord injury cases involve more than one responsible party. Identifying each one matters because a single insurance policy may not cover lifetime care costs. Our team reviews police reports, maintenance records, contracts, and product histories to find every available source of coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joliet Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Many Joliet injury lawsuits are filed in Will County. The Will County Courthouse sits at 100 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet and is part of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.
Conboy Law handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis, and the first case evaluation is free. The fee percentage depends on the complexity of the matter, and we explain the terms before you sign.
Workers’ compensation benefits come through your employer’s coverage. You may also be able to pursue a separate claim against a negligent driver, contractor, or equipment manufacturer whose actions contributed to the injury.
Timelines vary with the severity of the injury, the number of parties, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many spinal cord injury claims wait until doctors can estimate long-term needs. Settling too early can leave future care costs uncovered, so we balance speed against a complete picture of your losses.
Your case. Your future. Our full commitment.
Contact Our Joliet Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation
A spinal cord injury can change every part of daily life, and the legal deadlines start running right away. Founding attorney Joseph Conboy and our team are ready to review how your injury happened and explain your options.
Call Conboy Law at 312-726-9000 to speak with a Joliet spinal cord injury lawyer today.
Joseph M. Conboy is the founding attorney of Conboy Law and represents victims and families in serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases throughout Illinois. He has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar results and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star. As the firm’s primary litigator, he works closely with clients to build strategies tailored to the facts of each case.
