Thornton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

5-star rated on Google ABOTA trial advocate on the team Catastrophic-injury focus 8 attorneys, bilingual EN / ES

Adams County led all Colorado counties in traffic fatalities in 2024 with 84 deaths, a 38 percent increase over 2023. A high-speed collision on I-25 near the 120th Ave interchange, on 104th Avenue, or on Washington Street can leave a driver or passenger with a spinal cord injury that demands millions of dollars of care spread over a lifetime.
The neurological level of the injury, from cervical (C1-C8) to sacral, determines which functions are lost and drives the lifetime care cost. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center's 2025 data sheet estimates range from about $3 million for paraplegia to more than $6.2 million for a high cervical injury at age 25, in 2024 dollars. Colorado families should expect the higher end of those ranges.
Colorado follows modified comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can still recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage. Insurers try to inflate your fault share to cut the payout on high-value spinal cord claims.

CGH Injury Lawyers represents Thornton spinal cord injury victims and their families from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. We handle the medical proof, the insurance fight, and trial in Adams County District Court when an insurer refuses to value a catastrophic injury fairly. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Who we represent

Thornton residents with spinal cord injuries from roads and worksites across Adams County

A spinal cord injury in Thornton most commonly follows a high-speed collision on I-25, a broadside hit at a signalized intersection on 104th Avenue, a truck crash on I-270, or a pedestrian struck near the RTD N Line commuter rail stations. We represent Adams County residents and families who suffered paralysis or significant spinal cord damage no matter how the injury occurred.

Injury types we handle

Complete spinal cord injury with total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level
Incomplete spinal cord injury with partial preservation of function
Cervical injury causing tetraplegia (C1-C8)
Thoracic injury causing paraplegia (T1-T12)
Lumbar and sacral injuries with lower-body function loss
Spinal cord injury combined with traumatic brain injury

How the injury occurred

High-speed motor vehicle crashes on I-25, I-270, US-36, CO-7, and local arterials
Semi and commercial truck collisions on I-25 and I-270 through Adams County
Pedestrian accidents near RTD N Line stations on Thornton Crossroads/104th Ave and Original Thornton/88th Ave
Motorcycle crashes on I-25 and 120th Avenue
Diving or fall accidents leading to cervical fracture
Construction and workplace incidents

Cervical (C1-C8): tetraplegia and the highest lifetime costs

Cervical injuries affect all four limbs. C1-C4 injuries are the most severe: ventilator support and 24-hour attendant care are common, and the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center's 2025 data sheet estimates lifetime care for a high cervical injury at age 25 at more than $6.2 million, in 2024 dollars. C5-C8 injuries preserve progressively more arm and hand function but still require vehicle modifications, accessible home modifications, and ongoing attendant care. These are the figures that initial insurance offers rarely approach.
Thoracic (T1-T12): paraplegia with preserved arm function

Thoracic injuries paralyze the legs while arms and hands remain functional. T1-T6 injuries affect trunk stability and seated balance. Lower thoracic injuries preserve more trunk control, and many people operate a manual wheelchair independently. Even so, a thoracic-level paraplegic faces lifetime supplies, periodic surgical interventions, and bowel and bladder management costs that compound significantly over decades. The NSCISC 2025 data sheet puts lifetime costs for paraplegia at about $3 million at age 25, in 2024 dollars.
Lumbar and sacral (L1-S5): partial function loss with ongoing management

Many people with lumbar or sacral injuries retain some leg movement and may walk with braces. They commonly face bowel and bladder dysfunction requiring permanent management, ongoing medication costs, and periodic surgery. Lifetime costs are lower than cervical or thoracic injuries but still substantial, and insurers often downplay them by pointing to preserved walking ability.
Complete versus incomplete injuries: the ASIA Impairment Scale

The ASIA Impairment Scale grades injuries from A to E. ASIA A is a complete injury with no motor or sensory function preserved below the injury level. ASIA B through D are incomplete injuries with varying preserved sensation or movement. Incomplete injuries create a valuation problem because the extent of recovery is often not clear for 12 to 18 months after injury. Insurance companies exploit that uncertainty by settling on optimistic projections that rarely hold. A sound life care plan accounts for both the chance of improvement and the reality that most people plateau well short of full independence.

Filing deadline (C.R.S. 13-80-101)

Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for injuries arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). For non-vehicle spinal cord injuries, the general personal injury statute of limitations is two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If a government vehicle or public entity is involved, a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). The clock on that CGIA notice runs from the date you discovered the injury, not necessarily the date it occurred. Missing the CGIA deadline bars the claim permanently.

Comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence. You can recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers defending high-value spinal cord claims aggressively investigate driver behavior on I-25 and Thornton arterials, looking for any basis to push fault above 50 percent. Early accident reconstruction and evidence preservation are the tools that protect you against that approach.

Non-economic damages cap (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Two categories carry no cap at all: economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, and life care plans) and compensatory damages for permanent physical impairment or disfigurement. In a catastrophic spinal cord injury case, the uncapped economic categories, including decades of attendant care and equipment costs, typically represent the overwhelming majority of the total recovery.

CGIA caps if a government entity is at fault (C.R.S. 24-10-114)

If an Adams County public entity, a state vehicle, or another governmental defendant is responsible for the injury, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act limits recovery. For claims on or after January 1, 2026, CGIA caps stand at $505,000 per person and $1,421,000 in the aggregate (C.R.S. 24-10-114). There is no willful or wanton exception that removes these caps. The CGIA notice deadline, 182 days from discovery, applies here as well and is separate from the lawsuit filing deadline.

Punitive damages (C.R.S. 13-21-102)

If the at-fault party acted with willful and wanton disregard for your safety, such as a drunk driver on I-25 near the 120th Ave interchange, you may also seek punitive damages. Colorado limits exemplary damages to an amount equal to actual damages (C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a)), and a court may raise the award up to three times actual damages when the defendant continues willful and wanton conduct during the litigation.

Trauma Care

HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge, 9191 Grant St, Thornton

HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge is the only Level II Trauma Center in Adams County, designated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. It is the primary facility receiving seriously injured patients from I-25 and Thornton's surrounding corridors. Level II trauma care means the center can begin definitive spinal stabilization, surgical intervention, and early rehabilitation planning immediately. The records generated there, including neurological assessment, imaging of the spinal column, and records of any emergent surgical fixation, form the earliest and most critical layer of medical documentation in your damages case. After acute stabilization, many Thornton-area spinal cord injury patients are transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, the top spinal cord rehabilitation center in Colorado and one of the leading SCI rehabilitation facilities in the country.

Courthouse

Adams County District Court, 17th Judicial District

Personal injury cases arising in Thornton are filed in Adams County District Court, part of Colorado's 17th Judicial District. Civil matters are heard at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601. The local judges, civil procedure practices, and the Adams County jury pool all differ meaningfully from Denver District Court. Spinal cord injury cases require expert medical testimony, life care plan exhibits, and economic projections that must hold up before an Adams County jury. We handle Adams County District Court cases directly and are not routing your file to a local referral firm.

Dangerous Roads

I-25, 120th Ave, 104th Ave, Washington Street, I-270, and CO-7

Adams County led all Colorado counties in traffic fatalities in 2024 with 84 deaths, a 38 percent increase over 2023. Thornton carries a significant portion of that toll. I-25 from 84th to 136th Ave is an established high-crash corridor where high speeds and active CDOT construction near the 120th Ave interchange create conditions that can produce spinal-fracture-severity impacts. The 104th Avenue corridor has documented sun-glare crash patterns, particularly eastbound near the HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge campus. Washington Street from 84th to 128th Ave has multiple documented accident zones, including a fatal crash at Thornton Parkway. I-270 through Adams County carries heavy commercial truck traffic that generates the kind of crushing forces that cause cervical and thoracic spinal cord injuries. These road conditions are not background to your case. They are the liability narrative your attorneys document before evidence disappears.

Crash Context

RTD N Line crossings and commercial corridors that generate spinal injury crashes

The RTD N Line serves Thornton at the Thornton Crossroads/104th Ave Station and the Original Thornton/88th Ave Station. Both stations create pedestrian crossing zones across roads designed for vehicle throughput at 35 to 45 miles per hour. A pedestrian struck at those crossings who lands awkwardly can suffer a cervical fracture that never fully appears in early imaging. Denver Premium Outlets at 13801 Grant St generates concentrated vehicle and pedestrian conflicts near the I-25 exit 225 area. Commercial vehicles staging in the surrounding industrial corridors along 120th Ave and 104th Ave represent an additional source of T-bone and rear-impact collisions capable of spinal fractures.

Adams County Court

17th Judicial District

Your case is filed in Adams County District Court in Brighton. We handle Adams County cases directly. We are not routing your spinal cord injury file to a local referral firm.

Denver Office, Statewide Reach

Not a Thornton P.O. box.

We serve Thornton from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Thornton office, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we have is a eight-attorney team that handles Adams County District Court cases directly and is available for a free consultation by phone at (303) 209-9395.

Life Care Planning

Decades of cost on the record.

We work with certified life care planners to project 40 to 60 years of spinal cord injury costs, including attendant care, equipment replacement cycles, accessible housing, vehicle conversions, and ongoing medical care. That document is what separates an adequate settlement from one that runs out of money in 15 years.

What We Will Tell You Early

We decline cases we cannot honestly defend.

If the facts do not support your claim, we say so in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. When the law and evidence are on your side, we fight to the verdict.

Trial-Ready

8 attorneys. Over 25 cases to verdict.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. When attorneys are genuinely prepared to try a catastrophic injury case in Adams County District Court, insurers evaluate demands differently.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Thornton's large Spanish-speaking community throughout Adams County, including during the most difficult phases of a catastrophic injury case.

No Win, No Fee

Contingency only.

You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees or case costs. We advance the expenses, including life care planners and medical experts, and collect only from a settlement or verdict in your favor.

Get emergency trauma care immediately

HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge at 9191 Grant St in Thornton is Adams County's only Level II Trauma Center and the primary receiving facility for serious crash victims from I-25 and surrounding roads. If you or a family member was discharged after a high-energy collision and has any sensation of numbness, tingling, weakness, or back or neck pain, seek evaluation immediately. Spinal cord swelling can worsen in the first hours after impact, and delays in diagnosis delay the treatment that affects long-term outcomes.
Preserve the crash scene evidence

Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and any construction signage, particularly on I-25 near the 120th Ave interchange or I-270 where CDOT configurations change frequently. Identify all witnesses and preserve their contact information. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Statements made in the first hours after a crash, while you are medicated or in shock, are routinely used to limit payouts.
Obtain the police report from the right agency

Colorado State Patrol handles crash reporting on I-25, I-270, US-36, and CO-7 through Thornton. The Thornton Police Department handles crashes on city streets. The crash report names the parties, documents the location, and often contains a preliminary fault determination. We obtain and analyze crash reports as a standard first step in every case.
Follow all medical care and rehabilitation directions

Gaps in treatment give insurers the argument that you were not as seriously injured as claimed. Follow every referral, attend every appointment, and document every symptom change in writing. If your care team has not recommended a neurologist, a physiatrist, or a rehabilitation consultation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, ask directly. The medical record built over the first six to twelve months is the foundation of your damages case.
Call CGH before you sign anything

An early settlement offer from the at-fault driver's insurer typically arrives before the full extent of your injury, and certainly before a life care plan, is complete. Signing a release closes your claim permanently. Once that money is spent and the care costs keep coming, there is no going back. Call (303) 209-9395 before accepting any offer or signing any document.

Economic damages (no cap)

Emergency and acute hospital care at HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge, including surgical stabilization
Inpatient rehabilitation at Craig Hospital or comparable facility
Power wheelchair replacement cycles, roughly every five years
Attendant care and recurring expenses the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center puts at $55,900 to $244,879 per year after the first year, depending on injury level, in 2024 dollars
Accessible home modifications in the Thornton and Adams County market
Vehicle modification for an adapted van in Colorado
Ongoing medical supplies, medications, and equipment maintenance
Lost wages, lost benefits, and reduced future earning capacity

Non-economic damages (capped at $1.5M for 2025 claims)

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional distress and psychological harm
Loss of consortium for a spouse

Compensatory damages for permanent physical impairment or disfigurement are not subject to the non-economic cap (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5).

Colorado's modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) means that if you are found 30 percent at fault for the crash, your award is reduced by 30 percent. It does not bar your recovery. But if an insurer can push your fault share to 50 percent or above, you recover nothing. We counter inflated fault arguments with crash reconstruction, witness statements, surveillance footage from I-25 corridor cameras, and CDOT maintenance records for construction zones. Never settle before your injury has stabilized and a life care planner has documented the full scope of future costs.

I wish I could leave more than 5 stars!

Grace M., 5-star CGH Injury Lawyers client review

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit after a Thornton crash?

For most motor vehicle crashes in Thornton, Colorado gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). For spinal cord injuries with a non-vehicle cause, such as a fall or a workplace incident, the general personal injury statute of limitations is two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If a government vehicle or public entity is involved, a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), and missing that deadline bars the CGIA claim permanently. Because the CGIA notice deadline is much shorter than the lawsuit deadline, contact an attorney as early as possible after the injury.

What is the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury, and why does it matter to my case?

A complete injury (ASIA A) means no motor or sensory function is preserved below the injury level. An incomplete injury (ASIA B through D) means some neural pathways remain, so a person may keep partial sensation or movement. Incomplete injuries are harder to value legally because the extent of recovery is often not clear for 12 to 18 months. Insurance companies exploit that window by offering settlements based on optimistic recovery projections before the picture is complete. A sound life care plan accounts for both the possibility of improvement and the reality that many people plateau well short of independence.

Does Colorado cap what I can recover for a spinal cord injury?

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Two categories carry no cap at all: economic damages including medical bills, lost wages, and life care plan costs, and compensatory damages for permanent physical impairment or disfigurement. In a catastrophic spinal cord injury case, the uncapped categories, particularly the life care plan and lost earning capacity, typically represent the great majority of total recovery value. The $1.5 million non-economic cap is often a smaller slice of the overall case.

Where is a Thornton spinal cord injury lawsuit filed?

Personal injury cases arising in Thornton are filed in Adams County District Court, part of Colorado's 17th Judicial District. Civil matters are heard at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601. The local judges, rules of civil procedure, and the Adams County jury pool differ from other Front Range venues. We handle Adams County District Court cases directly and know the courthouse.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash that caused my spinal cord injury?

Colorado uses modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage. If you are found to be 49 percent at fault, you recover 51 percent of the damages. If you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers defend high-value spinal cord claims by investigating driver behavior on I-25 and other Thornton corridors to find any basis for pushing fault above 50 percent. Early evidence preservation and accident reconstruction protect you against that tactic.

Does CGH Injury Lawyers have a Thornton office?

No. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Thornton and Adams County clients from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We do not have a Thornton address. What we do have is a eight-attorney team that handles Adams County District Court spinal cord injury cases directly, without referring them to local counsel, and that is available for a free consultation by phone at (303) 209-9395 or online.

Your team

The team handling your Thornton spinal cord injury case

CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Every spinal cord injury case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney working alongside life care planners, neurologists, spinal specialists, and vocational economists. Our Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys are available throughout the case.

ABOTA member on the team Catastrophic-injury focus Works with life care planners Adams County District Court experience Bilingual EN / ES Free consultation No fee unless we win

Meet our attorneys

Thornton

Spinal Cord Injury

How the injury happened

Denver money pages

Thornton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Who Build Cases Sized to Lifetime Care

Thornton residents with spinal cord injuries from roads and worksites across Adams County

Injury types we handle

How the injury occurred

Injury level determines the lifetime cost of your Thornton spinal cord case

Cervical (C1-C8): tetraplegia and the highest lifetime costs

Thoracic (T1-T12): paraplegia with preserved arm function

Lumbar and sacral (L1-S5): partial function loss with ongoing management

Complete versus incomplete injuries: the ASIA Impairment Scale

The Colorado rules that govern your Thornton spinal cord injury claim

Filing deadline (C.R.S. 13-80-101)

Comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

Non-economic damages cap (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)

CGIA caps if a government entity is at fault (C.R.S. 24-10-114)

Punitive damages (C.R.S. 13-21-102)

The roads, the courts, and the trauma center that define your Thornton spinal cord case

HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge, 9191 Grant St, Thornton

Adams County District Court, 17th Judicial District

I-25, 120th Ave, 104th Ave, Washington Street, I-270, and CO-7

RTD N Line crossings and commercial corridors that generate spinal injury crashes

Why Thornton spinal cord injury victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

17th Judicial District

Not a Thornton P.O. box.

Decades of cost on the record.

We decline cases we cannot honestly defend.

8 attorneys. Over 25 cases to verdict.

Hablamos espanol.

Contingency only.

What to do after a spinal cord injury in Thornton

Get emergency trauma care immediately

Preserve the crash scene evidence

Obtain the police report from the right agency

Follow all medical care and rehabilitation directions

Call CGH before you sign anything

What compensation can you recover after a Thornton spinal cord injury?

Economic damages (no cap)

Non-economic damages (capped at $1.5M for 2025 claims)

Thornton spinal cord injury, frequently asked questions

The team handling your Thornton spinal cord injury case

Related pages

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