Rhode Island Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another, call 401-431-1990 or contact us online today for a free consultation with an experienced Rhode Island spinal cord injury attorney who will take the time to discuss your rights and legal options.

A spinal cord injury is unlike almost any other personal injury. It strips away the ability to live life on your terms—changing how you move, how you work, and in many cases, how you care for yourself day to day. The path forward often requires extraordinary medical care, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and a lifetime of support. At d’Oliveira & Associates, we have decades of experience standing up for people whose futures were altered in an instant by spinal trauma. Led by Attorney Paul d’Oliveira, our firm has built a reputation across Rhode Island for handling the most serious injury cases with both compassion and tenacity. We recognize the human cost behind every case file, and we fight with purpose to hold accountable those responsible for these catastrophic injuries. Below, we share vital information about spinal cord injury cases—how they occur, who may be at fault, the rights victims have under Rhode Island law, the forms of financial compensation available, and how an experienced Rhode Island spinal cord injury lawyer can step in to protect your future and fight for justice on your behalf.

Spinal Cord Injury Types

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

When the spinal cord is fully damaged at a certain point, all ability to move and feel below that level is lost. This means you cannot send or receive signals from the brain past the site of injury. Complete injuries are often the most severe because they cause permanent paralysis and loss of sensation in large areas of the body. Breathing assistance, mobility devices, and round-the-clock care are usually required.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

With an incomplete injury, some signals still move between the brain and body. This means you may keep partial control over movement or sensation below the injured area. The amount of ability you regain depends on how badly the spinal cord is hurt. Some people recover certain functions over time, while others have lasting difficulties. Every incomplete injury is different, which makes medical treatment and rehabilitation very personal to each case.

Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)

Damage to the spinal cord in the neck can cause loss of function in both arms and legs, along with parts of the torso. This type of paralysis often impacts breathing, eating, and other basic daily activities. People with tetraplegia may need wheelchairs, ventilators, and significant support to live day to day. Because the injury is higher up on the spinal cord, it usually affects the body more widely than lower-level injuries.

Paraplegia

When the spinal cord is damaged in the mid-back or lower back, the result may be paralysis of the legs and parts of the lower body. Arm and hand function remain intact, which allows more independence than tetraplegia in some cases, but walking is often no longer possible. Daily life often involves learning to use a wheelchair, adapting the home environment, and long-term physical therapy to maintain strength in unaffected areas.

Anterior Cord Syndrome

This type of injury affects the front part of the spinal cord. It usually causes significant loss of movement, while some sensations like touch may remain. Because pain and temperature sensations are often lost, daily safety can become more difficult. Rehabilitation focuses heavily on restoring movement and learning to adjust to the permanent changes that remain.

Central Cord Syndrome

With this injury, the center of the spinal cord is damaged, which affects the arms more than the legs. Many people notice that their hands and arms are much weaker than their legs. Balance, walking, and daily tasks like dressing or writing can become difficult. This condition often appears in older adults after falls but can also happen in younger people through accidents. Recovery may be possible with time, though fine motor skills are often affected.

Brown-Séquard Syndrome

This rare condition happens when only one side of the spinal cord is injured. The result is weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, with loss of sensation such as pain or temperature on the opposite side. This unusual split can make everyday life very challenging because strength and feeling are mismatched. Rehabilitation focuses on balance, coordination, and learning new ways to complete daily activities.

Other Variations

Some spinal cord injuries affect the nerve roots or the cauda equina, which is the bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord. These injuries can cause pain, weakness, or paralysis in the legs, along with loss of control over the bladder, bowels, or sexual function. Because these injuries involve nerves that are still able to regrow to some degree, recovery is sometimes possible, but usually slow and unpredictable.

Serious Health Problems Caused by Spinal Trauma

Chronic Pain

Living with nerve damage often brings lasting pain that does not go away with standard treatment. This pain can interrupt sleep, limit your daily activity, and make it hard to enjoy even simple moments.

Loss of Bladder and Bowel Control

When the spinal cord is injured, the nerves that manage bladder and bowel function may stop working. You may face accidents, infections, or need medical devices to stay healthy and maintain dignity.

Breathing Problems

Injuries higher on the spinal cord can make it hard for your lungs and chest muscles to work. This may leave you short of breath or dependent on machines to help you breathe.

Pressure Sores

Being unable to move certain parts of your body increases the chance of skin breakdown. These sores are painful, take a long time to heal, and may lead to serious infections if not treated quickly.

Emotional Trauma

Beyond the physical effects, the sudden loss of independence can bring depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Adjusting to these changes often requires counseling and strong emotional support.

Other Complications

Spinal cord injuries can also weaken your immune system and increase your risk for secondary health problems.

Top Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Rhode Island

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Collisions involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles are one of the leading causes of spinal cord trauma. The sudden force of a rear-end impact, head-on crash, or rollover can throw your body with enough violence to fracture vertebrae or compress the spinal cord. Even at moderate speeds, a crash can cause lasting damage, especially when the neck or back absorbs most of the blow.

Falls From Heights

A fall from a ladder, roof, scaffolding, or even a stairway can place tremendous stress on the spine. The higher the fall, the greater the chance of broken bones or crushed vertebrae that press directly on the spinal cord. In Providence, for example, construction sites and multi-level buildings make these accidents a regular risk.

Slip and Fall Incidents

Everyday slips on icy sidewalks, wet floors, or broken pavement may seem minor, but the force of landing on your back or neck can be life-altering. In colder months, Rhode Island’s winter ice and snow increase the chances of falls that damage the spine.

Sports and Recreation

Athletic activities carry a high risk for spinal injury, especially contact sports like football or hockey, or diving accidents in shallow water. A hard tackle, a bad fall, or a wrong landing during practice can leave you with permanent loss of movement or sensation.

Violence and Assaults

Though less common, physical assaults, gunshot wounds, and stabbing injuries can directly damage the spinal cord. In these situations, the trauma is immediate and often catastrophic, leaving little to no time for medical intervention to limit the damage.

Medical or Surgical Accidents

Spinal cord injuries may also happen during medical procedures that involve the back, neck, or spinal cord itself. A mistake during surgery or injections around the spinal area can cause unintended harm that leaves you struggling with lifelong complications.

Industrial and Workplace Hazards

Jobs that involve heavy machinery, repetitive lifting, or moving large objects can lead to sudden injuries if something shifts, falls, or malfunctions. A single accident on the job can cause fractures, herniated discs, or complete spinal cord damage.

Who May Be Held Liable for a Rhode Island Spinal Cord Injury

Negligent Drivers

In Rhode Island, if another driver causes a crash that results in spinal trauma, you may pursue a claim under Rhode Island’s common-law negligence principles. These claims hold drivers accountable for careless or reckless conduct. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years, as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Property Owners

When unsafe property conditions cause falls or other accidents, liability is determined under Rhode Island’s common-law premises liability principles. Property owners owe a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for lawful visitors. Claims arising from these hazards are treated as negligence actions and are subject to the three-year statute of limitations.

Employers and Workplaces

Work-related spinal injuries are usually addressed through the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-2, which provides medical coverage and wage replacement. In some cases, third-party negligence claims may also be available if someone other than the employer contributed to the injury.

Medical Professionals

Spinal cord injuries caused by surgical mistakes, delayed diagnosis, or improper treatment may fall under Rhode Island’s medical malpractice statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1, which sets time limits and requirements for malpractice claims.

Product Manufacturers

Defective vehicles, safety equipment, or medical devices that cause or worsen spinal trauma may leave manufacturers, distributors, or sellers liable under Rhode Island’s products liability law. Liability is based on the principle of strict product liability in tort, as recognized by Rhode Island courts, and supplemented by statutory provisions in R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13 and § 9-1-32.

Why You Want a Rhode Island Spine Injury Lawyer

When you suffer a spinal cord injury, the stakes are far higher because these injuries often last a lifetime and affect every part of your daily living. A Rhode Island spinal injury lawyer understands that your medical costs will not stop after the hospital visit. They include ongoing rehabilitation, physical therapy, assistive technology, and sometimes even 24-hour care. Under Rhode Island law, you have the right to pursue compensation for injuries caused by another’s negligence, but without a lawyer who knows how to handle spinal trauma cases, insurance companies may pressure you into accepting far less than you truly deserve.

Your attorney’s role is to fight for damages that go beyond what most personal injury cases cover. This includes not only current medical bills but also future medical needs, lost earning capacity, modifications to your home, and the emotional toll of losing independence. Insurance companies often try to limit payments for long-term care or pain and suffering, but your lawyer knows how to push back with strong medical evidence and expert testimony. That is why you need a lawyer who has the skill and experience to handle these complex cases and secure the full compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries in Rhode Island

How do you know what kind of spinal cord injury you have?

Doctors diagnose your spinal cord injury with imaging tests like MRI and CT scans, along with neurological exams. These results determine whether your injury is complete or incomplete and guide treatment, recovery planning, and long-term rehabilitation strategies.

What happens after an SCI in Providence hospitals?

After a spinal cord injury, you are stabilized, often through surgery or traction, at hospitals like Rhode Island Hospital. Medical teams prevent further harm, treat swelling, and begin rehabilitation. Long-term planning starts quickly, focusing on mobility, breathing, and personal independence.

What costs will you face after spinal cord injuries?

Spinal cord injuries bring hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, mobility devices, home adjustments, and long-term care. You may also lose income and future earning capacity. These financial burdens often exceed millions of dollars across a lifetime, demanding careful financial and medical planning.

How do you prove someone caused your spinal cord injury?

To prove responsibility for a spinal cord injury, you rely on medical records, accident reports, and expert testimony. Evidence must show negligence directly caused your condition. Rhode Island law requires clear proof connecting the defendant’s wrongful actions to your damages.

What damages can you claim in a Rhode Island spinal cord injury case?

With spinal cord injuries, you may claim damages for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain, emotional distress, and lifestyle changes. Rhode Island law allows victims to pursue both economic and non-economic compensation through personal injury claims.

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

R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) gives you three years to file a spinal cord injury claim. Missing this strict deadline usually ends your right to compensation, making immediate legal consultation absolutely essential for guidance.

How does a Rhode Island spine injury lawyer get paid for these types of cases?

Most Rhode Island lawyers handling spinal cord injuries work on contingency fees. This means payment comes only if you win. They receive a percentage of your recovery, and if your case fails, you typically owe nothing for their legal services.

Rhode Island Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Few injuries change a life more dramatically than damage to the spinal cord. The medical care is extensive, the recovery is uncertain, and the personal losses can be overwhelming. For more than 30 years, Attorney Paul d’Oliveira and the experienced Rhode Island spinal cord injury lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates have stood beside spinal cord injury victims in Rhode Island, fighting to secure the resources they need to rebuild their lives. We know these cases demand more than routine legal work—they require an in-depth understanding of complex medical issues, long-term costs of care, and the devastating impact on independence and dignity. If you or a loved one is living with the aftermath of a spinal cord injury, we are prepared to be your strongest advocates. Call (401) 200-3849 or contact us online today for a free consultation with an experienced Rhode Island spinal cord injury lawyer who will take the time to discuss your rights and legal options.