San Antonio Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Leading Causes of Spinal Cord Trauma in the U.S.

Neck and back injuries are the leading cause of chronic pain, affecting more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. These injuries make up a significant portion of the 100 million Americans living with chronic pain and represent 25% of all workers' compensation payments in the country. Activities that involve bending, lifting, and twisting are common causes, but serious trauma, such as car accidents, can also result in spinal cord injuries.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Vehicle Accidents: The leading cause of spinal cord injuries, particularly in younger individuals.
• Falls: Falls are a major risk for spinal injury, especially among older adults.
• Acts of Violence: Injuries from gunshots and assaults can damage the spine.
• Sports & Recreation Injuries: These injuries often involve impact or intense physical activity.
• Workplace Accidents: Particularly in jobs that involve physical labor or heavy machinery.

In the San Antonio area, we see spine injuries caused by workplace accidents, traffic collisions, falls, and a host of other circumstances. Although the situations may be different, one thing holds true: survivors face long roads to recovery. That is why our San Antonio personal injury attorneys fight with everything we have to secure the compensation our clients need to rebuild and move forward. No matter the odds. No matter the opponent. We fight to set things right.

Types of Neck, Back & Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal injuries affect the body in different ways depending on where the damage occurs and how severe it is. For survivors and their families, understanding the type of injury can help explain symptoms, long-term challenges, and the medical care that may be required. Unlike many common neck or back injuries, spinal cord trauma can interrupt the body’s communication system, limiting movement, sensation, and essential bodily functions.

A spinal cord injury usually involves fractures, swelling, or compression of the vertebrae—the bones that protect the spinal cord. When axons (the nerve fibers that carry signals) are damaged, the effects can be life-altering. 

Spinal cord injuries can be categorized as:

• Complete: Total loss of movement and sensation below the level of injury.
• Incomplete: Some function remains, but movement or sensation may be limited or unpredictable.

Below are some of the most common spinal and spinal-related injuries seen in serious accidents throughout San Antonio and the surrounding region:

Bulging & Herniated Discs

Disc injuries are among the most frequent results of high-impact crashes, falls, and workplace accidents. Bulging discs occur when a disc pushes beyond its normal space, placing pressure on surrounding nerves and causing pain, tingling, or weakness. Herniated discs involve a tear in the disc’s outer layer, allowing the inner material to protrude. This can lead to sharp pain, numbness, and loss of function—especially in the arms or legs. While these injuries do not always involve the spinal cord directly, they can cause major mobility issues and, if untreated, worsen over time.

Vertebrae Fractures

Fractures in the vertebrae often happen in high-force accidents such as motor-vehicle collisions, construction incidents, or falls from height. These fractures can destabilize the spine and put pressure on the spinal cord.

There are various types of vertebral fractures, including:

• Compression Fractures: The front of the vertebra collapses, often due to sudden downward force.
• Axial Burst Fractures: The vertebra is crushed in multiple directions, reducing its height and stability.
• Flexion/Distraction Fractures: The vertebra is pulled apart, usually during violent motion.
• Transverse Process Fractures: Caused by twisting or extreme lateral bending.
• Fracture-Dislocations: A dangerous and unstable combination of broken bones and torn ligaments.

These fractures require immediate medical attention to prevent further nerve damage.

Paraplegia & Quadriplegia

When the spinal cord sustains severe trauma, paralysis may result. These are among the most catastrophic outcomes of spinal injuries. Paraplegia affects the legs and lower body, typically caused by injuries to the thoracic or lumbar spine. Quadriplegia (tetraplegia) results from injuries to the cervical spine (neck region), impacting all four limbs and often affecting breathing, bowel and bladder control, and autonomic functions.

Paralysis not only alters mobility but also reshapes nearly every part of daily life, requiring ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and long-term support.

Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury doesn’t just limit movement or sensation. It disrupts core functions the body relies on every moment of the day. Many survivors are surprised to learn that damage to the spinal cord can affect breathing, heart regulation, digestion, temperature control, and even emotional well-being. These injuries reshape life far beyond mobility, creating medical challenges that require long-term treatment, rehabilitation, and support.

Some of the most common and serious consequences include:

• Breathing Difficulties: Injuries at or above the C3-C5 segments can make breathing difficult.
• Irregular Heartbeat & Low Blood Pressure: These issues are common with cervical region injuries.
• Blood Clots & Spasms: Reduced movement increases the risk of clots, muscle spasms, and other issues.
• Autonomic Dysreflexia: This dangerous reflex can cause severe spikes in blood pressure.
• Pressure Sores: Extended immobility can lead to skin breakdown and infections without careful monitoring.
• Bladder & Bowel Problems: Nerve damage can impair control, requiring long-term management and care.
• Reproductive & Sexual Function: Nerve injuries can affect sexual function, particularly in men.

Understanding the full scope of these effects can help survivors and families prepare for what comes next. It also shows why securing full compensation is so important after a spinal cord injury. Every consequence must be considered and documented to support a case for a truly complete settlement or verdict.

Treatment & Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries in San Antonio

When a spinal cord injury occurs, the first hours of treatment are critical. Emergency responders work to stabilize the spine, maintain breathing, and prevent further damage. This often includes immobilization, oxygen support, steroids, or other medications to reduce inflammation, and rapid transport to a trauma center equipped to handle neurological injuries. In San Antonio, Level I trauma hospitals such as University Hospital routinely treat severe spine injuries and coordinate with neurosurgeons, ICU teams, and rehabilitation specialists to manage complications early.

Once the immediate crisis has passed, long-term recovery becomes the focus. Rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury is a lifelong process that combines medical care, physical therapy, emotional support, adaptive technologies, and community resources. There are a number of rehabilitation centers in the San Antonio area that offer options to help survivors rebuild strength, mobility, and independence.

Long-term recovery for a spinal cord injury often involves a comprehensive approach:

• Working with a coordinated medical team. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, neurologists, and rehabilitation specialists build a customized plan based on the level and severity of the injury.
• Accessing specialized facilities. San Antonio’s rehabilitation centers offer advanced technologies such as gait-training systems, robotics-assisted therapy, and neurological recovery programs designed for catastrophic injuries.
• Utilizing local and state resources. Adaptive equipment programs, disability services, peer support groups, and community programs help families manage ongoing care, transportation, and more.
• Prioritizing holistic rehabilitation. Emotional and psychological recovery is just as important as physical progress. Family support, counseling, and long-term care help patients adjust to new routines and maintain quality of life.
• Consulting a trusted legal professional. A local spinal cord injury lawyer in San Antonio can help survivors access medical resources, secure long-term care funding, and protect their rights while they focus on healing.

Rehabilitation is essential for restoring function and preventing secondary complications after a spinal cord injury. Depending on a patient’s needs, it may include:

• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES): Uses electrical impulses to stimulate paralyzed or weakened muscles.
• Diaphragm Pacing: Supports breathing when cervical injuries impair respiratory function.
• Wheelchair & Mobility Programs: Specialists assess and fit patients with the right mobility aids.

For many survivors, recovery is not about returning to life exactly as it was. It’s about building the tools, support systems, and medical foundation needed to move forward. 

How Our Team Supports Clients After a Spine Injury

Recovering from a spinal cord injury means facing physical, emotional, and financial challenges that can seem overwhelming. Our team at Arnold & Itkin understands that each client's experience is different, and we are committed to providing straightforward guidance and personal attention every step of the way. We help clients in the San Antonio area connect with local rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and services that offer the care they need.

With extensive experience helping people who have sustained catastrophic injuries, we prioritize clear communication and transparency throughout your case. We support clients and their families by answering their questions, working with healthcare providers, and helping collect the records needed to move a claim forward. This approach lets individuals focus on their recovery while we handle the legal challenges, mindful that spinal cord injuries can have lifelong effects.

"We came in, they immediately took our case, and they talked to us like we were people. We had tons of questions and they answered every single one.

“Since we settled the case with Arnold & Itkin, I feel like my future’s looking brighter. We’ve been able to know we got the best that we could get.” 

- Maribel, truck accident survivor

If you have questions about insurance, need help accessing specialized care, or want to better understand your legal options, we offer support grounded in our proven results and a strong understanding of Texas law. Our commitment to standing up for every client means we are always prepared to help you move forward after a spinal cord injury.

How Spine Injury Cases Are Handled in San Antonio

Spinal cord injury cases in San Antonio often move through Bexar County District Courts, which routinely handle serious personal injury lawsuits involving life-altering trauma. Succeeding in these cases takes a precise legal strategy: proving fault, documenting the full extent of the harm, and demonstrating how the injury will affect the survivor’s life for years to come. Because spinal cord trauma can require long-term medical care, specialized therapy, and major lifestyle changes, courts expect detailed evidence tied to both present and future damages.

Successfully presenting a spine injury claim in San Antonio typically involves:

• Working with local medical experts who can explain the injury, treatment path, and long-term prognosis.
• Securing medical records and imaging from major San Antonio hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
• Documenting the real-world impact of the injury, including mobility limitations, pain, trauma, and financial hardship.
• Using life-care planners, economists, and rehabilitation specialists to calculate future costs, such as home modifications, equipment needs, lost earning capacity, and ongoing medical care.

Because Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, the injured person must prove not only that someone else caused the injury, but also that they themselves were not primarily responsible. Insurance companies often use this rule to minimize payouts—but a skilled attorney knows how to counter those tactics.

Our spine injury lawyers in San Antonio handle every part of the legal process, including:

• Filing petitions and meeting strict Texas deadlines
• Communicating with insurers and preventing lowball offers
• Interviewing witnesses and collecting scene evidence
• Working with experts to explain medical findings
• Preparing every case as if trial is inevitable

At Arnold & Itkin, our team is known for taking cases to court when defendants refuse to take responsibility. We have secured record-setting verdicts and settlements by meticulously preparing each case, digging into the facts, and refusing to back down, no matter how powerful the defendant or how complicated the injury. For families facing one of the hardest moments of their lives, strong trial experience and local insight can make a life-changing difference.

Talk to Our San Antonio Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today: (888) 493-1629

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in San Antonio because of someone else's negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation. At Arnold & Itkin, we are dedicated to helping those who have been wrongfully injured get the financial support they need for medical care, rehabilitation, and future needs. Our experienced San Antonio spinal cord injury attorneys are here to help you understand your options and fight for your rights.

Some of our recent spinal cord injury case filings include:

• Representing two women injured in a commercial vehicle accident in Bexar County, TX
• Suit filed for Texas railroad mechanic crushed by 10-ton railroad engine
• Finding answers for a heavy equipment mechanic injured at a mining site
• Representing a woman injured in an electrical incident and fall at an airport parking lot

We represent clients in Texas and nationwide after all types of accidents and injuries, fighting for the compensation they need to move forward. We are ready to answer your questions and see how we can help you.

Call us today at (888) 493-1629 to schedule a free case review and let our San Antonio spinal cord injury lawyers help you!