If you've got a spinal cord injury and need to sue someone for it, don't play up the theatrics too much; judges and juries have become hip to this over the years. Just make your case clear, and keep a diary and photos of your injuries so that you can prove you were affected, even if it's not obvious now.

Just because you've got a spinal cord injury doesn't mean that you can't be cured someday. Keep this in mind when seeking damages from someone who's hurt you: new treatments may become available in the future, but they'll probably be very expensive. You'll need those extra funds then.

Many spinal cord injury cases are done on a contingency basis, which means that the lawyer will collect their fees only if they win. This may be up to 40% of the take. Some lawyers, however, will work pro bono if they believe it's in their best interest, or if they can get their fees from the defendant.