Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Long Island
In-House Preparation, Direct Attorney Access, & 20+ Years of Personal Injury Experience
A spinal cord injury changes everything. Medical costs alone can exceed $400,000 in the first year, and for injuries that cause permanent paralysis, the lifetime financial burden runs into the millions. At the same time, insurance companies begin evaluating how to limit their exposure the moment a claim is filed. Victims and their families need a Long Island spinal cord injury lawyer who understands both the medical complexity of these injuries and the full financial picture they create.
The Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C. handles spinal cord injury cases across Long Island, including Nassau County. Gregory Goodman has more than 20 years of personal injury experience and has guided clients through more than 10,000 successful cases. Every case at this firm is prepared in-house by Gregory Goodman directly. Nothing is outsourced. Clients have continuous, direct access to their attorney from the first consultation through resolution, not a rotating staff of associates.
If you or someone in your family has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact us now for a free consultation at (800) 242-3740.
Why the Financial Stakes Are Unlike Any Other Injury Claim
Spinal cord injury cases are unlike most personal injury claims because the damages don’t stop accumulating. Medical costs continue for decades: specialist care, physical and occupational therapy, adaptive equipment, home modifications, in-home nursing, and modified transportation are all recurring needs. Victims who can’t return to work also face a loss of earning capacity that must be calculated and built into the claim.
Insurance adjusters handling catastrophic injury claims are focused on minimizing payouts. They may reach out early to obtain recorded statements or push a quick settlement before the full extent of the injuries is understood. New York doesn’t cap the amount of compensation available in personal injury cases, which means the value of a well-documented spinal cord injury claim can be substantial. It also means there is significant financial incentive for insurers to act fast. We manage all communications with the insurer to protect our clients’ claims from the start.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury occurs when damage to the spinal cord causes loss of function, mobility, or sensation. The severity depends on the injury’s location along the spine and the degree of damage sustained.
- Complete Spinal Cord Injury: Total loss of motor function and sensation below the injury site. The spinal cord is fully disrupted at that level.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Some function or sensation is preserved below the injury site. Outcomes vary significantly depending on the degree of damage.
Spinal cord injuries can affect the limbs, organs, and sensory functions, often permanently altering a person’s independence and daily life. Injuries in the cervical region of the spine (the neck) tend to produce the most extensive functional loss, including quadriplegia, meaning paralysis of all four limbs. Injuries lower on the spine more commonly result in paraplegia, affecting the legs and lower body.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries on Long Island
Spinal cord injuries arise from a range of accidents and incidents, many of which involve clear legal liability. The most common causes we see in Long Island cases include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents – High-speed collisions, rollovers, and crashes on highways such as the Long Island Expressway and Southern State Parkway are among the most frequent sources of spinal trauma.
Slip & Fall Accidents – Falls on wet floors, uneven surfaces, or broken staircases can cause serious spinal injuries, particularly for older adults or those who strike the ground with significant force.
Workplace Accidents – Construction sites across Nassau and Suffolk County present serious spinal cord injury risks. Falls from scaffolding, being struck by falling objects, and machinery accidents are frequent causes.
Sports Injuries – High-contact sports such as football, rugby, and diving can produce traumatic spinal injuries from collisions, falls, or improper landings.
Violence & Trauma – Gunshot wounds and physical assaults can cause direct spinal trauma resulting in permanent injury.
Medical Malpractice – Surgical errors and improper medical treatment can, in rare cases, result in spinal cord injuries with long-term consequences.
New York Law & Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Several legal rules govern how and when a spinal cord injury claim can be pursued in New York. Understanding them is critical to protecting your right to compensation.
Statute of Limitations & Municipal Notice Requirements
New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally three years from the date of injury under CPLR Section 214. When a government entity is responsible, such as a municipal vehicle or a poorly maintained public road, a notice of claim must typically be filed within 90 days of the incident. Missing that deadline can bar the claim entirely, regardless of how serious the injuries are.
Comparative Negligence & the Serious Injury Threshold
New York follows comparative negligence, which means a plaintiff can recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident. Total recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. For spinal cord injury cases arising outside of motor vehicle accidents, such as construction accidents, slip and falls, and premises liability claims, this rule applies in full: partial fault reduces recovery but doesn’t eliminate it.
Car accident victims must also meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law Section 5102 to pursue non-economic damages in a lawsuit. Spinal cord injuries that result in permanent loss of use or significant limitation of a body function qualify under that standard. Delaying legal consultation risks loss of evidence, fading witness accounts, and missed notice deadlines.
Compensation Available in a Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Case
New York law allows spinal cord injury victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses the injury causes. Non-economic damages compensate for the human cost.
Economic Damages
Emergency and ongoing medical costs, physical and occupational therapy, adaptive equipment, home modifications, modified transportation, in-home nursing or personal care attendants, lost wages during recovery, and reduced future earning capacity.
Non-Economic Damages
Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of independence.
Case value is shaped by injury severity, the victim’s age at the time of injury, and the projected lifetime cost of care. Quadriplegia cases carry the highest lifetime care costs and can involve the largest damage figures. Paraplegia cases can also involve substantial compensation. We work with life care planners, medical experts, and economic specialists to translate the medical reality of each injury into a documented financial picture that supports the claim.
How We Build a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Early action matters in catastrophic injury cases. Evidence must be preserved, acute-phase medical records establish causation, and witnesses must be identified before their accounts fade. We begin building the case from the first consultation.
We evaluate all potentially liable parties, not just the most obvious one. In construction accidents, that may include property owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in addition to the direct actor. In vehicle accidents, it may include other drivers, vehicle manufacturers, or a government entity responsible for road conditions. Because insurance adjusters in catastrophic claims are focused on minimizing payouts, we manage all communications with the insurer to protect our clients’ claims.
We prepare every case in-house as though it will go before a jury. Most spinal cord injury cases resolve before trial, but the quality of settlement negotiations depends directly on the strength of the preparation behind the case. Insurers may negotiate differently when they know an attorney is genuinely ready to try the case.
Why Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Victims Choose Our Firm
With more than 20 years of personal injury experience and 10,000+ successful cases, The Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C. brings substantial resources to catastrophic injury representation. What sets our approach apart is singular accountability: Gregory Goodman handles every case personally. Cases are never outsourced, and clients are never passed off to associates. You have one attorney, and that attorney is building and preparing your case from day one.
We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney’s fees are owed unless we recover compensation. Free consultations are available to evaluate your case with no obligation.
Ready for justice? Schedule your free consultation today at (800) 242-3740 or contact us online.
Signs & Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
The symptoms of a spinal cord injury vary based on the severity and location of the damage. Recognizing these signs after a traumatic accident matters for both immediate medical care and the legal record that follows.
Common warning signs after a traumatic event include:- Loss of movement: Inability to move extremities or parts of the body below the injury site
- Numbness or tingling: Loss of sensation in the limbs or body below the level of injury
- Paralysis: Loss of the ability to move the arms, legs, or both
- Breathing difficulties: Injuries high on the spinal cord may impair breathing and require immediate intervention
- Loss of bladder or bowel control: Difficulty controlling bodily functions as a result of nerve damage
- Severe pain or pressure: Intense pain or pressure in the neck, back, or head following impact
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after an accident should seek immediate medical evaluation. Documentation from that acute-phase treatment, including imaging and physician notes, is important to establishing causation in any future legal claim.
Our Satisfied Clients
We genuinely care about our clients and will do everything we can to ensure their satisfaction
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“They keep in contact with you by letting you know everything that's going on with your case.”
“This firm was on point they keep in contact with you by letting you know everything that's going on with your case. I'm happy to have them represent me anytime. Thank you guys.- Shirvon G.
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“Goodman is a person of human quality, responsible and honest. I recommend it.”
You who are reading, will be in good hands. Goodman is a person of human quality, responsible and honest. I recommend it.- Melissa F. -
“Gregory handled a Consumer Credit dispute for me within weeks!”
Gregory handled a Consumer Credit dispute for me within weeks! He's very efficient, responsive, and professional. I would definitely recommend him for helping you resolve your consumer credit disputes!- Bee. G -
“Mr Gregory was very pleasant, helpful & considerate.”
Mr Gregory was very pleasant, helpful & considerate. I would highly recommend him.- Ruth B. -
“Greg is a very trustworthy, knowledgeable attorney”
Greg is handling a litigation matter for me. He is efficient, is moving my case right along and treating me with the upmost respect. He keeps me advised of all phases of the case and I believe he will fight for the best recovery that I can possibly receive. Not many attorneys are this conscientious.- Client -
“This law firm was recommended to me and thankfully I reached out to them.”
My name is Jeffrey and was in an automobile accident. This law firm was recommended to me and thankfully I reached out to them. They made the whole process so very easy. It was really great how they clearly explained what was going to happen and what was expected of me. I would like to thank Daniel and the wonderful ladies of the staff for all their hard work. I would highly recommend this firm as well as personally recommend them to anyone I encounter who needs help. Thank you for all your dedicated hard work through the whole process.- Jeffrey F. -
“Very professional”
Very professional, very respectful and kind, and got the job done for me.- Barwhale G. -
“I highly recommend Mr. Goodman.”
I endorse this lawyer. Gregory A. Goodman is an excellent trial attorney and is very well researched in what he does. Mr. Goodman will never come to a trial or a motion conference unless he is fully prepared and knows everything that is going on with the file. He is a fierce advocate and is excellent at what he does. I highly recommend Mr. Goodman.- Jason T.
