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Oregon and Washington State Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

When you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, your entire quality of life can change in an instant. From mounting medical care costs to lost wages and ongoing physical therapy, the challenges can feel overwhelming. A compassionate spinal cord injury lawyer can help you seek justice and financial support for what you’ve lost. Our law firm represents spinal cord injury victims in all types of injury cases, including those caused by car accidents and someone else’s negligence.

Oregon's Experts in Spinal Cord Injury

Welcome to Eder Sturm & Eder. We’re here to help.

Most spine injuries affect more than just the spine. Because they affect basic movements like bending and twisting, serious spinal cord injuries can affect your ability to do anything from driving and working to getting on and off the toilet, and even putting on your shoes.

Eder Sturm & Eder brings decades of experience representing people injured in car accidents, falls, construction mishaps, and other traumatic events. We work closely with medical professionals on all types of spinal cord injury cases, understanding your story and the future ahead of you, from every possible angle. Our compassionate staff offers:

Relentless Advocacy

We understand that a spinal cord injury brings a new set of challenges into your life—and advocating for yourself becomes harder in such circumstances. Eder Sturm Eder stands ready to protect your rights, tell your story, and fight for the compensation you are owed. We’re here to help you move forward, while easing your burden in the meantime.

Clear Communication

No two spinal cord injuries will present exactly the same, or affect people in the same way. Eder Sturm Eder takes the time to understand your story so we can accurately represent your case from every angle. We pride ourselves on keeping our clients informed and engaged throughout the process.

Proven Experience

With decades of experience handling complex spinal cord injury cases, ESE understands both the law and the legal landscape that may affect your case outcome. Resolving the medical, emotional, and financial challenges that lie ahead of our clients is our singular purpose as spinal cord injury lawyers.

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When To Hire A Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

While some spinal cord injuries may present as minor, you may still benefit from working with an experienced attorney in any of the following circumstances:

  • You were in an accident, and a doctor diagnosed you with a spinal cord injury.
  • You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or legs. that does not go away.
  • You notice trouble walking, balancing, or controlling movement.
  • You experience chronic pain or sudden loss of feeling below the injury site.
  • Your quality of life has changed — you can’t do daily activities or work like before.
  • You face high medical costs for hospital stays, surgery, or physical therapy.
  • The insurance company delays responses, denies coverage, or offers too little money.
  • The injury happened because of someone else’s negligence (such as a distracted driver, unsafe workplace, or dangerous property).
  • You need help filing a personal injury claim
  • You want to better understand your legal rights.
  • A loved one suffered a wrongful death due to a spinal cord injury.

Speak to a spinal cord injury Lawyer

Spinal Cord Injury FAQs

Common questions about spinal cord injury cases in Oregon

A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal, which carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body. When these nerve pathways are disrupted, it can affect movement, sensation, and automatic body functions (like bladder, bowel, and blood pressure control) below the level of the injury. Spinal cord injuries can be caused by car crashes, falls, sports injuries, or violence.
People get a spinal cord injury when something damages the spine or the nerves inside it, often through sudden force or pressure. This can happen in motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports or recreation accidents (like diving into shallow water), or acts of violence such as gunshots or stabbings. Worksite accidents and medical or surgical complications can also injure the spinal cord, as can non-traumatic problems like tumors, infections, or diseases that slowly press on or weaken the spine.
Common warning signs of a spinal cord injury include: Suddenly, severe pain or pressure in your neck, back, or head Weakness or paralysis in your arms or legs Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in your hands, fingers, feet, or toes. Trouble walking or balancing Loss of bladder or bowel control Problems breathing or coughing Signs of a spinal cord injury often appear right after an accident, but sometimes they develop more slowly. If you see these signs after a fall, car crash, sports accident, or any serious blow to the body, treat it as an emergency and avoid moving the neck or back until medical help arrives. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further damage and may improve recovery.
You may need a spinal cord injury lawyer if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence and you are facing serious, long-term consequences. These cases often involve high medical bills, lost income, ongoing rehabilitation, and insurance companies that try to pay as little as possible. A lawyer who handles spinal cord injury claims can investigate what happened, gather medical and accident evidence, deal with the insurance company for you, and work to recover compensation for your current and future needs. It is especially important to talk with an attorney soon after the injury so you do not miss important legal deadlines that could affect your right to file a claim.
See a doctor immediately, even if you believe the injury may resolve on its own. The sooner you can get a medical diagnosis, the better your prognosis will be. Your next step should be to speak with a spinal cord injury lawyer to determine if there is cause for legal action.
Eder Sturm Eder charges nothing for our initial consultations and legal assistance throughout the case. Our firm takes a percentage of what we collect for you through pretrial negotiations, settlements, and jury verdicts.
The state of Oregon allows two (2) years from the date of the spinal cord injury to file your claim (ORS Section 12.110). Washington permits three (3) years to file your spinal cord injury case (RCW 4.16.080). It is critical that you file your case within these statutory periods.
Yes, in many situations, you can file a spinal cord injury claim on behalf of an injured loved one, but you usually must have legal authority to act for them. This may require being their parent (for a minor), court‑appointed guardian or conservator, or having a valid power of attorney if they are an adult who cannot manage their own affairs because of the injury. If your loved one is incapacitated due to paralysis, coma, or serious cognitive problems, a court can authorize you or another close family member to pursue a personal injury claim so medical bills, lost income, and long-term care needs can be addressed. Always speak with a spinal cord injury lawyer before filing a case on your loved one’s behalf.
Most personal injury cases do not go all the way to court. Most can be resolved through a settlement, where your lawyer negotiates with the insurance company (or at-fault party) to reach a fair settlement. If the insurance company denies responsibility, offers far too little, or disputes how serious your injuries are, you may need to go to court to fairly resolve your case.

WHO WE ARE

We are dedicated, consistent, driven personal injury attorneys.

We are trial attorneys first and foremost and we are eager to tell your story. We work tirelessly to help you reach the best possible legal outcome.

EDER STURM EDER

Dedicated.
Consistent.
Driven.

BY THE NUMBERS

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WHAT WE DO

We use our experience and expertise to help injured clients maximize their financial recovery.

We accomplish this through our knowledge of the legal system, insurance defense strategies, vehicle code, and understanding of medical treatments, procedures, and diagnoses. We combine this knowledge with years of courtroom experience.

OUR APPROACH

Unlike many firms, we build every case like it's going to trial.

We know the extra effort will make the case stronger in terms of settlement or trial. Let us narrate your story, set your case up for success, and be your ferocious advocate throughout your case.

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