Papillion Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Were you left with a spinal cord injury after an accident in Papillion, NE?

At Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O., we are trusted spinal cord injury lawyers with over 24 years of experience. 

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a crash or a fall in Papillion, you may be facing surgery, months of rehabilitation, and other health challenges. At Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O., we have represented injured Nebraskans for 24 years. Our founder has spent his entire career on the plaintiff’s side of serious injury cases. Our Papillion, NE spinal cord injury lawyer can review what happened, explain what your claim is worth, and deal with the insurance company while you focus on recovery. Reach out for a free consultation.

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Papillion, NE

A spinal cord injury lawyer Papillion residents can rely on handles claims for damage to the spinal cord caused by someone else’s carelessness. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke classifies these injuries as complete or incomplete, depending on whether any signal still passes below the injury site. Motor vehicle crashes and falls cause most of them. Injuries higher on the spine affect more of the body, which is why a cervical injury from a rollover often carries a larger claim than a lumbar injury from a fall.

NDOT crash data recorded 382 crashes involving a fatality or a disabling or visible injury in Sarpy County during 2023. Some of those collisions ended in paralysis. A Papillion spinal cord injury attorney investigates who caused the crash, documents the full cost of lifetime care, and pursues the at-fault party’s insurer for the compensation that care requires.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle in Papillion

Spinal cord damage almost always traces back to a specific event. We represent Papillion, NE clients hurt in the situations below, and we have handled injury claims in each category for years.

• Car accidents. Rear-end and T-bone collisions on Highway 370 and 84th Street can fracture vertebrae and compress the cord. We reconstruct the crash, obtain the police report, and handle the insurance adjuster so you don’t have to.
• Truck accidents. Semis and delivery trucks carry enough force to cause complete injuries at moderate speeds. Our firm has 15 years of truck litigation experience and moves quickly to preserve driver logs and maintenance records before they disappear.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders have no frame around them. A thoracic or lumbar injury is common when a car turns left across a motorcycle’s path, and we push back when insurers try to blame the rider.
• Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft crashes raise hard questions about which policy applies. We sort out the coverage tiers and pursue every available source of compensation.
• Construction site accidents. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and unfinished floors are a leading cause of spinal trauma. We identify negligent contractors and third parties outside the workers’ compensation system.
• Slip and falls. A fall on ice outside a Papillion business or down a poorly lit stairwell can damage the lumbar spine. We investigate property conditions, maintenance records, and prior complaints.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents. People on foot or on a bike absorb the entire impact of a vehicle. Our attorneys treat these cases with the same attention to liability and long-term damages as any collision claim.
• Wrongful death. Cervical injuries can be fatal. When a family loses someone, we pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf, work we have done for 24 years.

Why Choose Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. as my Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Papillion, NE?

Experience With Nebraska Catastrophic Injury Litigation

Jason Ausman founded our firm and has practiced law in Nebraska since 2001, the same year he earned his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law. He is a past president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys (NATA), a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and current president of the Nebraska chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

In 2012, he wrote the Service of Process chapter of the NATA Civil Litigation Practice Manual, a reference attorneys across the state still use. Our personal injury lawyer in Papillion, NE has that depth of trial preparation that matters most when the injury is lasting or permanent.

Results That Reflect Serious Injuries

Our firm’s record includes millions of dollars recovered for injured clients and their families. Recent results include:

• $1,900,000 for a truck accident victim
• $2,000,000 in a wrongful death claim
• $1,800,000 in a car accident case
• $1,200,000 in a second car accident case

Every spinal cord injury case is handled on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front, and we collect a fee only if we recover compensation for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Liability in a Nebraska spinal cord injury claim rests on negligence. The at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injury. Nebraska follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault and bars recovery entirely if you are found 50 percent or more responsible. Insurers know this. They will look hard for something to pin on you.

Damages in these cases run high because the injury is permanent. They generally include:

• Emergency care, hospitalization, and compensation for surgery, including procedures you will need years from now
• Rehabilitation, home modifications, wheelchairs, and attendant care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress
• A spouse’s loss of companionship

Important Aspects of a Spinal Cord Injury Case

The single biggest issue is proving future cost. A 30-year-old with paraplegia may need care for 50 years, and no insurer will volunteer that figure. A spinal cord injury attorney in Papillion, NE should be working with life care planners and economists early to put a defensible number on it. Other aspects that shape the case:

• Preserving evidence before vehicles are repaired or surveillance footage is overwritten
• Documenting whether the injury is complete or incomplete, since that drives the prognosis and the damages
• Handling health insurer and Medicare subrogation rights so liens don’t consume the settlement
• Deciding between a lump sum and a structured settlement that funds care over time

Insurers also scrutinize social media. One photo of you propped up at a family event can be twisted into evidence that you are less injured than claimed.

What Is the Spinal Cord Injury Case Timeline?

Most Nebraska negligence claims must be filed within four years of the injury. Claims against a city, county, or state agency carry shorter notice deadlines, so we check that on day one. A typical case moves through these stages:

• Free consultation and investigation
• Medical treatment until the prognosis is clear, since the claim can’t be valued before then
• A written demand to the insurance company and negotiation
• Filing suit and discovery, including your deposition
• Mediation, then trial if the insurer refuses to pay what the case is worth

What to Bring to Your Spinal Cord Injury Consultation

Bring any and all information that you have regarding the accident. Missing some paperwork will not stop us from evaluating your case.

• The crash report or incident report, if one was filed
• Hospital discharge papers, imaging results, and the names of your treating physicians
• Photos of the scene, the vehicle, or the hazard
• Any letters or recorded statement requests from an insurance company
• Contact information for witnesses

The consultation is free and confidential. We will explain how Nebraska law applies to your situation and what a claim would look like before you decide anything. If a family member is handling this because you are still hospitalized, they are welcome to call on your behalf.

Most Dangerous Locations for Spinal Cord Injury Accidents in Papillion, NE

High-speed and high-volume corridors produce the crashes most likely to cause spinal trauma. Here are accident areas that tend to result in severe injury conditions.

Streets:

• 84th Street, Papillion’s main north-south route, with heavy commercial turning traffic
• 72nd Street near Shadow Lake Towne Center
• Cornhusker Road at its signalized intersections
• Giles Road, where residential traffic mixes with commuters

Highways:

• Nebraska Highway 370, the busiest east-west route through the city
• U.S. Highway 75, the Kennedy Freeway, along Papillion’s eastern edge
• Interstate 80 across northern Sarpy County, where speed magnifies injury severity

Reach Out to Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. to Schedule a Consultation

A spinal cord injury can impact the rest of your life, and your claim should reflect that. Our Papillion spinal cord injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation, and there are no fees unless we win. Contact us today, and someone from our office will respond promptly to set up a time to talk further.