Wisconsin Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis Attorneys

Get Help From Our Wisconsin Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today 

Many accidents lead to catastrophic spinal cord injuries. At Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, we realize that this is one of the most alarming injuries to deal with. Because the spinal cord is central to almost everything a person does, any damage can turn your life upside down. In addition to disability and pain, many spinal cord victims have outrageous medical expenses. Now is the time to analyze whether you can sue someone for compensation. Call our firm today to speak with our Wisconsin spinal cord injury lawyers at our firm in a free, no-risk consultation.

Spinal Cord Injuries Our Wisconsin Attorneys Handle

Our firm can help anyone in Wisconsin suffering from:

• Spinal contusion. This type of injury involves a bruise to the spinal cord, often as the result of a traumatic accident. This type of injury can lead to impaired sensation and trouble moving, though recovery tends to be the fastest of all injuries.
• Incomplete spinal cord injury. The spine is not totally cut into two. For example, it might be shredded, nicked, or partially torn. Because some portion remains connected, a victim tends to retain a degree of movement and sensation below the site of injury. An incomplete injury can improve with grueling physical therapy, though most incomplete injuries massively disrupt lives.
• Complete spinal cord injury. The cord is completely severed. A person is paralyzed below the site of impact. They will have no function or sensation.

Spinal Cord Injury Treatment is Expensive and Difficult

Often, a spinal cord injury is immediately apparent to paramedics. The victim cannot move and possibly might struggle to breathe on their own. Treatment begins immediately to help a victim breathe so they don’t die.

Patients are also immobilized for transportation so that the spinal cord injury isn’t worsened. This is a frightening moment for families, who watch a loved one strapped to a gurney get loaded into the back of an ambulance.

Many spinal cord injuries require immediate surgery to remove any pressure on the spine. The surgical teams’ goal is to improve stability, which might require inserting rods or screws. These are necessary to help the bones heal in a way that won’t continue to impinge on the spinal cord.

Once the spinal column is stabilized and vertebrae heal, a patient will likely begin physical therapy. A patient’s medical team will need to identify the full extent of disability. With an incomplete injury, patients often try to train their bodies to relearn how to walk or grasp objects.

Medical care is expensive. It is not unusual for victims to incur a million dollars in medical bills for the first year.

What Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?

According to the United Spinal Association, about 17,700 Americans suffer a spinal injury in a year. The most common causes are:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Getting struck by a car or truck can easily damage a person’s spine. Many patients are immediately immobilized and need someone to call an ambulance for them. Less serious spinal contusions might show up as back pain, incontinence, or loss of balance.
• Slip and falls. A person can severely damage their spine in a fall, especially if they fall down a staircase.
• Worksite accidents. Falls are a serious cause of injury in the construction trades. A worker might fall from a ladder or scaffolding or otherwise fall from a roof.
• Contact sports. Some spinal cord injuries stem from violent hits in contact sports, like football.
• Violent attacks. A serious attack could damage a person’s spine. A victim might be shot or otherwise fall backwards and strike their spine on the curb or a fire hydrant.

Can You Sue for a Spinal Cord Injury in Wisconsin?

Our personal injury law firm can sue anyone who has legal liability for your injury. This is a factual and legal issue. Some accidents are merely accidents and no one is to blame. But many accidents are caused by a failure to use care, which is called negligence.

We might bring a claim against:

• A negligent driver or trucker for running into your vehicle or striking you as you walked across the road. Drivers are often negligent because they are distracted, drunk, fatigued, or fail to follow the speed limit.
• A property owner for failure to keep the premises safe. They might have created a defect which causes you to fall, or they failed to warn you of a defect they couldn’t immediately fix.
• A property owner for failing to provide adequate security to keep you safe. For example, a landlord might not have locks on the doors or windows, and a criminal enters and attacks you. Other premises need security cameras and guards, depending on the history of crime.
• A school or athletic association for failing to enforce rules in a sporting contest. If they let the physical contact get out of control, they might be liable.
• A violent criminal for intentionally harming you and causing bodily injury.

Damages & Spinal Cord Claims in Wisconsin

Because these are catastrophic injuries, our clients often request damages for:

• Past and present medical care, including surgery, prescriptions, overnights in the hospital and ICU, ambulance transportation, and other care.
• Future medical expenses. If you have ongoing disabilities, you might need future rehabilitation, counseling, surgery, and modifications to your home or vehicle.
• Pain and suffering. Our clients suffer immense pain and diminished quality of life. We can request money for all physical and emotional suffering and pain.
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. Even a relatively minor spinal cord injury can prevent a person from working for months, if not longer. More serious injuries could lead to permanent unemployment. You should request money for all lost income.

Call Our Wisconsin Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Today

This is a difficult time for you and your family. You deserve the help of a seasoned, passionate Wisconsin spinal cord injury lawyer. Contact Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC,, today. Our firm has decades of combined experience negotiating settlements for some of the worst catastrophic injuries imaginable. When appropriate, we might even file a personal injury lawsuit in court on your behalf. You can count on us to do everything possible to get fair compensation for your spinal injury. Do not hesitate to call us by phone at 608-784-4370 or contact us online—our consultations are free!