Pittsburgh
Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, ongoing care, and other damages.

At Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky, P.C., we have represented injury victims throughout Western Pennsylvania since 1981. Over the years, we have recovered hundreds of millions for Pittsburgh families. We understand the challenges these cases present and are committed to helping clients pursue the financial recovery they need to move forward.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life.

Damage to the spinal cord may interfere with the body’s ability to send signals between the brain and the rest of the body, which can affect movement, sensation, and other bodily functions.

The effects of a spinal cord injury vary depending on where the injury occurred and how severe it is.

Some people recover some function over time, while others may experience permanent impairments that require ongoing medical care and rehabilitation.

Because every spinal cord injury is different, treatment often involves a combination of emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term support.

Understanding the extent of the injury is also an important part of evaluating a personal injury claim.

Every accident is different. The circumstances surrounding the injury will determine what legal options may be available.

Who Is Liable for My Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries can happen in many different types of accidents. In many cases, these injuries are the result of another person or organization’s negligence. Determining how the injury occurred is an important step in identifying who may be legally responsible.

Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Workplace accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Defective products or equipment
  • Sports and recreational accidents
  • Medical negligence

Compensation Available After a Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury often results in substantial financial and personal losses. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may be able to seek compensation for both the immediate and long-term effects of the accident.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, compensation may include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future medical treatment
  • Rehabilitation and physical therapy
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Home modifications
  • Vehicle modifications
  • Assistive devices
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Seeking legal guidance as soon as possible can help preserve evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and ensure important legal deadlines are met.

How Much Is a Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Injury Claim Worth?

The value of a spinal cord injury claim depends on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the expected need for future medical care, and the evidence supporting the claim.

Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, most personal injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. Missing this deadline may prevent you from recovering compensation.

Many spinal cord injury claims in Pittsburgh are filed in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Understanding the legal process and acting promptly can help preserve important evidence.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

After a serious accident, important evidence may become more difficult to obtain. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, physical evidence may disappear, and witnesses’ memories may become less reliable over time.

Acting promptly can also make it easier to gather the documentation needed to support your claim.

How We Fight for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim

Spinal cord injury cases often involve significant medical expenses and long-term care needs. Building a strong claim requires careful preparation from the beginning.

  • Step 1: Learn About Your Situation
    We begin by reviewing the details of your accident, answering your questions, and explaining your legal options during a Free Case Evaluation.
  • Step 2: Gather and Preserve Evidence
    Evidence such as accident reports, medical records, photographs, surveillance footage, and witness statements can play an important role in a claim. Acting quickly helps preserve this information whenever possible.
  • Step 3: Document the Full Impact of Your Injury
    When appropriate, we work with medical professionals and life care planners to better understand the extent of your injury and your anticipated future care needs.
  • Step 4: Handle Communication With the Other Parties
    Once you hire our firm, we communicate with insurance companies and other parties involved in the claim so you can focus on your recovery.
  • Step 5: Pursue Fair Compensation
    Whether through settlement negotiations or litigation, we seek compensation that reflects the full impact of your injury and related losses.
  • Step 6: No Upfront Legal Fees
    We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle

Spinal cord injuries can occur in many different situations. Our firm represents clients whose injuries resulted from:

  • Car Accidents – Serious spinal cord injuries caused by negligent, distracted, impaired, or reckless drivers.
  • Truck Accidents – High-impact collisions involving commercial trucks that result in catastrophic spinal injuries.
  • Motorcycle Accidents – Severe back and spinal cord injuries sustained due to negligent motorists or hazardous road conditions.
  • Slip and Fall Accidents – Falls caused by dangerous property conditions that lead to traumatic spinal cord damage.
  • Workplace Accidents – Spinal injuries resulting from unsafe working conditions, falls, heavy equipment, or construction site hazards.
  • Defective Products or Equipment – Injuries caused by unsafe or malfunctioning products, machinery, or safety equipment.
  • Sports and Recreational Accidents – Spinal cord injuries sustained during athletic activities or recreational pursuits due to negligence or unsafe conditions.
  • Medical Negligence – Spinal cord injuries caused by surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, or other preventable medical mistakes.

ABOUT
Why Choose the Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys at OMP

Spinal cord injury cases often involve catastrophic injuries, extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and significant financial losses.

At Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky, P.C., our attorneys have more than 40 years of experience representing seriously injured clients throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.

  • More than four decades of personal injury experience: Our firm has represented individuals and families in a wide range of catastrophic injury cases, including those involving life-changing spinal cord injuries caused by negligence.
  • Experience handling complex spinal cord injury claims: These cases often involve substantial medical expenses, future care needs, lost earning capacity, and multiple liable parties. Our attorneys are prepared to build a strong case and advocate for the maximum compensation available.
  • Thorough investigation of your injury: We gather and preserve critical evidence, review medical records and accident reports, interview witnesses, and work with medical and financial experts when necessary to establish liability and accurately assess the full extent of your damages.
  • Personalized legal representation: You’ll work directly with an attorney who will evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and provide guidance and support throughout every stage of your claim.
  • No upfront attorney’s fees: We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

I was so frustrated with my situation that I couldn't even bring myself to talk about it, so I sent an email one night. They responded immediately. Every single person I interacted with at the firm was outstanding. I started working with Eve, who was absolutely fantastic. Before she moved on, she personally called me to assure me I would be in good hands with Gary—and she was right. Gary was professional, realistic, accessible, and compassionate. I don't have a single complaint about how I was treated. Hiring this firm was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Don't hesitate to contact them if you need help with a personal injury matter.

– J. B.

I highly recommend Mike Murphy and John Perkosky. They kept us informed every step of the way and were incredibly caring throughout the entire process. They were always available to answer our questions, and I had complete confidence in their abilities. I am extremely grateful for everything they did. Mike and John fought hard to achieve the best possible outcome for our case.

– C. G.

Ben Gobel was extremely helpful with my case. He was thorough, transparent, and kept me informed throughout the process. I trusted him completely because he addressed my questions before I even had to ask. I was very pleased with the outcome of my settlement.

– J. B.

Mr. Perkosky was the best attorney we have ever worked with. He gave us confidence and peace of mind throughout our case while going above and beyond with his compassion, understanding, hard work, and patience. Mr. Perkosky and his team set the standard for exceptional legal representation, and I highly recommend them.

– A. R.

As a fellow attorney, I refer my clients who need personal injury or medical malpractice representation to Ben Gobel at Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky. He is highly attentive to my clients' needs and consistently achieves outstanding results.

– N. K.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Depending on the circumstances of your case, compensation may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, home or vehicle modifications, and pain and suffering. The amount available depends on the facts of your claim.

In most cases, Pennsylvania law gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524.

These cases frequently require additional medical evaluation to better understand the long-term effects of the injury. Future medical needs and ongoing care costs may also need to be evaluated before the value of a claim can be determined.

You may still be able to recover compensation under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence law if you were less than 51% responsible for the accident. Any compensation awarded may be reduced based on your percentage of fault.

It depends on the circumstances. Workplace injuries are often covered through workers’ compensation. However, if someone other than your employer contributed to the accident, such as another driver or the manufacturer of defective equipment, you may also have a personal injury claim.

Yes, this distinction can affect both your medical prognosis and the value of your claim. A complete spinal cord injury involves a total loss of sensation and function below the site of injury, while an incomplete injury means some function or sensation remains. Incomplete injuries can vary widely in severity and long-term outcome. Because this distinction affects future medical needs, rehabilitation potential, and long-term care costs, it’s an important factor in accurately valuing a claim.

We handle spinal cord injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront attorney fees, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We also offer a free case evaluation with no obligation.

Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim With Our Attorneys

The financial impact of a spinal cord injury often extends far beyond your initial medical bills. You may be entitled to compensation for ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Our attorneys are here to evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (412) 471-8500 for a free case evaluation.