Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that can cause paralysis, changing how you move, feel, and live in seconds — whether it happened in a fall from a ladder in Globeville or a crash in traffic on Colfax Avenue. It is natural to feel scared and overwhelmed by what this means for your independence, your family, and the long-term care ahead. While you and your family focus on healing, a Denver spinal cord injury lawyer can carry the legal fight for you.

• More than 20 years of proven experience: At Levine Law, founder Jordan S. Levine and our Denver attorneys have fought for injured Coloradans for over two decades. 
• Support through every step, focused on maximum compensation: From the initial consultation to case resolution, we guide and support you — always working to maximize your compensation to cover your present and future needs. Read about the firm — including multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for badly hurt clients and our client reviews.
• Built for catastrophic claims: Levine Law takes on the hardest cases — from a car accident to falls, dives, and other life-altering harm — on contingency, so you pay no fee unless we win.
• A no-cost case review: Call our Denver office, and see the awards and recognition our attorneys have earned.

Your filing deadline depends on the cause. A motor-vehicle crash usually gives you three years, while a fall, dive, or defective product usually gives you two years.

What should you do immediately after a spinal cord injury in Denver?

Do not move the injured person unless they are in immediate danger. Call 911 right away. A suspected spinal injury is a medical emergency. Denver Health Medical Center runs the region’s 911 system and the only Level I trauma center in the City of Denver. Its Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center is where many severe spinal injuries are stabilized.

The first hours matter for both survival and any future claim. To protect both:

• Get emergency imaging. Quick records from Denver Health or UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora show the level and severity of the injury. They also tie it to the event.
• Report the incident. If a vehicle was involved, C.R.S. § 42-4-1606 requires a prompt report of any crash that causes injury. The Denver Police Department or Colorado State Patrol will file a Colorado Traffic Crash Report (DR 3447). For a fall or workplace injury, make sure a written incident report is filed and keep a copy.
• Save the scene. Take photos of the spot — the intersection, the unguarded ledge, the shallow water, the broken scaffolding. Evidence disappears fast.
• Collect names and contact details from drivers and witnesses. In a crisis, families often pick one person to gather this while others focus on care.

  
  

What actually happens after a spinal cord injury in Denver?

The process moves slower than families expect, and the stakes are high. A Denver Police Department crash report or a busy trauma intake at Denver Health can take days to reach you. And whether function will return may not be clear for weeks.

That uncertainty is where the fight begins. Many Denver-area patients move from acute care at Denver Health or UCHealth Anschutz to rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood. Craig is a world-renowned hospital for spinal cord and brain injury. Meanwhile, the at-fault party’s insurer often calls within days. Sometimes they ask for a recorded statement before the long-term outlook and lifetime costs are known. It is fair to share only basic facts and to wait until you have spoken with an attorney.

What are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in Denver?

Most Denver spinal cord injuries come from sudden, high-force trauma, and crashes and falls lead the way locally. The most frequent causes are the following:

• Vehicle crashes on roads like I-25, I-70, and the I-25/I-70 interchange known as the “Mousetrap”. A violent impact can fracture or sever the spinal cord. Nationally, vehicle crashes are the single leading cause of spinal cord injury since 2015, at roughly 37% of cases, followed by fall. In 2024, 153 car occupants and 206 people in pickups and SUVs died on Colorado roads (IIHS), and many more survived crashes with catastrophic injuries.
• Falls from ladders, scaffolding, stairs, and icy sidewalks along streets like Colfax Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. Falls are a leading cause, especially in construction and among older adults, and account for about 32% of spinal cord injuries nationally — nearly as common as vehicle crashes.
• Diving and sports accidents, including shallow-water dives common in an active state like Colorado. Sports and recreation account for about 8% of spinal cord injuries nationally.
• Motorcycle and bicycle crashes, where riders face direct spinal trauma.
• Acts of violence and workplace incidents, often in jobs with heavy equipment or heights. Acts of violence, mostly gunshot wounds, account for about 15% of spinal cord injuries nationally.
  

  

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What are the symptoms of a spinal cord injury?

A spinal cord injury can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on where the damage occurs and how severe it is. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms include:

• Loss of strength or paralysis in the arms, legs, or torso.
• Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control.
• Muscle spasms or exaggerated reflex movements.
• Changes in sexual function and sensitivity.
• Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers.
• Trouble breathing, coughing, or clearing the lungs, especially with injuries higher on the spine.

Anyone with a head, neck, or back injury from a fall or crash needs medical attention right away. Severe pain, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, loss of coordination, loss of bladder or bowel control, or trouble breathing after an accident are warning signs that should never be ignored — delayed treatment can turn a treatable injury into permanent paralysis.

What are the types and severity levels of spinal cord injury?

Doctors group spinal cord injuries as complete or incomplete, and the level of the injury on the spine decides how much of the body is affected. Severity drives both the medical timeline and the value of a claim. Here is how doctors classify them:

• Complete injury: no movement or feeling below the injury level.
• Incomplete injury: some movement or feeling stays below the injury; outcomes vary widely.
• Paraplegia: paralysis of the lower body and legs, usually from injuries to the mid or lower spine.
• Tetraplegia (quadriplegia): paralysis affecting the arms, trunk, and legs, from injuries to the neck (cervical spine).

Recovery differs from person to person. Some incomplete injuries allow partial recovery over time. Others cause permanent paralysis that needs lifelong care. That is why a careful medical outlook — not hope or guesswork — must anchor any claim.

Who is liable for a spinal cord injury in Denver?

Liability rests on negligence. A person or company that fails to use reasonable care — a distracted driver, an owner who ignores a hazard, an employer who skips fall protection — is responsible for the harm. Depending on how the injury happened, more than one party may share the blame.

• Negligent drivers — the most common at-fault party in crash-related spinal injuries.
• Employers — responsible for their workers (this is called vicarious liability) when a work driver causes a crash or an unsafe worksite causes a fall.
• Property owners and managers — under Colorado’s Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115), owners have a duty to keep a place safe. They can be liable when a hazard, like an unguarded ledge or a dangerously shallow pool, causes injury.
• Product makers — when a defective vehicle part, safety harness, or piece of equipment played a role.
• Government bodies — the City and County of Denver, the Regional Transportation District (RTD), or a state road agency may be at fault for bad road design or a transit crash. These claims trigger the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), a strict 182-day deadline to notify a government body of a claim.

Colorado uses comparative negligence — a rule about how blame is split. If you are 49% or less at fault, your recovery drops by your share. If you are 50% or more at fault, you get nothing. Because insurers know this, they often try to shift part of the blame onto the injured person when the payout could be large.

Attorney insight: What makes Denver spinal cord injury cases complex?

Spinal cord injury cases are difficult to value because you have to prove how much care the person will need for their entire life, which is much more complex than just adding up medical bills from a typical injury.

Legal complexity in Denver spinal cord injury claims:

• Lifetime care costs must be projected, not just added up. A credible life-care plan estimates decades of treatment, therapy, equipment, home and vehicle changes, and attendant care. Because Colorado does not cap these economic damages, the projection is usually where the real value of the case lives.
• Whether the injury is complete or incomplete drives value. A complete injury means no movement or feeling below the injury level; an incomplete injury leaves some function, and outcomes vary widely. Treating specialists must document the true severity and outlook, because that medical picture anchors the claim.
• Fault is often shared and hotly disputed. Under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule, you recover nothing if you are 50% or more at fault. With a large payout at stake, insurers push hard to shift blame onto the injured person.
• Serious cases bring several insurers and overlapping policies. Multi-vehicle, commercial, and government-vehicle crashes can involve multiple carriers who each point at the others. Sorting out which policies apply — and in what order — is often decisive when costs run into the millions.
• Government-vehicle or public-road claims carry an 182-day deadline. If an RTD bus, a City of Denver vehicle, or a state-maintained road played a part, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. § 24-10-109) requires written notice within 182 days. Miss it, and the claim is barred entirely.

Litigation readiness means saving physical, medical, and digital evidence, working with treating specialists, life-care planners, and accident-reconstruction and economic experts, documenting long-term impact, and preparing every case as if it may go to trial.

What damages can you recover after a Denver spinal cord injury?

Colorado injury victims can recover two kinds of damages: economic damages (measurable financial losses) and non-economic damages (human losses like pain and suffering). Non-economic damages are limited by statute C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5. Meanwhile, economic damages have no cap.

Economic damages typically include:

• Current and future medical expenses, from the ER to rehabilitation.
• Lost income and reduced future earning capacity.
• Out-of-pocket costs, like home modifications, medical equipment, and other expenses.

Non-economic damages include:

• Emotional distress — the anxiety, fear, and psychological trauma the injury caused.
• Pain and suffering — the physical discomfort and pain from your injuries.
• Scarring and disfigurement — permanent marks from injuries or surgeries.
• Loss of companionship — the strain on your relationships with family.
• Loss of enjoyment of life — being unable to take part in hobbies or daily routines you enjoyed before the injury.

Even though pain and emotional distress are personal, they often lead to real expenses. You might need to pay for therapy or pain medication, and permanent scarring can sometimes make it difficult to work. In Colorado, you can ask for compensation for these practical costs, as well as for the pain and suffering caused by your injury.

Life-care planning and the experts a spinal-injury case requires

Serious spinal cord injury claims are built on expert proof. A life-care planner gives an expert estimate of the lifelong care and its cost — the surgeries, therapy, equipment, home and vehicle changes, and attendant care a survivor will need. A vocational and economic expert measures lost earning power. Treating doctors document the true severity and outlook. This is how the real, lifetime cost of paralysis becomes a fully valued claim instead of an undervalued one.

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Legal note on Colorado’s damage cap

For legal cases filed on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado set a $1.5 million limit on non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, as outlined in HB 24-1472. There is no cap on economic damages, which include costs such as medical bills, future care, home modifications, and lost wages (C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5). In situations involving extreme or reckless behavior, you may also be able to seek extra punitive damages to punish that conduct (C.R.S. § 13-21-102). Because the highest costs in a serious spinal cord injury case are the ones without a cap, it is essential to have thorough documentation and professional expert estimates.

How long do you have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Colorado?

It depends on the cause of the injury. If a motor vehicle crash caused the spinal injury, you generally have three years from the crash date. If the injury came from a fall, a defective product, or a property hazard, the deadline is generally two years.

It’s important to find out your specific deadline early on because it can vary. This can be difficult to manage when you or your loved one is in the hospital or recovering, but timing is critical. Be aware that deadlines can change in special situations, like if a minor is injured or if the person responsible left the scene.

Pitfall alert: the deadline may be far shorter than you think

Two traps catch spinal-injury families. First, if a government body is involved — an RTD bus, a City of Denver vehicle, or a state-maintained road — the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA) sets a strict 182-day deadline to notify that government body of a claim, or the claim is barred entirely. Second, families sometimes assume the three-year car-crash clock applies to every spinal injury. For a fall, diving, or product case, the shorter two-year limit controls. Confirm which deadline governs your case before you assume you have time.

Why do you need a spinal cord injury lawyer in Denver?

These legal cases are very important because they involve so much. An attorney helps you deal with insurance companies, which are focused on paying you as little as possible, especially when your care will be expensive for years to come.

• Insurance companies want to protect their own money, so they often try to argue about who is at fault or downplay how much your future care will cost.
• They might try to get you to agree to a small settlement quickly, before you fully understand how the injury will change your life and how much it will really cost.
• When multiple vehicles, businesses, or government agencies are involved, insurance companies often blame each other, making things much more complicated.

Opponent playbook

Because these cases involve large payouts, insurance companies often try to avoid paying. They do this in two main ways: by arguing about who is at fault, and by downplaying the cost of your future care. For example, they might blame you for the accident to trigger Colorado’s rules about fault, or they might argue that you need less medical equipment, therapy, or home changes than your experts say. A lawyer fights these tactics by quickly securing important evidence—like police reports, medical records, and expert opinions—to protect your claim before that information is lost.

What does the spinal cord injury claim process look like?

Most claims follow a set path: consultation, investigation, expert work, demand and negotiation, and — if the insurer will not be fair — a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court.

1. Free consultation and case review — we look at how the injury happened, the medical picture, and available coverage.
2. Investigation and evidence — the DR 3447 report or a premises/workplace incident report, medical records, imaging, photos, witness statements, and any vehicle data.
3. Expert work — a life-care plan plus vocational and economic analysis to show the full, lifetime impact of the injury.
4. Demand and negotiation — we send a documented demand and negotiate with the insurer.
5. Settlement or lawsuit — if talks stall, we file suit in the Second Judicial District (Denver District Court, 1437 Bannock St) and prepare for trial.

Timelines vary with the severity of the injury, the pace of treatment and rehabilitation, and the court’s schedule.

How do you choose the right Denver spinal cord injury lawyer?

Look for real experience with catastrophic and paralysis cases, knowledge of Denver courts and insurers, access to medical and life-care experts, and true trial readiness — not marketing slogans.

• Does the firm have relevant experience?

For more than 20 years, Levine Law has represented injured Coloradans in catastrophic-injury, spinal cord, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and wrongful-death claims. These cases demand special proof and resources. A documented track record with cases like yours matters far more than advertising.

• Do they have access to the right experts?

Strong spinal-injury cases depend on life-care planners, treating specialists, and economists. The firm should have those relationships in place. Extensive resources matter here: our access to top medical and accident-reconstruction experts strengthens your case.

• Do they know the local courts and insurers?

Choose an attorney who knows how cases move through Denver District Court (Colorado’s Second Judicial District) and how Front Range insurers operate. Founding partner Jordan S. Levine helped shape Colorado law on holding insurers accountable in Crowell v. ICAO — the same insurer accountability that decides most injury claims.

• Are they ready to go to trial?

The strongest settlements often come when the insurer knows your lawyer is ready to try the case. Levine Law’s attorneys hold an AV Preeminent rating — Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating for a lawyer’s legal ability and ethical standards — and have been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers (recognitions reflect each organization’s own selection criteria).

• Are the fees transparent?

Levine Law works on a contingency, “No Win, No Fee” basis — no attorney’s fee unless the firm recovers for you — and consultations are free. Ask any lawyer to explain, in writing, how fees and costs come out of a recovery.

Client testimonials

Levine Law’s clients regularly describe steady communication and attentive care during difficult, life-changing injury cases.

“Several life-changing events have taken place, and I would like to thank the Levine Law crew for their hard work, kindness, and compassion shown during those times.” — Levine Law client, Avvo review

You can read more verified reviews on our Levine Law Reviews page.

Disclaimer: Client reviews are individual experiences and are not a guarantee of any particular result.

Case results that reflect real experience

A spinal cord injury can permanently change how a person moves, works, and lives. Levine Law has recovered for clients facing that reality:

• $2.695 million settlement — a client in a supervised work program was left unsupervised, dove into an above-ground pool, and was left partially paralyzed.
• $2.6 million settlement — a rollover crash left a mechanic partially paralyzed, and the insurer tried to deny the benefits.
• $700,000 settlement (a lump sum plus lifetime benefits) — a worker’s feet became tangled in an extension cord on a roof; the fall caused a spinal cord injury.

More outcomes are listed on our Cases & Verdicts page.

Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case is decided on its own facts.

Areas served

Levine Law represents spinal cord injury victims throughout the Denver metro and Front Range, including:

• Aurora
• Lakewood
• Arvada
• Glendale
• Boulder
• Colorado Springs
• Fort Collins
• Loveland

Spinal cord injuries often arise alongside other catastrophic harm. We also handle traumatic brain injuries, catastrophic injury claims, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip and fall cases.

Local resources

Trauma & rehabilitation centers

• Denver Health Medical Center (Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center) — the only Level I trauma center in the City of Denver; 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204
• UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz) — a regional Level I referral center; 12605 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
• Craig Hospital — a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital for spinal cord and brain injury; 3425 S Clarkson St, Englewood, CO 80113

Medical & injury resources

• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
• Mayo Clinic — Spinal Cord Injury

Crash reports & agencies

• Colorado DMV — Crash Records — request your Colorado Traffic Crash Report (DR 3447). Denver Police Records line: 720-913-6029
• Colorado DMV — Report a Crash
• Denver Vision Zero — Crash Data Dashboard

Courts

• Denver District Court (Second Judicial District) — City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80202

Disclaimer: We provide these resources for convenience only; we do not endorse or profit from them.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in Colorado?

It depends on the cause. A spinal injury from a car crash generally carries a three-year deadline under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. One from a fall, dive, or defective product is generally two years under C.R.S. § 13-80-102. Claims involving RTD or the City of Denver require written notice within 182 days.

What is the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?

A complete injury means no movement or feeling below the injury level. An incomplete injury means some movement or feeling remains. The difference strongly affects the outlook and lifetime care needs, which drive claim value. Because economic damages under C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5 are not capped, documenting the true severity is essential.

Are spinal cord injury damages capped in Colorado?

Only partly. Non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are capped at $1.5 million for cases filed on or after January 1, 2025, under HB 24-1472. Economic damages — medical bills, future care, home and vehicle changes, and lost pay — are not capped, which matters for injuries treated at Craig Hospital in Englewood.

Who pays for lifetime care, home changes, and equipment after paralysis?

Money from the at-fault party can cover future medical care, attendant care, wheelchairs and assistive technology, and home and vehicle changes. Because these costs span a lifetime, spinal-injury claims rely on life-care planners to estimate them. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5, these economic damages are recoverable in full.

How do I get the crash report for a spinal injury from a Denver accident?

Denver Police and Colorado State Patrol file a Colorado Traffic Crash Report (DR 3447) with the Department of Revenue. You can request a copy through the Denver Police Records Unit or the Colorado DMV crash-records portal; reports typically take several days after the crash is closed. For a fall or workplace injury, request the owner’s or employer’s written incident report.

Contact a Denver spinal cord injury lawyer today

If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury in the Denver area, Levine Law is available 24/7 to review your claim and explain your options at no cost.

Contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Attorney Review Disclosure

This content has been reviewed by the attorneys at Levine Law to help ensure its accuracy and compliance with applicable Colorado law. Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

Denver Office
Levine Law LLP
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Denver, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 333-8000

Other Cases We Take On

Beyond spinal cord injuries, Levine Law helps injured Coloradans across a range of practice areas:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Uber & Lyft / Rideshare Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Slip & Fall Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Nursing Home Abuse
• Catastrophic Injury

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is evaluated on its own facts. This content has been prepared for review by Colorado-licensed attorneys at Levine Law.