What Happens When a Spinal Cord Injury Prevents You from Returning to Work?

Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious injuries a person can suffer from a car

wreck, fall, or workplace incident. The spectrum of spinal cord injuries is incredibly broad,

it can be as minimal as temporary loss of sensation to permanent and total paralysis.

Beyond the initial medical treatment and recovery, these injuries can often create a long-

term question that is difficult to address: what happens if you can’t return to work?

Spinal cord damage can lead to complete or partial paralysis, chronic pain, loss of mobility,

and other physical limitations that make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, including

sitting for long periods, driving, and lifting heavier objects. The impact of a spinal cord

injury is not just physical, they are mental and financial, the inability to return to work can

affect a person’s income for years or for the rest of their life.

Lost earning capacity:

After the incident, insurance companies often focus on the income you missed while you

were out of work during your recovery, but in spinal cord injury cases, lost wages are only

part of the story. Lost earning capacity refers to the income you are likely to lose in the

future due to your injury. The difference can be significant, especially in cases involving

permanent disability.

Figuring out lost earning capacity can be a complicated task, often requiring deep

consideration into a person’s age, education, job history, and career path prior to the injury.

Historically, insurance companies challenge lost earning capacity claims, frequently

arguing that the injured individual can still work in some capacity, or that the reduction in

income is not as significant as initially claimed.

Protecting your future:

Because the financial stakes are so high, insurance companies will often try to offer a

quick, lump sum settlement early in the process. While a fast payout might seem tempting

when bills are piling up, these early offers rarely cover the true lifetime costs of a spinal

cord injury. Securing your future requires a strategic legal approach that looks decades

down the road, If you or a loved one is facing the reality of not being able to return to work

spinal cord injury, you do not have to walk through this battle alone. Contact our experienced

personal injury attorneys today for a consultation and let us fight for the full compensation

you deserve.

Contributing author: Nathan Richter, Attorney, Bison Law Firm.