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A Naperville spinal injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation when someone else’s negligence damages your spine. Conboy Law represents injured people and families in Naperville and across Illinois. We investigate how the injury happened, identify every party who may be responsible, and document both current and future losses.
Spinal cord injuries often require years of medical care, so early legal guidance can help protect evidence and keep your claim on schedule. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront legal fees.
Call Conboy Law at 312-726-9000 to schedule a free case evaluation with our team.
How Conboy Law Can Help After a Spinal Cord Injury in Naperville
A spinal cord injury claim depends on medical evidence, financial projections, and a clear account of who caused the harm. Our team builds each piece of that record so you can focus on treatment and rehabilitation.
When you work with us, you can expect the following:
- A legal team led by founding attorney Joseph Conboy, selected for Rising Stars from 2019 through 2022
- Memberships in the American Association for Justice, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Association
- A thorough investigation into crash reports, property records, workplace safety records, and product history
- Coordination with medical and financial professionals who can explain long-term care needs
- Direct handling of insurance company communication
- A contingency fee basis, so you pay no upfront legal fees
Many spinal injuries in the Naperville area start with serious collisions on busy roads.
How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries are less common than many other injuries, but they are among the most expensive and life-altering. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, about 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. each year. An estimated 305,000 Americans currently live with one.
Since 2015, the leading causes of spinal cord injury have been:
- Vehicle crashes, at 37.5%
- Falls, at 31.7%
- Acts of violence, at 15.4%
- Sports and recreation, at 8.0%
Many of these causes involve another person’s careless conduct. When negligence played a role, the injured person may have a claim for compensation under Illinois law.
Types of Spinal Injuries We Handle
Spinal injuries range from painful but treatable damage to permanent paralysis. The type and level of the injury shape your treatment, your prognosis, and the value of your claim.
Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete injury causes total loss of sensation and movement below the injury site. An incomplete injury leaves some function intact. Incomplete tetraplegia is the most common category, accounting for 47.4% of cases tracked by the NSCISC.
Tetraplegia and Paraplegia
Tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia, affects the arms, hands, trunk, and legs. It usually results from an injury to the cervical spine in the neck. Paraplegia affects the lower body and typically follows an injury to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spine.
Herniated Discs, Fractured Vertebrae, and Other Back Injuries
Not every spinal injury involves the spinal cord itself. Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and nerve compression can still cause chronic pain, surgery, and lost work. We pursue these claims with the same attention to medical evidence.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in Naperville?
Spinal cord injuries usually result from sudden, forceful trauma. Common causes we see in personal injury claims include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
- Falls caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property
- Falls from scaffolds, ladders, and roofs on construction sites
- Defective vehicle parts, safety equipment, or products
- Medical errors during spinal surgery or treatment
- Sports and recreational accidents involving unsafe facilities or supervision
Construction work carries a high risk of falls and crushing injuries.
What Is My Naperville Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth?
No lawyer can promise a specific amount, but the costs of a spinal cord injury help explain why these claims are often substantial. NSCISC estimates show the following first-year medical and living expenses by injury severity (2023 dollars):
- High tetraplegia (C1 to C4): $1,369,755
- Low tetraplegia (C5 to C8): $989,768
- Paraplegia: $667,569
- Motor-functional injury at any level: $447,037
Estimated lifetime costs for a person injured at age 25 range from about $2.03 million to $6.08 million, depending on severity. These figures do not include lost wages or lost earning capacity.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover losses with a dollar value, such as:
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital stays
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Future medical costs and in-home care
- Wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and home modifications
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover losses that are real but harder to measure, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of normal life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship for a spouse
Your best move is calling us today.
Illinois Laws That Affect Your Spinal Injury Claim
Several Illinois statutes affect how much you can recover and how quickly you must act. Understanding these rules early helps prevent costly mistakes.
Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury actions must be filed within 2 years after the cause of action accrued. Missing this deadline can bar your claim.
One-Year Deadline for Claims Against Local Governments
If a city, county, park district, or other local public entity caused your injury, the deadline is shorter. Under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, most of these actions must be filed within 1 year from the date of injury or accrual.
Modified Comparative Fault
Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can still recover if you were 50% or less at fault; however, your award is reduced by your share of fault. If you were more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover.
Joint and Several Liability
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, a defendant who is 25% or more at fault can be responsible for all of your damages. Every liable defendant is responsible for your past and future medical expenses, regardless of their share of fault.
Medical Lien Limits
Hospitals and doctors often place liens on injury settlements. The Health Care Services Lien Act caps the total of these liens at 40% of the recovery, which can protect more of your compensation.
Wrongful Death and Punitive Damages
When a spinal cord injury proves fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim. Public Act 103-0514 allows punitive damages where applicable in wrongful death and survival actions. Punitive damages are not available in medical malpractice cases or claims against government entities.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Spinal Injury Case?
To pursue compensation, you generally need to show the following elements:
- Duty: The other party owed you a duty of reasonable care.
- Breach: They failed to meet that duty.
- Causation: Their failure caused your spinal injury.
- Damages: You suffered real losses as a result.
Strong evidence often includes MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT scans, medical records, witness statements, and accident reports. Life care plans and expert testimony can help explain your future needs to an insurer or jury.
What to Do After a Spinal Injury in Naperville
The steps you take after a spinal injury can protect both your health and your claim. Follow these steps when you are able:
- Get emergency medical care and avoid moving if you suspect a spinal injury.
- Follow every treatment and rehabilitation recommendation from your doctors.
- Report the incident to the police, a property owner, or your employer.
- Keep photos, records, receipts, and the names of witnesses.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to the other party’s insurance company.
- Speak with a lawyer before you sign any release or settlement offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Naperville Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Naperville sits in both DuPage and Will counties. The proper court depends on where the injury happened and other facts in your case. We review those details and file in the appropriate venue.
Workers’ compensation usually covers on-the-job injuries, but it may not cover all of your losses. If a third party, such as a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer, contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim.
We handle spinal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront fees, and attorney fees are paid from any recovery under the terms of your signed agreement.
Timelines vary based on the severity of the injury, the number of parties involved, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many serious injury cases take longer because doctors need time to assess long-term prognosis.
Contact Our Naperville Spinal Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation
A spinal cord injury can change every part of your life, but you do not have to face the legal process alone. Our Naperville spinal injury lawyer team at Conboy Law can review your case, explain your options, and help you pursue the compensation available under Illinois law.
Call Conboy Law today at 312-726-9000 to schedule your free case evaluation.
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.
