Texas Paralysis & Quadriplegia Injury Lawyers

Undefeated Paralysis & Quadriplegia Injury Lawyers | Billions Won

A spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant, leaving you with lasting or even permanent paralysis and overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial challenges. About 18,000 spinal cord injuries happen in the U.S. each year — and victims of truck crashes, oilfield accidents, and industrial workplace incidents face the highest risk of serious complications, including paralysis and lifelong disability.

At Zehl & Associates, we have successfully represented thousands of clients in Texas and nationwide, winning Billions and securing the full compensation needed to protect their futures and ensure they have access to the care and resources they need.

Time is critical — Texas law gives you only two years to file a lawsuit. Miss this window, and you could lose your right to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Read on to learn what you need to know and do after a serious spinal cord injury and how our undefeated personal injury lawyers can help.

We Go Above & Beyond for Our Clients From Day One

Hundreds of thousands of Texas workers earn a decent living in oil field work. But with the higher wages comes a substantially increased When a seriously injured refinery worker came to us after falling from an improperly constructed scaffold, he needed more than a lawyer — he needed a team with the resources, experience, and determination to take on one of the largest energy companies in the world and win.

After 14 months of contentious depositions and the company’s failed attempt to dismiss the case on summary judgment, we did just that, securing one of the largest spinal injury settlements in Texas and U.S.

At Zehl & Associates, we bring that same level of dedication to every case. From day one, our spinal injury lawyers ensure our clients receive unwavering support, top medical care, and the maximum compensation possible:

• Access to the nation’s top medical specialists: MRI, CT scans, X-rays, and advanced treatment options tailored to spinal injuries.
• Coverage of bills and reasonable living expenses while case is pending: We make sure you can focus on recovery without financial stress.
• Around-the-clock availability: Our team is always just a phone call away.
• We treat clients like family: Your care, safety, and future are our highest priorities.

Every spinal injury case is unique, but one thing is consistent: The workers’ comp doctors, selected by the company, often minimize injuries and push you back to work before you’re ready. You cannot trust the company to protect your future — and you cannot settle for a law firm that lets them off the hook. At Zehl & Associates, we take every step necessary to prove the full severity of your injuries.

Our record-setting spinal injury results speak for themselves:

• $85M Settlement (2025): Texas refinery worker suffered severe spinal injuries from a fall off an improperly constructed scaffold.
• $15.2M Settlement: Oilfield worker suffered serious neck and back injuries after falling through an unbarricaded hole at a West Texas rig site.
• Over $250 million in settlements won for clients who suffered spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries

Oilfield Accidents and Truck Crashes: The Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Texas

Spinal cord injuries can happen in an instant, and the consequences are life-altering. Data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) shows that motor vehicle crashes and falls are the top two causes of spinal cord injuries nationwide, accidents that occur all too often in Texas oilfields, refineries, and roadways:

• Truck and Motor Vehicle Crashes: Large commercial trucks and high-speed collisions cause more than a third of all spinal injuries. The sheer force involved can fracture vertebrae, sever the spinal cord, and lead to permanent paralysis.
• Oilfield and Industrial Accidents: Falls from rigs, scaffolds, derricks, and platforms are frequent sources of catastrophic spinal injuries. Heavy machinery, equipment failure, and unsafe working conditions make oilfield jobs among the most dangerous in the state.
• Refinery and Plant Accidents: Explosions, chemical spills, and structural failures in refineries and industrial plants can result in severe spinal trauma, often requiring emergency surgery and long-term rehabilitation.

At Zehl & Associates, we’re trusted by workers and families across these industries because we know how to take on the companies behind the most dangerous jobs in Texas—and win. Our undefeated Texas Paralysis Attorneys are currently representing a worker paralyzed after an oil rig collapsed in Pecos, Texas. He’s now facing multiple surgeries, months of hospitalization, and the reality of lifelong medical care.

When unsafe workplaces, negligent employers, or reckless drivers cause devastating injuries, we don’t back down. We hold every responsible party accountable—no matter how powerful they are.

Serious Spinal Cord Injuries : What to Know

A spinal cord injury (SCI) can change your life in an instant. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running from your brain down your back, carrying messages that control movement, sensation, and vital bodily functions. When it’s damaged —through a fall, motor vehicle crash, or workplace injury — it can result in temporary or permanent paralysis, loss of feeling, or other serious complications.

At Zehl & Associates, we guide you through every step: identifying symptoms, understanding your injury, and connecting you with top spinal specialists to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Common Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury

Signs of a spinal injury can vary depending on the location and severity. Common symptoms include:

• Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Paralysis in part of the body or quadriplegia/paraplegia
• Pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
• Weakness in any part of the body
• Unnatural spine or head positions
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
• Breathing problems
• Changes in sexual function

If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms after an accident, seek medical care immediately.

In some cases, CT scans may not reveal the full extent of a spinal cord injury. Even if initial imaging seems minor, symptoms can worsen over time. That’s why it’s critical to follow up with medical specialists and contact an experienced spinal injury lawyer if you suspect your injuries are more serious than medical professionals initially report.

Call (888) 603-3636 for a free consultation.

Types of Paralysis from Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, and the type depends on the location and severity of the injury, including which nerves were damaged and how much movement or sensation remains. Understanding the type of paralysis is critical for medical care, rehabilitation, and calculating compensation.

Common Types of Paralysis

• Quadriplegia: Paralysis of both arms and legs, typically caused by injuries to the cervical spine. Can also impact breathing and the diaphragm.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower body, often resulting from thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries. May affect legs, hips, and bladder or bowel control.
• Hemiplegia: Paralysis on one side of the body, which can occur from certain spinal or brain injuries.
• Facial paralysis: Loss of muscle movement in the face, sometimes associated with high cervical injuries or nerve trauma.

Paralysis can be partial or complete, temporary or permanent. The level of injury determines the extent of functional loss, ongoing medical needs, and rehabilitation requirements, which in turn impacts the compensation you may be entitled to.

At Zehl, we don’t just file lawsuits. From the moment you contact us, we connect clients with leading neurologists, spinal surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists and ensure you get a thorough, accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan.

What To Do After a Catastrophic Accident

A spinal cord injury can happen in an instant—from a truck crash, oilfield fall, refinery accident, or other workplace incident. Your actions in the first hours and days can have a major impact on your recovery and your legal case.

Time is critical. In Texas, statutes of limitations can limit your ability to recover damages. Acting fast ensures you get the care you need and the legal protection you deserve.

If you or a loved one suffers a suspected spinal cord injury:

1. Get medical care immediately: Even if symptoms seem minor, an SCI can worsen quickly. Prompt evaluation and imaging (MRI, CT scan, X-rays) are critical.
2. Document everything: Keep detailed records of your injuries, treatments, and the circumstances of the accident. Photographs, witness statements, and incident reports are invaluable.
3. Preserve evidence: Do not let your employer, insurance company, or any third party destroy equipment, logs, or other relevant materials.
4. Contact experienced spinal injury lawyers immediately: Zehl & Associates acts quickly to secure your rights, connect you with top neurologists and spinal specialists, and begin building a record to maximize your compensation.

Spinal cord injuries are complex, but you don’t have to face them alone.

Call 888-603-3636 for a Free Consultation today.

Recovering Maximum Compensation After a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries that result in quadriplegia, paraplegia, and other permanent impairments have an impact that goes far beyond immediate medical bills. 

At Zehl & Associates, we take a strategic, individualized approach to securing your future: we get to know you, your family, and the full impact of your injury, so we can accurately assess every loss and complication. Then, we fight aggressively for full compensation covering all of your past, present, and future costs, including:

Comprehensive Economic Damages

We make sure every financial cost resulting from your SCI is accounted for, including:

• Medical bills: Emergency transport, hospitalization, surgery, imaging (MRI, CT, X-rays), prescription medications, and follow-up care.
• Future medical care: Ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, assistive equipment (wheelchairs, braces, neural prosthetics, computer-assisted devices), long-term pain management, and adaptive technology.
• Rehabilitation and support services: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational training, educational programs, assisted walking, and recreational therapy.
• Lost wages and employment benefits: Income lost during recovery, including overtime, bonuses, and retirement or insurance contributions.
• Loss of earning capacity: Compensation for diminished ability to work or pursue your career due to permanent disability.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Travel for treatment, replacement of personal or work-related equipment, and any other expenses caused by the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Spinal cord injuries affect every aspect of life. Zehl ensures your pain, suffering, and life changes are fully recognized:

• Pain and suffering: Chronic pain, discomfort, and limitations caused by the SCI
• Mental anguish: Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and nightmares resulting from the injury.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: The inability to participate in hobbies, daily activities, or personal pursuits.
• Disfigurement and physical impairment: Loss of bodily function, visible scars, burns, or amputations.
• Loss of consortium: Impact on marriage, companionship, and family relationships.

Medical Complications and Specialized Needs

SCIs often involve complex medical challenges that require specialized care:

• Breathing difficulties: About one-third of SCI patients require temporary or permanent respiratory support.
• Circulatory and autonomic issues: Blood flow problems, autonomic dysreflexia, and pressure sores.
• Pain and muscle tone changes: Chronic pain, stiffness, and spasticity.
• Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction: Long-term complications affecting daily life.
• Psychological effects: Depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders.

Life After Paralysis: How Zehl & Associates Helps Rebuild Futures

After a serious accident,  families are almost always impacted financially. In fact, research shows that 42% of those living with paralysis are unable to work, and unemployment rates for people with a spinal cord injury are more than 10 times higher than in the general population.

That’s why, beyond the courtroom, we help our clients move forward with dignity, independence, and security. From connecting them with world-class rehabilitation programs to assisting with adaptive housing, mobility equipment, and transportation needs, our mission is to ensure every client has the resources, care, and maximum compensation needed to rebuild their life.

There’s a reason why so many of our clients say: “Zehl took care of everything.”

Learn more about their experience with our Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys on our Client Testimonial page and YouTube Channel.

Contact our Undefeated Texas Paralysis Lawyers for a Free Consultation: 888-603-3636

As our Record-Setting Recoveries demonstrate, our Texas Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys have the resources, experience, and willingness to take on any company and team of lawyers, no matter how large, and recover the largest verdicts and settlements in history for clients with quadriplegia, paralysis, and spinal injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury, it’s important that you take steps to protect and secure your and your family’s future.

Call 888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us page.

We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and make sure that you have the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.

All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Paralysis, Quadriplegia, and Spinal Cord Injuries: Additional Resources

• Spinal Cord Injury, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 
• Paralysis Resource Guide, Christopher Reeve Foundation
• ASIA Impairment Scale, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)
• Spinal Cord Injuries, Zehl & Associates