Lakewood Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

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The neurological level of a spinal cord injury, from cervical (C1 to C8) to lumbar and sacral, determines the degree of paralysis and the lifetime care cost. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center's 2025 data sheet estimates lifetime care costs ranging 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.
The ASIA Impairment Scale classifies injuries as complete (ASIA A) or incomplete (ASIA B through D). Insurers routinely offer early settlements based on optimistic recovery projections that rarely hold, particularly with incomplete injuries where plateau often occurs far short of independence.
Colorado follows modified comparative fault under 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 of fault. Insurers inflate the injured person's fault share specifically because the 50-percent bar eliminates recovery entirely.

Lakewood's highest-volume corridors, including Wadsworth Boulevard, the 6th Avenue Freeway (US 6), and West Colfax Avenue, generate serious crashes every year. When a crash on one of those roads produces a spinal cord injury, the gap between the first insurance offer and the actual lifetime cost of care can reach millions of dollars. CGH Injury Lawyers represents paralyzed Lakewood residents and their families from our Denver office. We work with life care planners, neurologists, and economists to build a damages model that reflects the real cost of paraplegia or tetraplegia across 40 to 60 years. You pay nothing unless we win.

Cervical (C1 to C8): tetraplegia

Cervical injuries affect all four limbs. C1 to C4 injuries are the most severe and often require ventilator support and around-the-clock attendant care. C5 to C8 injuries preserve progressively more arm and hand function. High cervical injuries produce the largest lifetime care costs and, for a Lakewood resident, often require relocation to be near specialized services at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado's world-ranked spinal cord rehabilitation center. Relocation adds home-sale losses, moving costs, and lost support networks on top of the injury itself.
Thoracic (T1 to T12): paraplegia with intact arms

Thoracic injuries paralyze the legs while arm and hand function remain. T1 to T6 injuries affect trunk stability and sitting balance. Lower thoracic injuries preserve more trunk control and many people live independently with home modifications and adaptive equipment. Even at the lower end of this range, accessible home renovation in Lakewood's older housing stock is a major expense, and a power wheelchair needs replacement roughly every five years.
Lumbar and sacral (L1 to S5): lower-extremity and bowel or bladder function

Many people with lumbar and sacral injuries retain some leg movement and may walk with braces. Bowel and bladder dysfunction requires ongoing management, supplies, and periodic surgery. Lifetime costs are lower than cervical or thoracic injuries but still significant. In the Denver metro, ongoing care, medication, and adaptive equipment easily reach six figures over a decade.
Complete versus incomplete: the valuation challenge

The ASIA Impairment Scale grades injuries from A to E. ASIA A is a complete injury: no motor or sensory function below the level of injury. ASIA B through D are incomplete, meaning some pathways remain. Incomplete injuries are harder to value because full neurological recovery often is not known for 12 to 18 months after the crash. Insurers use that uncertainty to press for early settlements based on best-case projections. A sound life care plan accounts for both the chance of improvement and the reality that many people plateau far short of independence.

Courthouse

Jefferson Combined Court (1st Judicial District)

Spinal cord injury cases arising in Lakewood are filed in Jefferson Combined Court, the 1st Judicial District, located at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401. Jefferson County juries draw from a large suburban county that includes Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, and Golden. The local civil procedure, the Jefferson County jury pool, and the defense firms that regularly appear there all differ from Denver County courts. CGH handles Jefferson Combined Court cases directly from our Denver office. CGH Injury Lawyers does not have a Lakewood office. We serve Jefferson County from our office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205.

Acute Trauma Care

St. Anthony Hospital, Level I Trauma Center

Lakewood's own trauma center is St. Anthony Hospital at 11600 W 2nd Pl, a Level I Trauma Center designated by the State of Colorado Department of Health. Spinal cord injury victims from crashes anywhere in the western Denver metro are often transported there for acute stabilization, spinal imaging, and initial surgical intervention. Those records, including CT and MRI findings, surgical notes, neurological assessments, and discharge plans, form the medical foundation of your damages claim and serve as a reference point for a later life care plan.

Rehabilitation

Craig Hospital, Englewood (adjacent to Lakewood's southern border)

Craig Hospital in Englewood is one of the country's top spinal cord rehabilitation centers, and its location just south of Lakewood's boundary means many Jefferson County families with a paralyzed family member center their lives around it. Craig's structured rehabilitation program, including life skills retraining and psychological support services, generates records that are essential to building an accurate life care plan. The cost of Craig-based care, follow-up clinic appointments, and ongoing Craig community programs needs to appear in the damages model. We coordinate with life care planners who are familiar with Craig's cost schedule.

Crash Corridors

Wadsworth, 6th Avenue Freeway, West Colfax, and C-470

Lakewood's highest-risk corridors for serious injury crashes are Wadsworth Boulevard (SH 121), the 6th Avenue Freeway (US 6), West Colfax Avenue (US 40), and C-470 along the city's southwestern border. Wadsworth has been the site of documented fatal crashes including pedestrian fatalities near S Wadsworth Blvd and W Mansfield Pkwy. The US 6 frontage road near the Sheridan exit has a documented history of crashes tied to a sharp curve, confirmed as a hazard by CDOT. High-speed freeway crashes on US 6 and C-470 are particularly common spinal cord injury mechanisms, because rollover and high-delta-V side impacts produce the kind of axial load and flexion-extension forces that damage the cord. We obtain crash reports, roadway records, and any CDOT documentation of prior hazards at the specific location where your crash happened.

Housing and accessibility in Lakewood

Lakewood's older housing stock, including split-level and raised-ranch homes common in neighborhoods near Belmar and Green Mountain, often cannot be economically adapted for wheelchair access
Accessible home modifications in the Denver metro area for ramps, roll-in showers, widened doorways, and lift installations are among the largest single expenses in a life care plan
When the home cannot be modified, relocation adds the cost of finding and purchasing an accessible property in a market where such homes are rare
Vehicle modifications for hand controls and wheelchair lift systems are expensive, and all-wheel-drive conversions for Colorado winters cost significantly more

Altitude, weather, and ongoing care

Denver metro's elevation of 5,280 feet increases respiratory complications for people with cervical injuries who already have compromised breathing
Subzero temperatures degrade power wheelchair battery performance and require heated storage, adding annual equipment maintenance costs
Attendant care in Denver for 12 hours of daily coverage typically runs above national averages
Craig Hospital follow-up clinic costs and the premium for care near a top-ranked rehabilitation center add to the long-term cost picture

A life care plan that ignores Colorado-specific costs will understate the actual damages by hundreds of thousands of dollars. That gap is what the first settlement offer exploits. We work with life care planners who build their projections around Denver metro cost data, not national averages, and we use the Medical Consumer Price Index, which historically runs 3 to 4 percent annually, to project those costs forward across the full life expectancy.

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Economic damages (never capped)

Acute hospital care, spinal surgery, and the full St. Anthony admission
Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at Craig Hospital or a comparable facility
Power wheelchair replacement every five years across a lifetime
Attendant care, often 12 hours daily in the Denver metro
Vehicle modification and accessible home renovation in Lakewood
Medical supplies, medications, and ongoing therapy over the full life expectancy, recurring costs the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center folds into average yearly expenses of $55,900 to $244,879 depending on injury level, in 2024 dollars
Lost wages from the date of the crash forward, and lost future earning capacity

Non-economic damages (cap and uncapped categories)

Pain and suffering: capped at $1,500,000 for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)
Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
Physical impairment: entirely outside the non-economic cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5), and in spinal cord injury cases this category often carries the most value because the impairment is permanent and severe
Disfigurement: also entirely outside the cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5)
Loss of consortium for a spouse or family members

The comparative fault rule and why fault assignment matters so much in SCI cases

Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) says you can recover only if your share of fault is less than 50 percent. At 50 percent or more, you recover nothing. Your award is also reduced by your assigned percentage. In a spinal cord injury case worth several million dollars, a one-percent shift in fault assignment can change the outcome by tens of thousands of dollars, and reaching the 50-percent bar eliminates the entire claim. That is why insurers fight hard to push fault onto the injured person after a serious crash on Wadsworth or the 6th Avenue Freeway, and why having counsel who challenges that assessment from the start is not optional.

In catastrophic injury cases like paraplegia or tetraplegia, the uncapped physical impairment category frequently produces the largest share of total recovery. A settlement that values only medical bills and pain and suffering, and leaves physical impairment unaddressed, leaves an enormous amount behind. We build the claim around every loss the law allows before we negotiate anything.

The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act requires written notice of claim served on the public entity within 182 days of the date of discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). This 182-day clock runs from when the injury is discovered, not necessarily from the date of the crash itself. Missing this window bars the claim permanently.
For a spinal cord injury where the full extent of the injury may not be clear for weeks or months, pinpointing the exact date of discovery requires legal analysis. We confirm that date and serve notice on the correct public entity well before the window closes.
The CGIA also limits what a claimant can recover from a government entity, with caps that differ from ordinary tort claims. When both a private driver and a public entity share responsibility for a crash, we identify the applicable limits and insurance sources for each party separately.

Do not move until emergency services arrive

If you or someone else has a suspected spinal injury, movement before stabilization can worsen cord damage. Call 911 and keep the injured person still. Lakewood first responders are trained in spinal precautions and will coordinate transport to St. Anthony Hospital, the Level I Trauma Center at 11600 W 2nd Pl, for acute care.
Preserve the scene and document everything possible

If a family member or bystander is able, photograph the crash scene, the vehicles involved, the roadway, any signage, and the positions of the vehicles before they are moved. Collect the names and contact information of witnesses. Note the exact location, whether Wadsworth near Belmar, US 6 near the Sheridan exit, or another corridor. That detail affects which agency's records we request and which insurance sources apply.
Let the medical team complete the full workup

At St. Anthony, the trauma team will perform CT and MRI imaging, ASIA grading, and a neurological assessment. The full workup takes time. Every record produced during this period, including nursing notes, surgical reports, and discharge summaries, becomes part of the medical foundation for your damages claim. Do not leave against medical advice, and keep copies of every document you receive.
Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer

The at-fault driver's insurer will contact you or your family. Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with us. Statements made in the days after a catastrophic injury, when the medical picture is still unclear, can lock in language that insurers use to argue the injury was less serious than it turned out to be.
Call CGH before the 182-day clock runs

If a government entity such as RTD, CDOT, or the City of Lakewood is potentially involved, a written notice of claim must be served within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). That window is much shorter than the general statute of limitations and it can begin running before you realize a public entity is responsible. Call (303) 209-9395 for a free consultation as early as possible.
We build the life care plan and the claim

We engage life care planners, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and economists to document every future medical and non-medical need. We identify every available insurance source, apply Colorado's fault and damages rules to the facts, and negotiate from a position of trial readiness. When an insurer refuses a fair offer for a catastrophic injury, we file in Jefferson Combined Court and try the case before a Jefferson County jury.

Early settlements before the injury picture is clear

For an incomplete injury graded ASIA B or C, the insurer's adjuster will contact you quickly with an offer calibrated to a best-case recovery outcome. The problem is that full neurological plateau often does not occur for 12 to 18 months. An early settlement forecloses the right to return if the recovery stalls and 20 more years of attendant care become necessary. We advise waiting until the medical picture stabilizes before valuing the claim.
Disputing life care plan line items

Defense attorneys challenge every item in a life care plan: arguing a manual wheelchair is enough when custom power seating is medically necessary, claiming family members can provide attendant care for free, disputing the replacement interval for medical equipment. We build the plan to survive that fight, supported by treating physician recommendations and third-party planner credentials.
Inflating the injured person's share of fault

Under C.R.S. 13-21-111, if the injured person is found 50 percent or more at fault, the entire claim is eliminated. Insurers pursue fault inflation aggressively in high-value SCI cases because the payoff is total. They argue speeding, lane drift, distraction, or failure to use a seatbelt to push the plaintiff's fault share toward or above the 50-percent bar. We gather crash reconstruction data, black-box records, roadway design information, and witness statements to contest that assignment with documented facts.
Using optimistic medical projections to reduce the non-economic value

For the pain and suffering component, capped at $1,500,000 for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5), the insurer will argue the cap is the ceiling and that any award should land well below it. We counter with documented testimony from treating physicians and psychological experts about the actual day-to-day experience of living with permanent paralysis, and we build the physical impairment category, which carries no cap, to reflect the permanent and complete loss of function.

Your team

The team handling your Lakewood spinal cord injury case

CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried more than 25 cases to verdict. Every spinal cord injury case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney working alongside life care planners, neurological experts, and forensic economists. We serve Lakewood and all of Jefferson County from our Denver office.

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Meet our attorneys

How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim after a Lakewood crash?

It depends on the type of claim. If a motor vehicle caused the injury, the statute of limitations is generally three years from the crash (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). For other tort claims, the period is two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If a government entity such as RTD, CDOT, or the City of Lakewood is involved, a written notice of claim must be served within 182 days of the date of discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), a window far shorter than most people expect. Confirm your specific deadline with an attorney as early as possible after the crash.

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

Yes, as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. If you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault, you can recover, but your award is reduced by your assigned percentage. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers in high-value SCI cases push aggressively to reach or exceed that 50-percent threshold because eliminating the claim is far cheaper than a fair settlement. Having counsel who counters that effort with documented evidence matters from the first phone call.

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

Economic damages, including medical bills, attendant care, equipment costs, and lost wages, are never capped. Non-economic damages for pain and suffering are capped at $1,500,000 for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5). Critically, compensation for physical impairment and disfigurement is entirely outside the non-economic cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). For a spinal cord injury resulting in permanent paralysis, the physical impairment category often carries the largest share of total recovery. A settlement that ignores that category leaves an enormous amount on the table.

Why should I wait before accepting an early settlement offer for a spinal cord injury?

For an incomplete injury, the full neurological picture often does not stabilize for 12 to 18 months after the crash. An early offer is priced on optimistic recovery projections that may not hold. Once a settlement is accepted, it is final: there is no return if the recovery plateaus early and 25 more years of attendant care become necessary. Waiting for medical stabilization, then building the life care plan on actual outcomes rather than projections, is how a Lakewood SCI case is valued correctly.

Where would a Lakewood spinal cord injury lawsuit be filed?

A Lakewood spinal cord injury lawsuit is filed in Jefferson Combined Court, the 1st Judicial District, at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401. Jefferson County civil procedure, the local jury pool, and the defense firms that appear regularly in that courthouse all differ from Denver County. CGH Injury Lawyers handles Jefferson Combined Court cases directly from our Denver office. We do not have a Lakewood office; we serve Jefferson County from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205.

What role does Craig Hospital play in a Lakewood spinal cord injury case?

Craig Hospital in Englewood is one of the country's top spinal cord rehabilitation centers and sits just south of Lakewood's boundary. Many Jefferson County spinal cord injury families center their lives around Craig for rehabilitation, follow-up clinics, and community programs. Craig-based care, transportation to and from appointments, and the premium associated with accessing a top-ranked center all need to appear in the life care plan. Craig's treatment records also document functional limitations, ASIA grade, and rehabilitation progress, which become key evidence in valuing the physical impairment and future care categories of the claim.

Lakewood

Statewide Practice Area

Other Cities

Firm

Lakewood Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Who Build Cases Sized to a Lifetime

Spinal cord injury levels and what they mean for a Lakewood damages claim

Cervical (C1 to C8): tetraplegia

Thoracic (T1 to T12): paraplegia with intact arms

Lumbar and sacral (L1 to S5): lower-extremity and bowel or bladder function

Complete versus incomplete: the valuation challenge

Lakewood courts. Lakewood trauma care. Lakewood crash corridors.

Jefferson Combined Court (1st Judicial District)

St. Anthony Hospital, Level I Trauma Center

Craig Hospital, Englewood (adjacent to Lakewood's southern border)

Wadsworth, 6th Avenue Freeway, West Colfax, and C-470

Why a spinal cord injury costs more in Lakewood and the Denver metro than national averages suggest

Housing and accessibility in Lakewood

Altitude, weather, and ongoing care

What a Lakewood spinal cord injury claim can recover under Colorado law

Economic damages (never capped)

Non-economic damages (cap and uncapped categories)

The comparative fault rule and why fault assignment matters so much in SCI cases

When a government vehicle or road condition causes your spinal cord injury

What to do after a spinal cord injury crash in Lakewood

Do not move until emergency services arrive

Preserve the scene and document everything possible

Let the medical team complete the full workup

Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer

Call CGH before the 182-day clock runs

We build the life care plan and the claim

How insurers minimize spinal cord injury claims in Lakewood, and how we respond

Early settlements before the injury picture is clear

Disputing life care plan line items

Inflating the injured person's share of fault

Using optimistic medical projections to reduce the non-economic value

The team handling your Lakewood spinal cord injury case

Lakewood spinal cord injury cases, frequently asked questions

Lakewood pages and related practice areas

You face decades of care. We build the case that pays for it.