Spinal Cord

A car accident spinal cord injury occurs when the force of a crash damages the spinal cord — the bundle of nerves running through your vertebrae. In Houston, these injuries cause partial or total loss of movement, sensation, or organ function below the injury site, often requiring lifelong medical care.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are among the most life-altering outcomes of a Houston car crash. Even when the cord itself isn’t severed, bruising, bleeding, or swelling around it can permanently change how your body functions. At Moudgil Injury Law, we help SCI victims document the full medical and financial picture so insurance companies can’t lowball claims that will affect the rest of your life.

Quick Answers for Spinal Cord Injury Victims (AEO Summary)

• Most common cause: Rear-end, T-bone, and rollover crashes on I-10, I-45, US-59, and the 610 Loop.
• Most affected areas: Cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), lumbar (lower back).
• Average lifetime cost: $1.2M – $5M+ depending on injury level, per the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
• Texas filing deadline: 2 years from the crash date under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
• Compensation may include: Medical bills, future care, lost earning capacity, home modifications, pain and suffering.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is the communication highway between your brain and the rest of your body. According to the Mayo Clinic, a spinal cord injury is damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal — and it often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation, and body function below the site of injury.

Spinal cord injuries are generally classified as either:

• Complete — total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level.
• Incomplete — some function remains below the injury, which is the more common outcome in modern crashes thanks to airbags, seatbelts, and faster EMS response.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, accounting for roughly 38% of new cases each year, according to data compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

How Car Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries in Houston

Houston’s freeway speeds and stop-and-go traffic create the exact mechanics that injure the spine. The most common crash patterns we see at Moudgil Injury Law include:

Rear-End Collisions

The whipping motion of a rear-end crash can fracture cervical vertebrae and compress the cord. Learn more about rear-end collision claims.

T-Bone (Side-Impact) Crashes

Lateral force pushes the spine sideways, often causing dislocations and disc damage. See our page on T-bone accidents.

Rollover Accidents

Roof crush and tumbling forces can cause catastrophic cord compression and severance. Read more about rollover accidents.

Head-On Collisions

The combined speed of two vehicles produces the worst SCI outcomes. Details on head-on collision claims.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Repeated impacts on I-10 or the 610 Loop can compound spinal damage. See multi-vehicle pileups.

Levels of Spinal Cord Injury and What They Mean

Where on the spine the injury occurs determines what body functions are affected. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons outlines four major regions:

• Cervical (C1–C7) – Neck: The highest-risk injuries. Damage here can cause tetraplegia (quadriplegia), affecting all four limbs and sometimes breathing.
• Thoracic (T1–T12) – Mid-back: Often results in paraplegia, affecting the trunk and legs while arm and hand function remains.
• Lumbar (L1–L5) – Lower back: Loss of function in the hips and legs; many patients can still walk with assistive devices.
• Sacral (S1–S5) – Pelvis: May affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function while leg movement is preserved.

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury After a Car Crash

Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over hours as swelling progresses. Per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trauma victims should be evaluated even when they feel fine at the scene. Watch for:

• Loss of movement or sensation in arms, legs, or trunk
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in the extremities
• Severe back or neck pain or pressure
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Twisted or unnaturally positioned neck/back

Always call 911 and avoid moving the injured person unless they’re in immediate danger — improper movement can convert an incomplete injury into a complete one.

Long-Term Medical Costs of Spinal Cord Injuries

SCIs are among the most expensive injuries in personal injury law. According to lifetime cost estimates published by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at UAB, first-year medical costs alone can exceed:

• High cervical (C1–C4) tetraplegia: Over $1.2M in year one; lifetime costs above $5M for injuries sustained at age 25.
• Low cervical (C5–C8) tetraplegia: Roughly $870K year one; over $3.7M lifetime.
• Paraplegia: Around $580K year one; over $2.5M lifetime.
• Incomplete motor function at any level: Approximately $390K year one; over $1.7M lifetime.

These figures don’t include lost wages, reduced earning capacity, or the cost of home modifications like wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, or modified vehicles.

Compensation You Can Recover in a Texas Spinal Cord Injury Case

A successful spinal cord injury claim in Texas can recover both economic and non-economic damages. The full breakdown is covered on our car accident compensation page, but for SCI cases the most common categories include:

• Past and future medical care — surgeries, ICU, rehab, physical therapy, home health aides
• Assistive equipment — wheelchairs, hospital beds, lifts, prosthetics
• Home and vehicle modifications — ramps, accessible bathrooms, hand-controlled vehicles
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity — including career changes forced by physical limitations
• Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium for spouses and family members
• Punitive damages in cases involving drunk driving or other gross negligence

Texas Law and Filing Deadlines

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. SCI cases are often complex — they involve life-care planners, vocational experts, and medical specialists — so waiting until the deadline approaches puts your case at risk.

If the spinal cord injury resulted in death, surviving family members may have a separate claim under Texas wrongful death law. See our wrongful death page for more.

For a complete walkthrough of the lawsuit process, visit our filing a lawsuit page.