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NYC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

New York City spinal cord injury lawyers at Meirowitz & Wasserberg help victims of construction, vehicle and premises accidents seek maximum compensation. Spinal cord injuries can result in lifetime medical costs, lost income and permanent disability. Our team has recovered $500M+ in settlements and verdicts.

Content written by Samuel Meirowitz

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Samuel Meirowitz is “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and an accomplished personal injury lawyer, trial attorney and relentless advocate for his clients. Previously, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Mr. Meirowitz is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida State Courts.

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Content written by Samuel Meirowitz

Samuel Meirowitz

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Latest Updated Date April 7, 2026

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A spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most catastrophic injuries a person can suffer in an accident. Our award-winning spinal cord injury team at Meirowitz & Wasserberg represents spinal cord injury victims across New York City.

Whether your spinal cord injury occurred in the workplace, on a construction site or in a car accident, we have the resources to go after the responsible party with the full power of the law. If your case has to go to trial to recover just compensation, our NYC spinal cord injury lawyers welcome the challenge. Our reputation for excellence will work in your favor in and out of the courtroom. We have recovered more than $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our personal injury clients — including $1,175,000 for a client in a 3-car collision that resulted in a ruptured aorta and spinal paralysis.

We strive for maximum compensation for your medical costs, lost enjoyment of life, lost employment opportunities and any other losses due to your spinal cord injury. Schedule a free consultation online 24/7.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in New York City

Common causes of spinal cord injuries in New York City include construction, vehicle, subway, pedestrian and accidents, along with slipping or falling because of unsafe conditions. Accidental trauma to the vertebrae, discs or the spinal cord itself may occur because of NYC’s density of construction sites, high-traffic corridors and aging infrastructure.

Construction Falls and Workplace Accidents

NYC consistently has high numbers of construction falls and workplace accidents. In 2023, the city had a higher average rate of construction worker fatalities (11.6 per 100,000) than the national average (9.6 per 100,000). Common scenarios include scaffolding collapses, ladder falls, unprotected floor openings and other construction site hazards.

Under New York’s Scaffolding Law, also known as New York Labor Law §§ 240 and 241-a, 100% of the liability for a claimant’s damages is the responsibility of the owner, construction manager and general contractor, and doesn’t take the claimant’s fault into account.

Car, Truck and Taxi Accidents

High-impact car, truck and taxi accidents on major corridors such as the BQE, FDR Drive, Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn and Queens Boulevard can be especially dangerous and lead to serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries. Truck accidents are more likely to cause serious injuries because of the size and weight of these vehicles. About 13,000 trucks navigate NYC each day on the BQE alone.

The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission licenses 13,000 taxis and other vehicles that operate on the streets of NYC daily. The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) passed Local Law 90 of 2025, which mandates $100,000 of personal injury coverage for these vehicles, meant to compensate drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists in the event of an injury-causing crash.

Subway and Pedestrian Accidents

Subway accidents in NYC include MTA platform falls, gap-related injuries and train door incidents. Some of these accidents are fatal. From 2008 to 2021, about 277 people died from NYC subway accidents, according to data from a 2025 Journal of Forensic Sciences study.

Thousands of pedestrians are also injured in vehicle collisions each year. According to the NYPD, nearly 9,000 pedestrians were injured in accidents in 2025.

Slip and Fall and Premises Liability

NYC building owners and property managers have a duty to maintain safe conditions to prevent injuries on their properties. Spinal cord injuries can occur from a slip and fall or other premises liability accidents.

Slip and fall cases refer to injuries people may get if they slip on wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose floor boards, loose gravel, clutter or debris and other hazards. Other premises liability cases include those in which owners fail to properly maintain their property, resulting in an injury. These injuries could come from unguarded rooftops, defective fire escapes, stairwell hazards, fallen trees, elevator accidents and more.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and What They Mean for Your Life

If your spinal cord is injured, where and how complete that damage is will shape almost every part of your future. This affects your breathing, movement, daily care needs and long‑term medical costs, which are all important when calculating lifetime damages. About 60% of spinal cord injuries result in quadriplegia/tetraplegia (a form of paralysis).

Doctors describe injuries by spinal level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) and completeness using the ASIA Impairment Scale. Understanding these terms can help you make informed choices about treatment and your case.

Cervical Spine Injuries (C1–C7) — Quadriplegia and Tetraplegia

Injuries to the cervical spine are often the most devastating. The cervical spine is the top portion of your spine, and it’s made up of seven bones (vertebrae) in your neck. The first vertebra is C1, and it goes down to C7. Cervical nerves C1 to C8 connect the vertebrae.

The type of injury you may suffer depends on what part of the cervical spine is damaged:

Injuries at C1–C4: May result in ventilator dependence, total paralysis of chest, arms and legs, and difficulty or inability to cough or breathe.
Injuries at C5–C7: May result in full-body paralysis, including the functioning of other organs such as the bladder and bowels.

Injuries to the cervical spine have high healthcare costs and the longest life impact because of the care needed for paralysis.

Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Injuries — Paraplegia

Injuries to the thoracic spine affect your upper to mid-back, while the lumbar spine is your lower back. Injuries to this part of the back typically affect the lower body and legs.

T1 and above: Full-body paralysis. Loss of sensation in all limbs and impact to bladder and bowels.
T2–T12: Paraplegia, loss of control of the legs and lower body, loss of bowel and bladder control.
L1–L5: Leg function and bladder/bowel control vary by injury level.

The thoracic spine is the part least likely to be injured, and many thoracic and lumbar injury victims can maintain careers with accommodations. Though they may still have a diminished earning capacity.

Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries — The ASIA Impairment Scale

Doctors use the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale to rate the severity of a spinal cord injury and whether the patient has a complete loss of sensory and motor function or an incomplete loss. The scale goes from A (total loss of function below the injury to the spine), to E (normal function).

ASIA Impairment Scale Levels:

ASIA A (complete): No motor or sensory function below injury level
ASIA B–D (incomplete): Partial function preserved — some recovery possible
ASIA E: Normal function

This matters for your case because the completeness of your sensory loss and the ASIA level determine economic damages, potential settlement values and how your NYC spinal cord injury lawyer will craft their expert testimony strategy.

The True Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury in New York

Spinal cord injuries in New York are devastating emotionally and financially, and the lifetime cost of living with an SCI injury can be in the millions. New Yorkers have access to some of the best spinal cord injury care in the country, and Manhattan is home to world-class treatment facilities, including the New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Hospital’s Rehabilitation Center. Unfortunately, such care can be expensive.

Lifetime Medical and Care Expenses

Lifetime medical and care expenses for SCI can cost millions, and an injury to the high cervical spine (quadraplegia/tetraplegia) can cost $1.5 million in care for the first year alone.

At age 25, the lifetime cost is about $6.4 million, according to the 2026 SCI data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. For a 25-year-old with paraplegia, the average lifetime cost is $3.1 million. Costs can include acute hospitalization, rehabilitation, home modifications, assistive technology and ongoing care attendants.

Having a spinal cord injury is particularly expensive in New York because of the high cost of care. Healthcare spending in New York is among the highest in the country, 37% above the national average.

Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity

Most SCI victims cannot return to their previous occupation, leading to lost income and diminished earning capacity. The average age of someone with SCI in the U.S. is about 44 years old, an age when people are still actively earning, leading to the loss of many years of potential earning capacity.

Calculations in SCI claims account for pre-injury salary, years of remaining work life, career trajectory and probability of partial return to work. NYC earning averages are higher than the national average, and this adds to the damages an SCI plaintiff can claim.

Non-Economic Damages: Pain, Suffering and Loss of Life's Pleasures

Non-economic damages in SCI claims include pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of consortium. New York law doesn’t typically limit non-economic damages in personal injury cases, and this is a potential advantage for a plaintiff.

While loss of enjoyment of life doesn’t receive a separate award from other non-economic damages, it’s a factor that juries consider in New York and can increase a potential verdict or settlement. Plaintiffs can prove this by showing evidence that they can no longer do things they used to enjoy, such as social, recreational or other personal activities.

NYC Spinal Cord Injury Settlement and Verdict Ranges

Spinal cord injury compensation in New York routinely results in seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements because the severity and permanence of the injury justifies these numbers. Some NYC lawyers estimate catastrophic construction accident injuries with spinal cord damage could have verdicts or settlements from $500,000 to $100 million or more.

It’s important to note that these averages are only for reference, and each case is different. Factors that influence settlement values or jury verdicts include the level of spinal cord injury (cervical or lumbar), how much body function you retain (ASIA classification), your age, earning capacity and the defendant’s ability to pay or how much their insurance can pay.

Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in New York — What You Need to Know

Filing a spinal cord injury lawsuit can be complicated, and your first step should be to contact an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer. They can help you file your case and get what you need to prove liability in your SCI claim.

New York's Statute of Limitations

For most personal injury claims, the New York statute of limitations (the time limit to file your case) is three years. But if you file a claim against the City of New York or any state government entity, they require a Notice of Claim within 90 days.

For minors, the statute of limitations is paused until they are 18 years old. Then, the statute of limitations is three years. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in New York is two years and six months, making the time limit to file slightly shorter if a spinal injury developed from surgical or other medical errors.

Proving Liability for Your Spinal Cord Injury

In order to prove liability for your spinal cord injury, you’ll need evidence such as medical records, accident reports, surveillance footage, witness statements and expert testimony from spinal specialists.

If you were injured in a construction accident at work, New York’s Labor Law 240 says that the owner or property manager is automatically liable, so you don’t have to prove that you weren’t at fault. New York is a no-fault state for motor vehicle accidents, and people may receive up to $50,000 for injuries and lost wages, regardless of who is at fault. However, this doesn’t cover all the costs for catastrophic injuries such as SCI. In order to sue for damages above the $50,000 benefit, you have to prove you suffered a serious injury.

Most spinal cord injuries qualify as “catastrophic” by law. These are injuries that result in permanent consequences, such as loss of movement or ability to work. Catastrophic injuries have long-term effects that interfere with the rest of the victim’s life. They are often highly disruptive to the individual and his or her family. People living with SCIs commonly require permanent live-in care or medical supervision, as well as a lifetime of medical costs, rehabilitation and home or vehicle modifications.

Why Choose Meirowitz & Wasserberg for Your NYC Spinal Cord Injury Case

Spinal cord injuries are incredibly serious and deserve attention from experienced attorneys. Our spinal cord injury attorneys in NYC have decades of combined experience representing clients in catastrophic injury claims.

The firm’s founders banded together after working as fellow litigators in a prominent New York plaintiff’s firm. Since the creation of their partnership, they’ve helped hundreds of clients recover from serious injuries, including those with lifelong ramifications for the victim and his/her family. Recently, we won a $1,175,000 recovery for a client who suffered a paralyzing SCI in a three-car collision.

Each year since 2013, Daniel Wasserberg has been on the New York Metropolitan Super Lawyer list. The National Trial Lawyers organization named him a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” in 2017. Likewise, Samuel Meirowitz has also been added to the Super Lawyer list, and before founding the firm, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. These two Super Lawyers have assembled a talented team at Meirowitz and Wasserberg to help people injured in NYC to maximize their compensation against negligent parties.

Whether your spinal cord injury occurred in the workplace or in a car accident, as a leading New York spinal cord injury law firm, we have the resources and experts to get you the maximum recovery. For more information, schedule a free consultation online.

Frequently Asked Questions About NYC Spinal Cord Injury Cases

How much is a spinal cord injury lawsuit worth in New York?

The value of SCI cases in New York varies widely by injury level, circumstances and defendant. High cervical injuries frequently result in seven-figure settlements or verdicts. New York does not cap non-economic damages and NYC earning capacity figures are among the highest in the country. An attorney evaluation is the only reliable way to estimate your case value.

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in New York?

Generally, you have three years from the date of your injury for most claims. If your injury involves the MTA or a city agency, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days — this is a strict deadline that cannot be extended. Medical malpractice claims have a 2.5-year limit. Contact an attorney immediately if you're unsure.

Can I sue if I was injured in a construction accident in NYC?

Yes. New York Labor Law 240 (the Scaffold Law) imposes strict liability on property owners and general contractors for height-related injuries. This means comparative negligence is generally not a defense — even if you made a mistake, you may still recover full compensation.

What is the ASIA impairment scale and why does it matter?

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale classifies SCIs from A (complete — no function below injury) to E (normal function). Your ASIA classification helps doctors predict your recovery and helps attorneys calculate your lifetime care needs and economic damages. ASIA A injuries typically result in higher case values than B–D.

What if I was partially at fault for my spinal cord injury?

New York follows pure comparative negligence — you can generally recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages are $10 million, you’d recover $8 million.

What NYC trauma centers treat spinal cord injuries?

NYC is home to world-class SCI treatment facilities, including Bellevue Hospital Center, NYU Langone's Rusk Rehabilitation, Mount Sinai's rehabilitation program and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Treatment quality is exceptional but expensive — another reason why full compensation matters.

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I feel so blessed to have had Meirowitz & Wasserberg Law Firm represent my Husband and I in a great time of need in our lives. l highly recommend this firm. Daniel Wasserberg was the most personable, caring lawyer one could ever have. He was always there for our every need with compassion, loyalty and sincerity. He truly cares about his clients. I learned to love this man as a Son.

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