A spinal cord injury changes everything in an instant. One moment you are living your life — driving down I-95, crossing a Miami construction site, or riding your motorcycle on US-1 — and the next, you are facing a diagnosis that may define the rest of your life. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average lifetime care cost for a 25-year-old who suffers paraplegia exceeds $2.3 million — before accounting for lost wages, home modifications, or the emotional toll on your family. If you are in need of legal help, consider consulting a miami spinal cord injury lawyer.
If another party’s negligence caused your injury, Florida law entitles you to full compensation. But the legal landscape has changed dramatically, and the window to act is shorter than most people realize.
CHG Lawyers is a catastrophic injury firm located at 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd in Coral Gables, Florida. Our founding partners trained as Miami-Dade Public Defenders — giving us a tactical advantage over the insurance defense firms and adjusters you are up against. We are fully bilingual in English and Spanish, serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury Claim in Florida?
A spinal cord injury claim is a personal injury lawsuit filed when another party’s negligence causes traumatic damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is the central channel through which the brain communicates with the rest of the body. When it is damaged, those signals are disrupted — sometimes permanently.
In Florida, these cases are governed by Florida Statutes §768.19 through §768.21, which define who may sue, who may be sued, and what damages are recoverable.
Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete SCI involves total loss of motor function and sensation below the injury level. Cervical injuries cause quadriplegia; thoracic injuries cause paraplegia. These cases carry the highest settlement values due to permanent disability and lifetime medical costs.
Incomplete SCI retains partial nerve communication below the injury level. Outcomes vary widely — but even incomplete injuries with partial paralysis can generate seven-figure claims when lifetime care needs are properly documented by medical experts and life care planners.
How Florida’s 2023 Tort Reform Act Affects Your Case
Florida’s 2023 Tort Reform Act (House Bill 837) made changes that directly — and severely — impact SCI victims.
- Statute of limitations reduced to 2 years. Under Florida Statute, you now have only 2 years from the date of the accident to file — down from 4 years. Many SCI victims spend months in acute care before consulting an attorney. Missing this deadline permanently bars your right to any compensation.
- Modified comparative negligence (51% rule). If you are found more than 51% at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies will aggressively argue victim fault to trigger this bar. You need experienced legal counsel from day one.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Miami
Motor vehicle crashes account for approximately 46% of all spinal cord injuries nationally, according to the CDC. In Miami, high-speed collisions on I-95, the Palmetto Expressway, and Brickell Avenue corridors are the leading cause. Truck accidents involving commercial vehicles operating out of Port Miami are particularly devastating due to extreme impact forces.
Falls are the second leading cause, at approximately 22% of all SCIs. Miami’s concentration of hotels, condominiums, and retail spaces with tile floors and wet surfaces creates constant premises liability risk. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions under Florida law.
Construction site accidents in Brickell, Wynwood, and Downtown Miami contribute significantly in Miami-Dade County. Scaffold collapses, falling objects, and caught-in machinery incidents can cause catastrophic cord damage. Injured workers may have third-party claims beyond workers’ compensation, unlocking full personal injury damages.
Motorcycle accidents on South Florida roads round out the primary causes. Motorcyclists have no structural protection, and even minor collisions at highway speeds can cause cervical or thoracic cord injuries.
How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Case Worth in Florida?
Settlement values depend on the injury level, degree of permanent impairment, your age, pre-injury income, and the strength of your legal representation. Based on comparable Florida verdicts and NSCISC lifetime cost data, here are realistic ranges:
| Injury Type | Condition | Estimated Settlement Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical (C1–C7) | Quadriplegia | $3M – $25M+ |
| Thoracic (T1–T12) | Paraplegia | $1.5M – $10M |
| Lumbar / Sacral | Partial Paralysis | $500K – $3M |
Damages You Can Recover
Economic damages include past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, home and vehicle modifications, assistive devices, lost wages, and diminished lifetime earning capacity calculated by vocational and economic experts.
Non-economic damages include physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for spouses. Florida does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases, meaning there is no ceiling on what a jury may award.
Punitive damages are available when the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional — most commonly in DUI accident cases and product liability matters involving concealed defects. In certain DUI cases under Florida law, punitive damages carry no statutory cap.
If the injury proves fatal, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under Florida Statute §768.19, which provides for recovery of funeral expenses, loss of support, and loss of companionship.
Choosing the Right Miami Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
The Legal Process for a Miami Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit
Step 1 — Preserve evidence immediately. Accident scene photographs, witness contact information, surveillance footage (often overwritten within 24–72 hours), vehicle black box data, and maintenance records must be secured as soon as possible. CHG Lawyers can dispatch an investigator within hours.
Step 2 — Obtain comprehensive medical documentation. Your case depends on thorough SCI documentation: ASIA Impairment Scale neurological assessments, MRI and CT imaging, life care planning reports, and vocational rehabilitation evaluations. SCIs frequently co-occur with traumatic brain injuries, which must also be documented.
Step 3 — Navigate Florida’s PIP requirements. Florida requires all drivers to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection coverage. You must seek treatment within 14 days to preserve these benefits. For SCI victims, PIP is a starting point only — your attorney will establish the serious injury threshold to pursue full liability damages beyond the no-fault system.
Step 4 — File before the 2-year deadline. The clock starts on the date of the accident. If a government entity is involved — FDOT, Miami-Dade County, or a municipality — a pre-suit notice under the Florida Tort Claims Act must also be filed.
Step 5 — Negotiate or litigate for maximum recovery. CHG Lawyers prepares every case for trial from day one. Insurance companies offer significantly higher settlements when they know opposing counsel will actually try the case. Our public defender background means we are exceptionally comfortable in Miami-Dade courtrooms.
Why Choose CHG Lawyers for Your Miami SCI Case?
Our founding partners trained as Miami-Dade Public Defenders — an experience that gives us a structural understanding of how opposing counsel and insurance defense teams think. We do not just know personal injury law; we know how to win in the specific courts and against the specific firms that dominate Miami litigation.
We are a fully bilingual firm serving Miami’s majority Hispanic population. Your immigration status does not affect your right to pursue a personal injury claim under Florida law — a fact that is frequently misunderstood and that causes some of our community’s most vulnerable members to forego the compensation they are legally entitled to receive.
We handle only catastrophic injuries: spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis claims. Every case receives the full depth of our expertise — not the assembly-line treatment common at high-volume personal injury firms.
You pay nothing unless we win. Our contingency fee structure ensures that every Miami resident, regardless of their current financial situation, can access elite catastrophic injury representation.
CHG Lawyers — 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134 | Free Consultation | Se Habla Español
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
How much is a spinal cord injury case worth in Miami?
Settlement values depend on injury severity. Cervical injuries causing quadriplegia typically range from $3 million to $25 million or more. Thoracic injuries causing paraplegia average $1.5 million to $10 million. Lumbar injuries with partial paralysis may settle between $500,000 and $3 million. These figures reflect lifetime medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering under Florida Statute §768.21. A free consultation with CHG Lawyers will give you a personalized case evaluation.
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida Statute §95.11, as amended by the 2023 Tort Reform Act, you have 2 years from the date of the accident. This was reduced from the previous 4-year window. Many SCI victims lose critical months during acute hospitalization before consulting an attorney. Missing this deadline permanently bars your right to compensation — no exceptions apply regardless of injury severity.
Does Florida’s no-fault PIP insurance cover spinal cord injuries?
Florida PIP covers up to $10,000 in initial medical expenses regardless of fault — negligible for a catastrophic injury. Once you meet the serious injury threshold (permanent injury or significant functional limitation), you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue full liability damages against the at-fault party. CHG Lawyers will establish this threshold and pursue all available coverage, including bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist policies.
Can I sue if my injury was partially my fault?
Yes, unless you are found more than 51% at fault. Florida’s 2023 Tort Reform Act replaced pure comparative negligence with a modified standard. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced proportionally. At 25% fault in a $5 million case, you recover $3.75 million. Insurance companies will aggressively argue victim fault — CHG Lawyers will aggressively rebut every attempt to shift blame onto you.
Does immigration status affect my right to file a spinal cord injury claim in Miami?
No. Your immigration status — documented or undocumented — does not affect your right to pursue a personal injury claim under Florida law. Florida courts have consistently held that immigration status is irrelevant to personal injury recovery and is generally inadmissible in civil proceedings. Your consultation with CHG Lawyers is completely confidential.
Contact Cornish Hernandez Gonzalez Today
If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries in Miami, we’re here to help. Our experienced catastrophic injury lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Your consultation is completely free. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
We Serve All of South Florida:
- Downtown Miami
- Coral Gables
- Aventura
- Kendall
- Homestead
- Hialeah
- Doral
- Pinecrest
Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you during this difficult time. Call Cornish Hernandez Gonzalez today. Your recovery starts with a phone call.
Hablamos español.
Remember: You have limited time to protect your rights. Don’t wait – call today.
Call (305) 745-7035 now for a free, no-obligation consultation.
This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. For personalized legal guidance on your accident injury claim, consult with a qualified personal injury attorney in your jurisdiction.
