Billings Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injury changed your life? Let our Billings legal team fight for your future

We understand that a spinal cord injury doesn’t just change a life; it changes everything. In an instant, the future you planned can feel uncertain, replaced by a new reality filled with medical appointments, mounting expenses, and profound questions about what comes next. The physical pain is immense, but the emotional and financial toll on you and your family can be just as devastating.

At Rimrock Law, we see the person behind the injury. We see the hardworking Montanan, the parent, the spouse, the individual whose life has been turned upside down through no fault of their own. As your dedicated Billings, MT spinal cord injury lawyer, our first priority is to provide you with the compassionate support and fierce representation to help guide you through this difficult journey. If someone else’s negligence caused your catastrophic injury, we can help you seek justice and compensation.

Why Choose Rimrock Law for Your Billings Spinal Cord Injury Claim

When your future is at stake, choosing the right legal team is one of the most important decisions you will make. You need more than just an attorney; you need a dedicated advocate who understands Montana law and the unique challenges of a spinal cord injury case. At Rimrock Law, we combine decades of experience with a deeply personal commitment to our clients’ well-being.

We believe you deserve a law firm that treats you with dignity and respect while aggressively fighting for full and fair compensation on your behalf. Here is why families in Billings and across Montana trust Rimrock Law in their time of greatest need:

• Montana-Focused Experience: We are Montana’s injury lawyers. We don’t just practice here; we live here. Our attorneys have handled hundreds of personal injury cases within the state’s legal system. We know the courts, the judges, and the specific tactics that insurance companies in our region use to try and devalue serious claims. This local knowledge is a powerful advantage in building your case.
• A Compassionate, Team-Based Approach: For us, it’s personal. We understand that you are going through the most difficult time of your life. Our entire team—attorneys Matthew Braukmann, James Dallner, and Phillip Lorenzo—works collaboratively on your case. This means you benefit from our combined 40+ years of experience and a support system that ensures your questions are answered and you are never left in the dark. While you focus on healing, we focus on the fight.
• Proven Results in High-Stakes Cases: A spinal cord injury case involves significant financial stakes, as the costs of lifelong care can be astronomical. Our firm has a proven track record of securing substantial results, having recovered over $100 million for our clients. We have the resources, skill, and determination to take on even the largest insurance companies and corporate defendants.

This unique combination of local strength, proven results, and a genuinely personal approach is our promise to you. We are dedicated to shouldering your legal burdens so that you can focus all your energy on the path to recovery.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic injury to the bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the brain down the back, carrying signals that control movement, sensation, and bodily functions. Damage to this delicate structure can interrupt those signals, resulting in permanent changes.

The impact of an SCI extends far beyond the initial trauma. It can lead to paralysis, chronic pain, respiratory issues, and a lifetime of medical needs, including surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices like wheelchairs, and modifications to one’s home and vehicle. The emotional and psychological impact can be equally profound.

When such a devastating injury is the result of another person's or entity's negligence—a careless driver, an unsafe work environment, or a defective product—you have the right to hold the responsible party accountable.

Pursuing a personal injury claim is not about seeking a windfall; it’s about securing the financial resources to cover a lifetime of care, make up for lost income, and find a measure of justice for the immense suffering you have endured. A dedicated Billings spinal cord injury attorney can be your most powerful ally in this pursuit.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury Cases We Handle

Spinal cord injuries can occur in a wide variety of accidents, and our experienced attorneys are equipped to handle them all. We meticulously investigate the circumstances of each case to identify all liable parties and build the strongest possible claim for compensation.

We have a proven track record of success representing clients who have suffered spinal cord injuries in incidents such as:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Workers’ Compensation & Workplace Accidents
• Premises Liability (Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents)
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
• Acts of Violence
• Defective Products

No matter how your injury occurred, if it was due to someone else's carelessness, you should know your rights. Our Billings spinal cord injury lawyers can provide the guidance you need.

How Our Lawyers Prove Negligence in a Spinal Cord Injury Case

To win a personal injury lawsuit in Montana, we must prove that your injury was caused by another party’s negligence. In legal terms, negligence is the failure to exercise a reasonable level of care that a sensible person would have exercised under the same circumstances. It’s the legal foundation for holding someone accountable for the harm they cause.

Our legal team meticulously gathers evidence to establish the four essential elements of a negligence claim:

1. Duty of Care: First, we must show that the at-fault party (the defendant) owed you a legal duty of care. This is a legal responsibility to act in a way that does not cause foreseeable harm to others. For example, every driver on the road has a duty to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws to protect other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. A property owner has a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.
2. Breach of Duty: Next, we must prove that the defendant breached, or violated, that duty of care. This is the specific careless or wrongful act. A driver who is texting while driving has breached their duty. A construction company that fails to provide proper safety equipment for workers at heights has breached its duty. A store that knows about a spill but fails to clean it up has breached its duty.
3. Causation: Third, we must establish a direct link between the defendant's breach of duty and your spinal cord injury. In other words, we have to show that "but for" the defendant's actions, you would not have been injured. Our attorneys work with accident reconstructionist, medical experts, and other specialists to draw a clear, undeniable line from the negligent act to the catastrophic injury you sustained.
4. Damages: Finally, we must demonstrate that you suffered actual harm, or damages, as a result of the injury. In a spinal cord injury case, these damages are extensive and lifelong. They include everything from your initial hospital bills and lost wages to the future costs of medical care, rehabilitation, and the profound non-economic losses you have experienced.

Proving all four elements requires a thorough investigation, expert testimony, and a deep understanding of legal precedent. The team at Rimrock Law has the experience and resources to build a compelling case on your behalf.

Compensation Available in a Billings, Montana Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit

Because a spinal cord injury impacts every aspect of your life, a successful lawsuit aims to secure compensation that addresses the full spectrum of your losses—past, present, and future. Our goal at Rimrock Law is to fight for a settlement or verdict that provides you and your family with lifelong financial security.

The compensation, or "damages," available in a Montana spinal cord injury case may include:

• All past and future medical bills (hospitalization, surgeries, medication, etc.)
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
• Costs for assistive devices (wheelchairs, braces, ventilators)
• In-home nursing or personal care
• Home and vehicle modification costs
• Lost wages from being unable to work
• Loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous job or work at all
• Vocational rehabilitation costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to pursue hobbies, sports, and activities)
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of consortium (for the impact on your relationship with your spouse)

In some rare cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional malice, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.

What if I’m Partly to Blame for My Accident Injury?

This is a common concern for accident victims. You might worry that because you were looking at your phone for a second, or perhaps were driving slightly over the speed limit, you won’t be able to recover any compensation. Fortunately, that is not necessarily the case in Montana.

Montana follows a legal rule known as “modified comparative negligence.” This rule states that you can still recover damages in a personal injury claim as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident.

If you are found to be partially at fault (but 50% or less), your total compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines you are 20% at fault for your injuries, then your damages will be reduced by 20%.

Insurance companies are experts at trying to shift blame onto the victim to reduce or deny a claim. This is why having a skilled spinal cord injury attorney from Rimrock Law is so critical. We will aggressively fight back against any unfair attempts to blame you and work to ensure the fault is placed squarely where it belongs.

Billings Spinal Cord Injury FAQs

After a catastrophic injury, you and your family are bound to have many questions. Here are answers to some of the common concerns we hear from our clients.

Is there a time limit to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Montana?

Yes. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. In Montana, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. While there are some exceptions, failing to file within this window will likely mean you lose your right to seek compensation forever. It is crucial to contact an attorney as soon as possible to preserve evidence and protect your legal rights.

The Insurance Company Made Me an Offer. Should I Take It?

It is common for the at-fault party’s insurance company to contact an injury victim shortly after an accident with a settlement offer. This can feel like a lifeline, especially when medical bills are piling up and you’re unable to work. However, you should never accept an initial settlement offer from an insurance company without first consulting with an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer.

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their primary goal is to protect their bottom line, which means paying out as little as possible on claims. The first offer they make is almost always a “lowball” offer that represents a fraction of your claim’s true value. They are hoping you are desperate enough to accept it before you understand the full, long-term costs of your injury.

By accepting that offer, you sign away your right to seek any further compensation, even if your medical condition worsens or you discover your costs are far higher than anticipated.

Do I have to go to court to get compensation?

The vast majority of personal injury cases are resolved through a negotiated settlement without ever going to trial. However, we at Rimrock Law believe the best way to secure a maximum settlement offer is to prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. This demonstrates to the insurance company that we are serious and ready to fight, which often motivates them to offer a fair settlement. If they refuse, we are fully prepared to take your case to court.

Contact Our Trusted Billings Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Today

The path forward after a spinal cord injury may be long and difficult, but with the right team by your side, you can fight for the resources to help you live with security and the best possible quality of life.

At Rimrock Law, we are more than just your attorneys; we are your advocates, your partners, and your unwavering support system. We will handle the legal burdens, fight the insurance companies, and champion your cause so that you can focus on what matters most: your health, your recovery, and your family. We know Montana, we know the law, and we know how to get results.

Contact a trusted injury law firm in Billings today at (406) 606-1650 or through our online form for a free, completely confidential consultation. We are here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain how we can help.