Freehold, New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating and life-changing injuries a person can suffer. A single accident, whether on the road, at work, or in a public space, can lead to permanent paralysis, loss of mobility, and a lifetime of medical care. For individuals in Freehold, Point Pleasant, and throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the physical, emotional, and financial toll can be overwhelming.

At Mallon and Tranger, we bring over forty years of combined experience representing spinal cord injury victims across New Jersey. Our attorneys understand how to navigate local court systems and work with medical providers from Lakewood and Toms River to Asbury Park and Long Branch. We fight for compensation that covers hospital care, rehabilitation, home modifications, lost income, and emotional suffering. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in Freehold, Point Pleasant, or nearby, we are here to help you pursue justice and recovery.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often result from traumatic incidents that cause damage to the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, or nerves within the spinal column. These injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis and frequently require long-term medical care. In Freehold, Point Pleasant, and throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties, some of the most common causes of SCIs include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Collisions involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles remain the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in New Jersey. Victims in Freehold and Point Pleasant are frequently injured in high-speed crashes, rollovers, or rear-end accidents caused by distracted or impaired drivers. The force of impact in these accidents can easily fracture vertebrae or compress the spinal cord, leading to lifelong consequences.
• Pedestrian accidents: When a motorist strikes a pedestrian, the resulting trauma often affects the lower back and spinal column. These accidents are common in busy areas like Long Branch, Asbury Park, and other walkable downtowns throughout Monmouth County. The lack of protection makes pedestrians extremely vulnerable to spinal injuries.
• Slip and fall accidents: Falls on unsafe walkways, icy sidewalks, poorly lit stairwells, or uneven surfaces often result in hard impacts to the spine. These incidents frequently occur in public places or commercial properties in Ocean County and Monmouth County, where property owners fail to maintain safe conditions.
• Construction and workplace accidents: Laborers and contractors working in hazardous conditions face a heightened risk of falling from ladders, scaffolding, or platforms. When safety protocols are ignored or equipment malfunctions, workers in towns like Freehold or Point Pleasant may suffer severe spinal injuries on the job.
• Acts of violence or assault: Physical attacks, including shootings or blunt-force trauma, can damage the spinal cord. These incidents often result in permanent paralysis and typically require immediate emergency intervention and long-term care.
• Defective products or equipment failures: Malfunctioning industrial machinery, defective vehicle components, or unsafe recreational gear can lead to catastrophic accidents. When these products fail, the resulting injuries may include spinal cord trauma, especially if the defect affects load-bearing or high-speed devices.
• Sports and recreational injuries: High-impact activities such as football, diving, skiing, or gymnastics sometimes lead to spinal cord damage. Without proper safety gear or supervision, athletes and participants are vulnerable to falls or awkward landings that compress or sever the spinal cord.
• Medical malpractice Surgical errors, especially during spinal or orthopedic procedures, can inadvertently damage the spinal cord. Mistakes during anesthesia administration, physical therapy, or postoperative care may also lead to irreversible harm.

Regardless of the cause, spinal cord injuries are medical emergencies that often change a person’s life forever. In Freehold, Point Pleasant, and across New Jersey, many of these incidents are preventable. When another party’s negligence contributes to the injury, victims and their families deserve full legal support to pursue compensation and justice.

Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) vary widely in severity, and the impact can depend on the location of the injury and whether the spinal cord was partially or completely damaged. In Freehold, Point Pleasant, and across New Jersey, we’ve seen individuals suffer from a range of spinal trauma, all requiring intensive medical attention.

Some of the most common types of spinal cord injuries include:

• Incomplete spinal cord injury: In this case, the spinal cord is only partially damaged, and the victim may retain some sensation or motor function below the injury site. Recovery is possible but often uncertain.
• Complete spinal cord injury: This type involves a total loss of function below the level of injury. Victims often experience paraplegia or quadriplegia and require lifelong care.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis from the waist down, typically resulting from injuries to the thoracic or lumbar spine. Individuals often lose function in their legs and lower body.
• Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia): Paralysis affecting all four limbs and the torso, caused by injuries to the cervical spine. Victims may lose the ability to move, speak, or breathe without assistance.
• Herniated or bulging discs: Trauma can force the discs between vertebrae to shift or rupture, placing pressure on nearby nerves.
• Fractured vertebrae: Breaks or dislocations in the spinal bones can lead to instability, nerve damage, and severe pain.

In cities like Toms River, Asbury Park, and Lakewood, spinal injuries often occur in high-traffic areas or during workplace accidents. These injuries are not only physically devastating but also financially burdensome, and pursuing compensation is essential.

Life After a Spinal Cord Injury

Living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is an overwhelming adjustment that affects every aspect of a person’s life. For individuals in Freehold, Point Pleasant, and other communities throughout Monmouth County and Ocean County, the road to recovery often involves a lifetime of medical care, support, and lifestyle changes. These injuries don't just alter physical capabilities; they reshape relationships, employment opportunities, and emotional well-being.

Some of the most common long-term consequences of spinal cord injuries include:

• Loss of mobility: Depending on the severity and location of the injury, victims may experience partial or complete paralysis. Many rely on wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or braces to get around. For some, mobility is permanently lost below the point of injury, requiring full-time assistance.
• Chronic pain and discomfort: Spinal cord injuries often result in ongoing nerve pain, muscle spasms, joint deterioration, and pressure sores. These symptoms can be extremely difficult to manage and may persist for the rest of a person’s life, even with medical intervention.
• Dependency on caregivers: Many individuals with SCIs need help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and transportation. Family members often take on the role of full-time caregivers, placing significant emotional and financial stress on the household.
• Mental and emotional trauma: The psychological toll of a spinal cord injury is significant. Victims often suffer from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social isolation due to the sudden change in lifestyle and loss of independence.
• Employment limitations: Returning to the same job may be impossible for many SCI survivors, especially if their work previously required physical labor. In some cases, vocational retraining or education may be needed to transition to new career paths, and others may never be able to work again.

In addition to these emotional and physical hardships, spinal cord injury survivors in Monmouth and Ocean Counties face serious financial burdens. Initial hospital stays can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and long-term care needs, such as in-home nursing, medical equipment, or modifications to make the home wheelchair accessible, can financially devastate families.

Related: Car crashes and back injuries

This is why having a dedicated legal advocate is essential. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney in Freehold or Point Pleasant can ensure your compensation reflects the full extent of your losses. At Mallon and Tranger, we work closely with medical experts, financial planners, and life care professionals to project the true costs associated with an SCI, not just today, but decades into the future.

Determining Liability in a Spinal Cord Injury Case

Identifying the party or parties responsible for a spinal cord injury is a crucial step in any legal claim. At Mallon and Tranger, our team takes a comprehensive approach to uncovering the causes of the injury and building a strong case for compensation. We conduct in-depth investigations across Freehold, Point Pleasant, and throughout the state of New Jersey to determine who is liable and why.

Potentially responsible parties may include:

• Negligent drivers: If the injury occurred during a motor vehicle collision, such as a car, truck, or motorcycle crash, the driver who caused the accident may be held liable. This is particularly common in distracted driving, drunk driving, or speeding cases in areas like Freehold and Long Branch.
• Property owners or managers: Slip and fall accidents that result in spinal cord damage are often caused by unsafe property conditions. If the injury occurred in a parking lot, store, or apartment complex, the property owner may be liable for failing to fix hazards or warn visitors.
• Employers or third-party contractors: Workplace accidents, especially on construction sites or in warehouses, are a major cause of spinal injuries. While workers’ compensation may provide benefits, third-party claims can sometimes be pursued if another company’s negligence contributed to the accident.
• Product manufacturers: Defective consumer goods, vehicles, or industrial equipment that fail during use can cause catastrophic injuries. In these cases, the designer, manufacturer, or distributor may be held accountable.
• Government agencies: If the spinal cord injury occurred due to poorly maintained public sidewalks, unsafe roadways, or hazards in government-owned buildings, a municipality or state entity may be liable. These cases involve shorter deadlines and strict notice requirements, so quick legal action is essential.

At Mallon and Tranger, we leave no stone unturned when determining liability. We gather police reports, interview witnesses, consult with engineers and medical professionals, and examine all angles to ensure the right parties are held accountable for your injuries.

What Compensation Is Available for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Due to the severe nature of spinal cord injuries, victims are often entitled to significant compensation. At Mallon and Tranger, we help clients in Freehold, Point Pleasant, and across New Jersey pursue damages that reflect both their current hardships and future needs.

Recoverable damages in a spinal cord injury case may include:

• Medical expenses: This includes the cost of emergency room care, surgery, hospitalization, medications, assistive technology like wheelchairs or mobility aids, and specialist consultations.
• Long-term rehabilitation and therapy: Many victims require physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or psychological counseling for years after the injury.
• Lost income and loss of earning potential: If your injuries prevent you from working now or in the future, you can pursue compensation for both immediate lost wages and diminished future earnings.
• Modifications to home and vehicle: Victims often need to install wheelchair ramps, lifts, widened doorways, and vehicle modifications to accommodate new mobility needs.
• Pain and suffering: This category covers the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and reduction in quality of life caused by the injury.
• Loss of consortium: Spouses and family members may be entitled to damages for the loss of companionship, intimacy, and shared life experiences.
• Punitive damages: In rare cases where the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless or malicious, additional damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer.

At Mallon and Tranger, we are committed to ensuring that no victim is left facing these challenges alone. Our legal team advocates for full and fair compensation through settlement negotiations or, if necessary, trial. With decades of experience and a deep understanding of spinal injury litigation, we fight for every dollar our clients deserve.

Our legal team has successfully recovered substantial results for injury victims across New Jersey. For example, our firm recently secured $300,000 for a client who suffered neck injuries after a car accident and required a spinal fusion. We are ready to do the same for you.

How Can Mallon and Tranger Help?

Spinal cord injury cases require more than just a basic understanding of personal injury law. They demand a legal team with deep experience in handling catastrophic injuries, familiarity with complex medical terminology, and the ability to project long-term financial impacts. At Mallon and Tranger, we bring all of that and more to the table for every client we represent in Freehold, Point Pleasant, and throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

We provide comprehensive legal support from the very first consultation. Our attorneys begin with a personalized approach, taking the time to understand how your injury has affected every aspect of your life physically, emotionally, and financially. We investigate aggressively, gathering evidence such as accident reports, surveillance footage, expert medical opinions, and witness statements to build a compelling case.

We also have the ability to work with top-tier medical specialists, rehabilitation professionals, and life care planners to understand the full scope of your current and future medical needs. This ensures that your settlement or trial award includes all necessary treatments, therapies, assistive devices, home modifications, and ongoing support.

Our lawyers are also seasoned negotiators and trial advocates. We don’t settle for lowball offers. We know the insurance tactics used to minimize claims, and we push back strategically, taking your case to court when needed. With local knowledge of the legal landscape in Freehold, Point Pleasant, and surrounding areas, we have the relationships and insights to advocate effectively on your behalf.

Whether your injury occurred in a car accident on Route 33 or during a fall at a workplace in Toms River, Mallon and Tranger is prepared to stand with you every step of the way toward justice and recovery.

Additional Legal Services We Offer

In addition to spinal cord injury cases, Mallon and Tranger handles a broad range of serious personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. We proudly represent clients across Monmouth County, Ocean County, and the entire state of New Jersey in cases involving:

• Motorcycle accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Public transportation accidents
• Brain injuries
• Burn injuries
• Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Wrongful death lawsuits
• Workers’ compensation claims

Our firm is committed to protecting injury victims and helping them secure the resources they need to rebuild their lives.

Contact a Freehold or Point Pleasant Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in Freehold, Point Pleasant, or anywhere in Monmouth or Ocean County, do not wait to seek legal representation. The sooner you act, the better your chances of securing the financial support you need.

At Mallon and Tranger, we offer free, no-obligation consultations and handle all spinal cord injury cases on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We are proud to represent clients across New Jersey and to provide the care and legal skill they need in life’s most difficult moments. Call us at (732) 780-0230 or connect with us online today to get started. We are here to fight for you and your family every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Information in New Jersey

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons – Spinal Cord Injury: Provides a comprehensive overview of spinal cord injury (SCI), including causes, symptoms, treatment options, and potential complications. This resource helps patients and families understand the medical aspects of SCI and the importance of timely intervention and specialized care.
• United Spinal Association – What is Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D): Explains the difference between spinal cord injuries and spinal cord disorders, outlining their causes, symptoms, and long-term effects. This resource also highlights treatment approaches, adaptive living strategies, and advocacy efforts designed to improve quality of life for people living with SCI/D.
• SpinalCord.com – What Is the Spinal Cord?: Explains the structure and function of the spinal cord, including how it communicates with the brain and body, as well as the consequences of damage from injury or illness. This educational resource helps readers understand why spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis and other serious complications.