Legally Reviewed by Kevin Henrichson on October 8, 2026
A spinal cord injury can change how you move, work, and live in a matter of seconds. Many people face months of hospital care and rehabilitation, followed by a lifetime of medical needs, home changes, and lost income. When another driver, company, or property owner caused the harm, Texas law allows you to seek compensation for those losses, and the steps you take early can shape the outcome of your claim.
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP is Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm, founded in 1959. As part of our catastrophic injury practice, Board Certified trial attorneys Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson handle spinal cord injury cases caused by truck crashes, drunk drivers, construction site accidents, and other serious negligence across Austin and Central Texas.
⚠ Time-Sensitive: Texas Law Limits Your Window to File
Most Texas spinal cord injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury.
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has served injured Texans for over 65 years. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Affect Your Life
The spinal cord carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When it is damaged, movement, sensation, and organ function below the injury site can be affected.
The location of the injury matters too. Injuries in the neck can lead to tetraplegia, which affects the arms, legs, and torso. Injuries lower on the spine can lead to paraplegia, which affects the legs and lower body. Either type can bring chronic pain, breathing complications, bladder and bowel changes, and a long recovery period.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Austin
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, an estimated 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year, and vehicle crashes are the leading cause.
Who May Be Responsible for Your Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury claim requires proof that someone owed you a duty of care, failed to meet it, and caused your injury. More than one party may share responsibility. A trucking company may be liable alongside its driver, a general contractor alongside a subcontractor, or a bar that overserved a customer under Texas dram shop liability rules.
Insurance companies often argue that an injured person shares the blame or that the injury came from an earlier condition. Gathering crash data, scene evidence, and medical records early makes those arguments harder to sustain.
Compensation in an Austin Spinal Cord Injury Claim
The value of a spinal cord injury claim depends on the severity and level of the injury, the care you will need, and how the injury affects your ability to work.
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
|---|---|
| Past and future medical care | Physical pain and mental anguish |
| Rehabilitation and therapy | Physical impairment |
| Home and vehicle modifications | Disfigurement |
| Lost wages and earning capacity | Loss of enjoyment of life |
For serious injuries, we work with treating physicians, life care planners, and economists to estimate lifetime costs, including equipment, attendant care, and future surgeries. Without that work, settlement offers often leave out costs that arise years after the injury. If a spinal cord injury proves fatal, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.
How We Build a Spinal Cord Injury Case
Strong cases are built on documentation, and the work starts early.
Statute of Limitations for Austin Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, most personal injury claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the date of injury, not the date you finish treatment. A wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Claims against a city, county, or other public entity can require written notice much sooner. Missing a deadline is permanent, so do not hesitate to reach out early.
Meet the Board Certified Attorneys Handling Austin Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Both attorneys are listed in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, and both prepare catastrophic injury cases as if each one may go to trial.
Why Injured Texans Choose Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP
U.S. News & World Report recognizes our firm as one of the Best Law Firms in the United States. You will not see us on billboards or television. Clients find us through referrals, past clients, and our reputation in Austin’s legal community. Our case results reflect decades of serious injury work, and our trial preparation gives us leverage in settlement negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP brings more than 65 years of personal injury trial experience to every spinal cord injury case we accept. Our Board Certified attorneys and our recognition in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Best Law Firms reflect a long record of serving injured Texans.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence in Austin or anywhere in Texas, contact our team for a free consultation. We can review what happened, explain the deadlines that apply to you, and help you decide on your next step.
Legal Help For Victims Of Accidents
Our lawyers are ready to put our decades of experience and culture of success to work for you if you have suffered serious injuries in an accident caused by the fault of another. Contact us for a consultation.