A spinal cord injury is more than just an inconvenience. It affects your ability to work, to care for yourself and your family, and to partake of the activities that once brought you joy. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of another party’s negligence, the personal injury attorneys at Yaquina Law are here to help.
Yaquina Law represents clients along the Oregon Coast, and through the state, in spinal cord injury cases arising from a wide range of circumstances: car accidents, trucking collisions, bicycle accidents, slip and fall, construction accidents and more. We evaluate the facts of your situation, identify liability, and build a personalized case for full, fair compensation.
The financial consequences of a catastrophic injury can be staggering. Medical bills and lost wages are compounded by ongoing pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and diminished quality of life. As spinal cord injury lawyers, we pursue every category of compensation the law allows, from immediate medical care and long-term rehabilitation to incalculable losses, up to and including wrongful death.
Contact us today for a free consultation: (541) 272-5500.
Meet Adam Springer, Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Newport OR
Yaquina Law founder Adam Springer runs a thriving personal injury practice dedicated to representing injured people who have been harmed by someone else’s negligence. He knows how debilitating spinal cord injuries can be, having worked closely with injured parties in previous cases. Adam stands ready to assist any Oregonian dealing with the reality of a spinal cord injury, and welcomes inquiries over the phone or in person at his Newport, OR office.
To learn more about Adam, click here.
Spinal Cord Injuries: An Overview
The spinal cord is the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body. When it is damaged, signals that control movement, sensation, and basic bodily functions can be interrupted or permanently severed. The consequences depend on the location and severity of the injury, but even a partial spinal cord injury can drastically alter daily life.
Spinal cord injuries fall into two broad categories:
Complete Injuries occur when all motor and sensory function below the injury site is lost. Depending on where along the spine the injury occurs, a complete injury can result in paraplegia (loss of function in the lower body) or tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs and the torso). These are considered catastrophic injuries; recovery is minimal.
Incomplete Injuries describe injuries in which some function is preserved below the point of injury. The degree of retained function varies widely and may improve with extensive rehabilitation, though recovery is rarely total. Rehabilitation outcomes will vary by the case, the severity of the spinal cord damage, and the resources made available to the victim.
“What does rehabilitation for a spinal cord injury cost?”
Spinal injuries require intensive, long-term medical care. This may include physical and occupational therapy, assistive technology, home modifications, and ongoing specialist visits. The lifetime cost of care for a spinal cord injury can easily reach into the millions of dollars.
After such an injury is suffered, a spinal cord injury lawsuit can bring financial assistance to a serious situation. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney can make a tremendous difference in both the value of your claim, and the speed with which you may be compensated.
Spinal Cord Injury Compensation
Oregon law allows spinal cord injury victims to pursue a broad range of damages when another party is responsible for their injury. At Yaquina Law, we work to ensure no category of loss goes unaddressed. Compensation in a spinal cord injury case may include:
- Past and future medical bills, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, specialist care, and long-term rehabilitation
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity, covering income you have already lost, and income you may never be able to earn because of your injury
- In-home care and assistance, such as professional caregiving services and the costs of modifying your home for accessibility
- Pain and suffering, an umbrella term for the physical discomfort and the emotional toll of living with a serious injury
- Loss of quality of life, which covers the activities, relationships, and experiences your injury may have taken from you
- Punitive damages, available in cases where the at-fault party acted with particularly reckless or intentional disregard for your safety
To learn more about the damages available to you, call Yaquina Law: (541) 272-5500. We offer free consultations, and never collect money until you do.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Newport, Oregon
Spinal cord injuries do not happen only in dramatic circumstances. They can result from a wide variety of incidents, many of which occur right here on the Oregon Coast. Yaquina Law offers assistance in all of the following types of spinal cord injury cases:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. The highways and coastal roads around Newport, like US-101, see more than their share of serious collisions. When another driver’s negligence causes a crash that injures your spine, you have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party and their insurer.
Slip and Fall Accidents
The Oregon Coast brings wet surfaces through rain, wind, and other types of inclement weather—but property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When wet or icy sidewalks, broken walkways, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting cause a serious fall, the resulting spinal injury may give rise to a premises liability claim.
Workplace/Construction Accidents
Workers in fishing, construction, and other physically demanding industries common to the Lincoln County area face elevated risk of serious injury on the job. When unsafe equipment, inadequate training, or employer negligence contributes to a spinal cord injury, both workers’ compensation and third-party personal injury claims may be available. Newport’s fishing industry also gives rise to maritime injury claims — workers injured aboard vessels or on the docks may have additional rights under federal maritime law, separate from standard workers’ compensation. Yaquina Law handles spinal cord injury claims arising from maritime and commercial fishing accidents along the Oregon Coast.
Recreational and Water Accidents
Newport’s beaches, bays, and outdoor recreation areas attract residents and visitors year-round. Diving accidents, boating collisions, and other water-related incidents are a recognized cause of cervical spine injuries. When another party’s recklessness contributes to such an injury, legal accountability is possible.
Medical Malpractice
In some cases, a spinal cord injury results not from an accident but from a medical provider’s failure to meet the standard of care — during surgery, diagnosis, or treatment. These cases are complex and require experienced legal handling. Yaquina Law has the resources to pursue medical malpractice claims involving spinal injuries on the Oregon Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions: Spinal Cord Injury Claims in Oregon
Oregon’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the injury. If you miss this deadline, you will almost certainly lose the right to file a claim — no matter how strong your case is. Some exceptions apply, such as when the injured party is a minor or when the injury was not immediately discovered. Do not wait; contact Yaquina Law as soon as possible after your injury.
Oregon uses modified comparative fault rules: even if you share up to 50% of some responsibility for the accident, you may still recover compensation. Your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault and your damages total $500,000, you would recover $400,000. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney can help protect the value of your claim; call Yaquina Law to learn more.
If you are physically able, document everything at the scene: photographs, witness names, and any relevant details. Seek emergency medical care right away, even if symptoms seem mild at first. Follow your treatment plan closely, as gaps in medical care can be used against you later. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney. Contact Yaquina Law for a free case evaluation as soon as you are able.
A spinal cord injury attorney handles every aspect of your claim — from gathering evidence and identifying liable parties to negotiating with insurance companies and taking your case to trial if necessary. Having an experienced attorney typically results in higher settlements and faster resolution, while allowing you to focus on your recovery. Contact Yaquina Law for a free case review.
Yes. When a spinal cord injury results in death, Oregon law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages include funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, loss of companionship, and the deceased person’s pain and suffering prior to death. These cases are time-sensitive and emotionally complex — our attorneys handle them with both legal precision and genuine compassion. Call (541) 272-5500 to begin the process.
At Yaquina Law you pay nothing upfront, and nothing out of pocket. We represent spinal cord injury clients exclusively on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you do not owe us a fee. This arrangement ensures that every injury victim has access to experienced legal representation.
Call (541) 272-5500 for a free, confidential consultation on your spinal cord injury case.
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of your case, the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate, and whether litigation becomes necessary. Some cases resolve in a matter of months; others, particularly those involving disputed liability or severe injuries, may take longer. What we can promise is that we work efficiently, keep you informed at every stage, and never settle for less than what your case deserves simply to close it quickly.
Yaquina Law: Newport’s Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
A spinal cord injury changes life in ways that are difficult to put into words. At Yaquina Law, we work every day to ensure that the people responsible for those changes are held accountable, and that our clients have the financial resources to move forward with dignity.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury anywhere along the Oregon Coast — in Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo, Waldport, or surrounding communities — we are in your corner. The consultation is free, the evaluation is thorough, and you pay nothing unless we win. Contact Yaquina Law for a confidential case consultation on your spinal cord injury claim.