Practice Areas
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Attorneys in Connecticut
For over one hundred years, Buckley Wynne & Parese has helped spinal cord injury victims find answers, seek justice and secure financial compensation. Our attorneys have represented numerous spinal cord injury victims and understand the shock, grief and life adjustments that you are going through. We have the specialized knowledge and experience to win spinal cord injury cases. If you sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of someone’s negligence or wrongdoing, call us today for a free consultation.
The Reeve Foundation’s Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
- A study from the Reeve Foundation estimates that over 1.2 million Americans are living with paralysis resulting from spinal cord injuries – five times the previous commonly used estimate of 250,000.
- About four out of five people with spinal cord injuries are male.
- More than half of spinal cord injuries occur in the cervical area, a third occur in the thoracic area, and the remainder occur mostly in the lumbar region.
- Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents, followed by sports-related injuries (more common in children and teenagers), falls and acts of violence.
Source: ChristopherReeve.org
Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
The difference between a complete and incomplete spinal cord injury is whether a person has function below the level of injury. With complete spinal cord injuries, the spinal cord is fully severed or compressed. Motor function, nerve function, sensation and movement are lost below the injury site. Those who suffer from incomplete spinal cord injuries can have some remaining function and/or feeling below the injury location. The following are examples of incomplete spinal cord injuries:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Central Cord Syndrome
- Conus Medullaris Syndrome
- Posterior Cord Syndrome
Paraplegia vs. Tetraplegia / Quadriplegia
Paraplegia often results from injuries to the thoracic or lumber spine and typically causes full or partial paralysis of the lower extremities. Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is full or partial paralysis of the upper and lower extremities. Injuries often occur in the cervical spine.
The ASIA / ISCoS Exam and Grading System
The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) uses a grading scale to define and describe the extent of damage of a spinal cord injury. It helps to determine a patient’s future rehabilitation and recovery needs.
- Grade A - Loss of sensory and motor function.
- Grade B - Loss of motor function.
- Grade C - More than 50% motor function is lost.
- Grade D - Less than 50% motor function is lost.
- Grade E - Sensory and motor function are normal.
Spinal Cord Injury Resources in Connecticut
| Organization | Mission | Contact Information | |
| Almada Lodge-Times Farm Camp Corporation | Provide opportunities to children of all physical, developmental and economic ability to participate in year-round recreational and educational programs that promote friendships, learning and growth. | 73 Times Farm Road, Andover, CT 06232 Tel: (860)742-2267 Fax: (860)742-3298 http://www.channel3kidscamp.org |
|
| Chariots Of Hope | Means of mobility to confined individuals who are otherwise without hope of a reasonable quality of life. | 45 Barber Pond Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 Tel: (860)242-4673 http://chariotsofhope.org |
|
| Boundless Playgrounds | Inclusive playgrounds where children with and without disabilities can play and learn together. | Cheshire: Kids In Motion Playground at Bartlem Park, Enfield: Enfield Rotary Accessible Playground, Glastonbury: Addison Park, Hamden: Josh's Jungle, Milford: Bodie's Place Playground at Eisenhower Park, Newington: Our Children's Place at Mill Pond Park, Simsbury: Rotary Park, South Windsor: My Friend's Place at Nevers Park, West Hartford: Jonathan's Dream | |
| Ability Beyond Disability | Enables individuals living with a disability, illness or injury to achieve and maintain self-reliance, fulfillment and comfort at home, at work and in the community. | 4 Berkshire Blvd, Bethel, CT 6801 Tel: (888) 832-8247 · Fax: (203) 775-8308 | |
| Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation | Dedicated to maintaining and improving quality of life by providing financial aid to individuals with spinal cord injuries. | P.O. Box 2221, Darien, CT 6820 Tel: (888)265-5859 · Fax: (203)662-0798 http://www.ohhf.org | |
| Fairness In Youth Sports | Hartford Little League recognizes that the best interests of the children should be of primary importance and the League should be structured and operated in such a manner so that it is fair to all children and coaches involved. | PO Box 271377, West Hartford, CT 6127 Tel: (860) 232-8226 http://www.westhartfordlittleleague.com | |
| Independence Northwest Center for Independent Living of Northwest CT | Promotes the independent living philosophy so that people with disabilities can have the same opportunities that all citizens have without discrimination. | 1183 New Haven Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 Tel: (203)729-3299 http://www.independencenorthwest.org | |
| Chapel Haven | Committed to providing a lifelong program of individualized support services for adults with cognitive disabilities, enabling them to live independent and productive lives. | 1040 Whalley Ave., New Haven, CT 06515 Tel: (203)397.1714 · Fax: (203)932.3698 http://WWW.CHAPELHAVEN.ORG | |
| High Hopes Therapeutic Riding | Brings the extraordinary benefits of therapeutic riding to people through the sharing of our knowledge, experience and inspiration. | 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371 Tel: (860)434-1974 · Fax: (860)434-3723 http://www.highhopestr.org | |
| Leaps of Faith Disabled Water Skiers Club | Offers water ski instruction for the disabled community including children, adults, and wounded soldiers. | 90 Housatonic Dr, Sandy Hook, CT 06482 Tel: (203)426-0666 http://www.leapsoffaithwaterskiers.com | |
| Moving With HOPE (Health Oriented Physical Education) | To provide year-round access to programs and services that help people with chronic illnesses & disabilities improve their physical activity, functional movement, eating habits, and community-based independence. | 30 Controls Dr, Shelton, CT 06484 Tel: (203)513-8424 · Fax: (203)712-7320 http://www.movingwithhope.org | |
| Ryan Martin Foundation | Helps youth and adult athletes with disabilities live independent, impassioned, productive and full lives through sports training, mentoring, and education. | P.O. Box 1161, Simsbury, CT 06070 Tel: (860) 383-8333 · Fax: (860) 391-0412 http://www.ryanmartinfoundation.org | |
| ARI of Connecticut | Enriching the lives of people with disabilities and their families by enabling them to achieve their fullest potential at home, at work, and in the community. | 174 Richmond Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 Tel: (203) 3249258 · Fax: (203) 358-0600 http://www.arict.org | |
| East Coast Assistance Dogs, Inc | Enables people with disabilities to gain greater independence and mobility through the use of specially trained dogs. | P. O. Box 831149 New Field Road, Torrington, CT 6790 Tel: (860) 489-6550 · Fax: (860) 489-3791 http://www.ecad1.org | |
| New Horizons | Focus of educating the public about people with disabilities and educating people with disabilities about strategies for independent living. | 37 Bliss Road, Unionville, CT 6085 Tel: (860) 673-8893 · Fax: (860) 675-4369 http://www.newhorizonsvillage.com | |
| National Spinal Cord Injury Association Connecticut Chapter | A group of individuals joining together to improve the lives of people who have been affected by a spinal related injury or disease within the state of Connecticut. | PO Box 400 Gaylord Farms Rd, Wallingford, CT 6492 Tel: (203) 284-2910 http://www.sciact.org |
|
| Sail Connecticut Access Program | The opportunity for persons with and without special needs to share the experience of sailing together and train them to sail a fully adapted and equipped sailboat. | 635 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT 06498 Tel: (860) 304-6588 http://www.sailctaccess.org |
|
| Little Britches Therapeutic Riding | To provide unique equine-based therapies to special needs and at-risk individuals. | P.O. Box 120, Woodbury, CT 06798 Tel: (203) 223-4261 Fax: (203) 364-0801 http://www.littlebritchesct.org |
Practice Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Your legal fees are paid on a contingency fee basis unless otherwise specified. That means that we are not paid unless we recover compensation for you.
An owner of property has a duty to protect members of the public from injury that may occur upon the property. The injured person may be able to recover money for those injuries if he or she can prove that the property owner failed to meet that duty. The hurdle plaintiffs face is that the nature and extent of the property owner’s duty will vary depending upon the facts of the situation and the jurisdiction in question.
The status of the injured visitor is important. There are three separate categories: invitee, licensee, and trespasser. An invitee is someone who has been invited onto the land because that person will confer some advantage to the property owner, such as a store patron. An owner of property is required to exercise reasonable care for the safety of the invitee. A licensee is someone who enters upon the land for his or her own purpose, and is present at the consent, but not the invitation, of the owner. For example, a door-to-door salesman who enters the property and stays to chat with the owner about the product that he is selling is a licensee. The owner’s duty to a licensee is only to warn of hidden dangers. For example, if the owner knew the front step was rotten and did not warn the salesman, the salesman may be able to recover if he thereafter falls through the step and injures himself. Finally, a trespasser is an individual who enters onto the property without the knowledge or consent of the owner and who remains there without any right or permission. Trespassers have difficulty suing property owners because property owners’ duty towards trespassers is not to place traps and hazards on their property. In some cases, the owner must also warn trespassers of the hazards if they are unlikely to be discovered by the trespasser and could cause serious injury or death.
The Latest News
Buckley Wynne & Parese Recognized in “Best Law Firms” 2025 Rankings as Top Tier Law Firm
Posted on Nov 07, 2024
Buckley Wynne & Parese is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers has nationally ranked the firm in the 15th edition of the U.S. News-Best Lawyers® 2025 publication. The New Haven based law firm was listed among the top metropolitan tier in the “Best Law Firms” awards list for the practice area of personal injury litigation.
Not reporting a potential insurance claim could be expensive
Posted on Oct 15, 2024
Trying to keep your insurance premium from increasing if you report a claim? That decision could end up being even more costly.
Attorney John F. Buckley Celebrated in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Posted on Aug 15, 2024
This year's inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 particularly commendable, as Best Lawyers conducted a comprehensive peer-review survey with over 13.7 million confidential evaluations. Out of nearly 25,000 voters, Attorney Buckley emerged as a clear leader in his domain. Such an accolade is indicative of the respect and admiration he holds among his peers and underscores his stellar reputation in the industry.
