Diagnosed with a spinal cord injury in New Braunfels, TX? Contact the top New Braunfels spinal cord injury lawyer to seek justice today.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, lifetime costs for a spinal cord injury range from roughly $2.1 million for less severe injuries to more than $6.4 million for high tetraplegia, figures that don’t touch the wages you will never earn or the independence you are now fighting to rebuild. When a crash on I-35, a fall on someone else’s property, or a workplace incident leaves you with lasting nerve damage, the insurance check arrives slowly, and it is rarely enough. You deserve a New Braunfels attorney who understands both the medicine and the money.
At Vendt Accident Attorneys, we take on the paperwork, the adjusters, and the defense lawyers so you can put your energy where it belongs, your recovery. Our team knows how Comal County juries think, how Texas SCI cases are valued, and how to make sure your settlement accounts for every year of care ahead of you.
Get a free consultation and discover how our spinal cord injury attorneys in New Braunfels can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
Why You Need a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in New Braunfels
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the bundle of nerves running through your spine that carry signals between your brain and your body. When those signals are disrupted, the effects, paralysis, chronic pain, and lost independence, can be permanent.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, Texas law gives you the right to pursue compensation. SCI claims are more complex than a standard car accident case: the damages can reach into the millions, the medical evidence is highly technical, and the insurance company will fight every dollar. You need an attorney who fights just as hard.
Free consultation, no fee unless we win. Call Vendt Accident Attorneys today.
Why Choose Vendt Accident Attorneys in New Braunfels?
Our experienced attorneys provide dedicated Texas legal representation in your corner. Founding attorney Frank Vendt, Jr. served as the 2020 Fort Bend County Bar Association President. Of counsel Scott M. Broussard has tried Texas jury cases for over 25 years. Senior Counsel April F. Tabangay-Vigilla holds an LL.M. from the University of Houston and is fluent in Tagalog and conversant in Spanish.
- From our New Braunfels office, we handle cases throughout Comal County, and we know what it takes to win here.
- Local presence: Our New Braunfels office serves clients along the I-35 corridor and throughout Comal County.
- Trial-ready team: We build every SCI case for trial, so insurers know a low offer won’t end the fight.
- Contingency fee: You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
- Individualized strategy: Every case gets a legal plan built around your specific circumstances, never cookie-cutter.
“My wife and I where involved in a motorcycle accident a few years back and Scott handled everything from the hospital to the insurance. We were well beyond satisfied as he made the process very easy to understand and demonstrated a high level of professionalism. We highly recommend Scott Broussard as your attorney.” – Steve Ledford
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in New Braunfels?
New Braunfels sits along the I-35 corridor, where commercial truck traffic and high-speed crashes are a daily reality. But SCIs happen in many settings, and the cause determines who is legally liable for your losses.
Common causes we handle:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes on I-35 and Loop 337
- Slip-and-fall accidents on poorly maintained property
- Workplace and industrial accidents, including oilfield incidents
- Defective products that fail under normal use
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions
- Recreational incidents on the Guadalupe and Comal rivers
One pattern we consistently see in spinal cord injury claims tied to I-35 and Loop 337 crashes in Comal County is that clients arrive at Resolute Health Hospital with what first looks like a lower back strain, and the full neurological picture only emerges once swelling around the spine subsides days later. Insurers who pulled the initial emergency room chart often try to argue the injury was less severe than the final diagnosis shows. We wait for the complete neurological workup before valuing a claim, not the first scan.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Long-Term Effects
SCIs are classified as either complete, a total loss of function below the damage site, or incomplete, where some nerve signals still get through. The location of the damage on your spine determines how much of your body is affected.
|
Injury Level |
What It Affects |
|
High Cervical (C1–C4) |
All four limbs; breathing may require ventilator support |
|
Low Cervical (C5–C8) |
All four limbs, with possible partial arm movement |
|
Thoracic (T1–T12) |
Legs and trunk; upper body typically preserved |
|
Lumbar/Sacral |
Hips, legs, and bowel/bladder function |
Beyond paralysis, many SCI survivors face secondary complications: chronic neuropathic pain (a burning or shooting nerve sensation), pressure sores, autonomic dysreflexia (sudden dangerous blood pressure spikes), and respiratory issues. We document every complication to make sure your compensation reflects your full medical reality.
What Damages Can You Recover after a Spinal Cord Injury?
Texas law allows you to seek compensation for every financial loss and personal impact caused by your injury, not just your immediate medical bills.
Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care
- Medical equipment, home modifications, and in-home attendant care
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
Non-economic damages cover the personal toll:
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium (the impact on your relationship with a spouse)
To accurately project future costs, we build a life-care plan, a detailed, expert-prepared document covering every medical, personal, and financial need for the rest of your life. In cases of especially reckless conduct, punitive damages Texas law may also be available to punish the wrongdoer.
What we see across the spinal cord injury claims we handle out of New Braunfels is that families underestimate the cost of home modifications until a certified life-care planner walks the property, whether that means widening doorways for a wheelchair or retrofitting a bathroom for an attendant. Those costs, along with future attendant care, are frequently the largest line items we present in a Comal County settlement demand. We build that documentation early so it carries weight at the negotiating table.
How Long Do You Have to File in Texas?
The statute of limitations, the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit, is two years, generally counted from the date of your injury. Miss that window and your right to compensation is permanently gone.
Three exceptions frequently apply in SCI cases:
- Government claims: If a government vehicle or employee caused your injury, the Texas Tort Claims Act may require written notice within as little as six months.
- Injured minors: The two-year clock is typically paused until the minor turns 18.
- Incapacitated victims: If your SCI left you legally incapacitated, the deadline may be tolled, paused, until legal capacity is restored.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible to make sure no deadline passes unnoticed.
How Insurance Companies Handle Spinal Cord Injury Claims
SCI cases represent some of the largest financial exposures insurers face, and they fight them aggressively. Knowing their tactics helps you protect yourself.
- Early lowball offers: They move quickly with a settlement offer before you understand your full long-term care needs.
- Recorded statement traps: An adjuster may call shortly after the accident hoping to capture your words and use them against you later.
- Comparative fault attacks: Under Texas’s 51% rule, if they can push your share of blame above 50%, your recovery drops to zero.
- Strategic delays: Prolonging the process creates financial pressure designed to push you into accepting less.
Once we are on your case, we handle every interaction with the insurer. You stop taking their calls.
A tactic we see repeatedly from adjusters handling spinal cord injury claims in Comal County is an early settlement offer pegged to the first hospital stay, sent out before a client’s treating neurologist has determined maximum medical improvement. Once that number is on the table, families under financial pressure are tempted to accept it, even though ongoing care, home modifications, and lost earning capacity have not yet been calculated. We instruct clients to route every call through our office so no recorded statement locks in a number before the full injury is documented.
How We Build Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
We manage every phase of your claim from the first call to final payment.
Evidence Preservation
We immediately send spoliation letters, formal legal notices requiring all parties to preserve relevant evidence, and secure crash data, surveillance footage, and accident scene documentation before it disappears.
Expert Analysis
Our life-care planners, medical specialists, and economic experts build a comprehensive, court-ready model of your lifetime medical costs, home care requirements, and lost income.
Negotiation and Litigation
We present a fully documented demand backed by expert evidence and refuse to let insurers pressure us into a discount. If they won’t pay what your case is worth, we take the fight to trial in Comal County.
Lien Resolution
After a settlement or verdict, we negotiate down any outstanding liens from Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurers so you keep as much of your recovery as possible.
“I hired Scott when I was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Scott immediately put me at ease by thoroughly explaining the process of bringing a personal injury claim, including what can be expected and provided an honest evaluation of my case. I was completely impressed with his professionalism and his fantastic staff. They were all great! I would highly recommend Scott and his staff if you are ever seriously injured and need representation.” – Ron Darley
Steps to Take after a Spinal Cord Injury
Acting quickly after your injury protects both your health and your claim.
Attend Every Medical Appointment
Missing visits gives the insurance company grounds to argue your injuries are less serious than you claim. Follow your doctor’s orders and show up to every scheduled appointment.
Document Everything and Keep a Daily Journal
Save all accident-related records, photograph your injuries, collect witness contact information, and write regular notes describing how your condition affects your daily life.
Do Not Give the Insurer a Recorded Statement
You have no legal obligation to speak with the at-fault party’s insurer. Do not sign documents or accept any offers before you have legal representation.
Call Us Right Away
We step in immediately to shield you from insurer pressure and start building your case while you focus on healing.
What It Costs to Hire Us
Nothing upfront. We handle SCI cases on a pure contingency-fee basis, our legal fee comes entirely from what we recover for you, and only if we win.
We also advance all litigation costs, expert fees, court filings, medical records, and collect them only from your recovery. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.
No upfront cost, call (832) 490-7088 for your free New Braunfels spinal cord injury consultation.
Where We Serve around New Braunfels
From our New Braunfels office, we represent clients throughout Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays Counties, including Gruene, Canyon Lake, Seguin, San Marcos, Schertz, Cibolo, and Bulverde.
Contact a New Braunfels Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
A spinal cord injury demands an advocate who takes this fight as personally as you do. We are here for you every step of the way, and we are not afraid to take your case all the way to a jury when that is what justice requires.
Reach out today and take the first step toward the compensation you deserve. Call Vendt Accident Attorneys at (832) 490-7088 or request a free case review online. There is no fee unless we win.
New Braunfels Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer FAQ
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
Yes, under Texas’s modified comparative fault rule, you can recover as long as you are 50% or less at fault, though your award is reduced proportionally by your share.
Who Covers My Medical Bills While My Spinal Cord Injury Case Is Pending?
Your health insurance, auto policy MedPay or PIP coverage, or a letter of protection from a treating physician can cover costs until your case resolves, we help coordinate all of it.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Had No Insurance?
We look first to your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage and then investigate whether other liable parties, an employer, property owner, or commercial entity, hold additional coverage.
Do Most Spinal Cord Injury Cases in Comal County Go to Trial?
Most cases settle through negotiation or mediation, but we prepare every file as if it will go before a Comal County jury, which consistently forces stronger settlement outcomes.
How Long Does a Spinal Cord Injury Case Take to Resolve?
SCI cases often take many months because we wait until your doctors determine your maximum medical improvement before calculating the full cost of your long-term needs.
Can a Guardian File a Claim for an Incapacitated Spinal Cord Injury Victim?
Yes, a legal guardian or parent can file the claim, and the statute of limitations is generally paused until an incapacitated adult regains capacity or a minor turns 18.
Do I Have to Repay Medicare or My Health Insurance from My Settlement?
In most cases, yes, these entities hold legal liens on your recovery, and we negotiate them down before your final payment to protect as much of your compensation as possible.
School Bus Accidents in Comal and Guadalupe Counties
When your child is hurt on a school bus, it is both a physical injury and a breach of trust. Our firm holds school districts and their contractors accountable to the specific safety obligations Texas law places on them.
These cases extend well beyond collisions while the bus is moving. Children are hurt in three distinct ways:
- While riding: Hard braking, sharp turns, and collisions throw unsecured passengers against hard surfaces, causing broken bones, head trauma, and spinal injuries.
- During boarding and unloading: A driver who releases a child at an unsafe stop creates liability when that child is subsequently struck or falls.
- By stop-arm runners: Texas Transportation Code §545.066 requires all traffic to stop for a school bus stop arm. Drivers who ignore this law can be held personally liable for every resulting injury.
A pattern we see often in Comal and Guadalupe County school bus cases is the district producing the bus camera footage only after a formal preservation demand and only for the exact minute of impact rather than the full boarding sequence. In the claims we have worked through New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD routes, the boarding and unloading footage often matters more than the crash itself, which is why we request the full file the same week we are hired.
|
Claim Type |
Who You Sue |
Key Deadline |
|
Public School Bus (ISD) |
Independent School District |
6-month written notice under the TTCA |
|
City or Regional Bus |
Government Transit Authority |
As little as 90 days per city charter |
|
Private Charter or Greyhound |
Private Bus Company |
2 years under standard Texas law |
Public Bus and City Transport Claims in New Braunfels
If you were hurt on an Alamo Regional Transit (ART) bus or another government-operated shuttle, your claim falls under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The TTCA partially waives sovereign immunity, the government’s default legal shield against lawsuits, but only in specific circumstances, including motor vehicle accidents involving a government employee.
The TTCA caps recovery at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. It also requires formal written notice within a narrow window after the accident, a deadline many injured people don’t discover until it has already passed.
Private, Charter, and Intercity Bus Crashes
Greyhound, FlixBus, tour buses, church vans, and hotel or airport shuttles are legally classified as common carriers, transportation businesses that serve the general public for hire.
Interstate carriers also fall under federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and those records can be central to your case. We investigate:
- Driver logs to identify hours-of-service violations
- Pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspection reports
- Drug and alcohol testing records
- Maintenance and repair history for the specific bus involved
Hurt on a Greyhound or charter bus? Call Vendt Accident Attorneys.
What we see consistently in charter and intercity bus claims moving through New Braunfels is that the carrier’s FMCSA driver logs do not match the dispatch records once both are pulled side by side. We have found that an hours-of-service violation buried in electronic logging device data is often the detail that turns a disputed liability case into a clear one.
Deadlines and Notice Requirements for Texas Bus Claims
Texas gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but when a government entity is involved, that window closes much faster.
Private bus (Greyhound, charter, shuttle): 2 years from the crash date under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003.
- Texas school district or state agency: Formal written notice within 6 months under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
- City of New Braunfels or municipal transit: City charters can require notice in as little as 90 days, one of the most compressed deadlines in Texas personal injury law.
Evidence We Preserve Immediately
On-board camera footage is routinely overwritten within days of a crash. Black box data from the event data recorder (EDR), which records the vehicle’s speed, braking force, and GPS location at the moment of impact, disappears just as quickly without formal legal intervention.
We send preservation demand letters the same day we take your case. We also subpoena the driver’s commercial license history, inspection logs, prior complaints, and training records, all of which can reveal a pattern of negligence that predates your accident. Working with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts, we build a clear factual record of what happened and who is responsible.
“I was represented by Scott Broussard in my personal injury case. Scott helped every step of the way, answering all my questions (I had many!) and preparing me well for discovery. The office staff also was very responsive and helpful. I highly recommend Scott if unfortunately, you find yourself injured and don’t know what to do.” – Tina Michel
Common Injuries in Bus Accident Cases
Bus accidents cause some of the most severe injuries we see, largely because of the vehicle’s weight and the absence of seat belts for standing passengers.
Passengers inside the bus are commonly thrown from seats during sudden stops or impact, suffering whiplash, herniated discs, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists face catastrophic harm when struck by a bus; large vehicles have significant blind spots that put anyone near a crosswalk or bus stop at serious risk.
Paratransit passengers face a distinct category of risk. Improperly secured wheelchairs, malfunctioning lifts, and inadequate operator training have caused spinal fractures, head trauma, and severe internal injuries in cases just like yours.
Across the paratransit claims we have handled in Comal County, a malfunctioning wheelchair lift or an improperly secured restraint is rarely documented in the driver’s own incident report. We push for the vehicle’s maintenance logs and prior lift-service complaints early, because that history is usually what proves the operator knew about the defect before it hurt someone.
What You Can Recover After a Texas Bus Accident
You should not carry the financial cost of an accident someone else caused. Texas law allows you to pursue full compensation for:
- All medical expenses, from emergency care through long-term rehabilitation
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity going forward
- Physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Wrongful death damages if a family member was killed in the crash
When conduct was reckless or intentional, what Texas law calls gross negligence, courts can award punitive damages under Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.003. Because the TTCA caps government liability, identifying any private co-defendant often determines how much total compensation is actually available to you.
Why New Braunfels Families Choose Vendt Accident Attorneys
We don’t take cases to settle them quickly and move on. Every client gets a dedicated strategy, direct communication, and a team ready to go to trial when that is what your case demands.
Transit authorities and private carriers have legal teams that start working immediately after a crash, and you deserve an advocate who starts working just as fast. Our New Braunfels office gives us direct familiarity with the local courts, transit routes, and road conditions involved in your case. Senior Counsel April Tabangay-Vigilla provides bilingual support in Tagalog and Spanish, so language is never a barrier. When your case reaches a jury, attorney Scott M. Broussard brings over 25 years of Texas courtroom experience to your side. We work entirely on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win.
“Frank was great to work with. He represented me in a manner that was professional and very efficient. Frank does what he does because he has a passion for justice. I am very appreciative of all that Frank has done for me, and I will recommend him to anyone that needs legal representation conducted the ‘right’ way.” – Sharndell Carr
FAQs: New Braunfels Bus Accident Lawyer
How Quickly Must I Notify the City of New Braunfels or a School District?
City charter rules may require written notice in as little as 90 days. The TTCA gives you six months for school district claims. Missing either deadline permanently bars compensation. Contact an attorney immediately.
Can I Sue New Braunfels ISD or Comal ISD After a School Bus Crash?
Yes, but only under the TTCA’s narrow waiver for motor vehicle negligence, and only if you provide written notice within six months of the accident date.
How Do Private Charter Bus Claims Differ from Alamo Regional Transit Claims?
A private carrier like Greyhound follows standard Texas negligence law, no damage caps, two-year deadline. ART falls under the TTCA with shorter notice windows and strict recovery limits.
What Happens If Another Driver Caused the School Bus to Crash?
You may have a separate negligence claim against that driver, entirely independent of any action against the school district or bus operator; we pursue all available recovery on your behalf.
Does It Cost Anything to Hire Vendt Accident Attorneys for a Bus Accident?
There are no upfront fees. We work on contingency, meaning you pay attorney’s fees only if we recover compensation for you.
Talk to a New Braunfels Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Evidence disappears and legal deadlines move faster than most people expect. If you or your family were hurt in a bus crash in New Braunfels, our team is ready to act immediately on your behalf. Call us at (832) 490-7088, visit our office at 382 S I-35 South Frontage Rd, Building C, Suite 109, New Braunfels, TX 78130, or submit your free consultation request online.