Injuries or medical errors that result in paralysis — partial, complete, temporary or permanent — are extremely serious, and the legal process that results from these injuries should be handled by an experienced professional who has a history of success with personal injury lawsuits. 1800-Injured is a referral service that connects victims to personal injury attorneys who are ready and willing to take their case, in order to fight for the compensation that the victim truly deserves. The impact that paralysis has on a victim’s life goes far beyond the medical bills and care costs, and with a proper case, each of these additional factors should be compensated fairly.
Read more below about paralysis, how it may be handled during a personal injury lawsuit, and more. If you or someone you know has suffered from injuries that caused paralysis, these injuries may deserve far more compensation than the initial settlement offer the responsible party may make to you. The impact on your life goes far beyond the financial and economic ramifications, but just because your injuries are not entirely financial does not mean you can not be compensated for them.
Contact us now for an initial consultation and evaluation, and get connected with an attorney through our trusted network today. Personal injury law is extremely complicated, and it is important to know that your lawyer is fighting for every dollar that you are entitled to.
Paralysis Injuries
Paralysis is usually a consequence of a spinal cord, neck, or traumatic back injury, and results in reduced mobility, loss of feeling or use of limbs and/or extremities, and more. Paralysis happens when the nerves that run through the spinal cord and neck are crushed, severed, or damaged from a stroke, and the brain is no longer able to send or receive signals from the affected areas, which either reduces or eliminates the ability to voluntarily move. Loss of feeling may or may not accompany the loss of mobility. Damage to the nervous system is often permanent and irreparable.
Types of Paralysis
Paralysis occurs from the site of the nerve damage and below, meaning that it may be partial or complete depending on the damage site.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia occurs when the spinal injury occurs below the arms, and the victim loses mobility and/or feeling in their legs, but retains use or feeling of their arms. It is highly likely that the victim will be required to use a wheelchair for mobility, and must undergo extensive physical therapy. These are both very costly and should be addressed through a personal injury lawsuit if it can be determined that the injuries were the result of another’s actions.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia occurs when the injury or loss of nerve connection occurs above the arms, and the victim loses use and/or feeling of all four limbs. Depending on the nature of the injury, the paralysis may be spastic – meaning that the victim will be unable to use their limbs, but will suffer from uncontrollable spasms.
Treatments for Paralysis
There is currently no cure for paralysis, but depending on the cause of the paralysis and the severity of the damage, there may be treatments that can support improvements. Some paralysis, such as Bell’s Palsy, are common side effects of issues such as Lyme disease or other problems that impact the nerves of the face.
Stroke victims may suffer from temporary or permanent paralysis or reduced mobility in one or all limbs following the stroke. In some cases, physical therapy can help the victim regain mobility in their affected limbs, but the prognosis is case-specific and varies widely.
In the case of traumatic accidents that result in crushed or severed nerves in the spine or neck, the likelihood of recovery is low, and the treatments required for the chance of even partial recovery are extensive. All treatment options and therapy requirements for paralysis are very costly.
Treatment Options for Paralysis
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy includes different forms of massage, exercising and repeat usage of the impacted limbs, injections, and more — the prescribed course of treatment will depend on the specific injury, the victim, and more.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy does not focus on the recovery of the physical use of limbs. Instead, it teaches victims how to manage aspects of their own life after their injuries, such as getting in and out of bed, in and out of their home, how to grocery shop, use public transportation, and more.
Mobility Aids
Depending on the extent of the injuries, this could include manual and electric wheelchairs, scooters, staircase assistants, and more. There are many available options for mobility aids, which each have their own benefits and costs.
Assistive Devices
In some cases, the victim may be able to employ the use of different tools such as computers, voice-activated controls, and devices that are specifically designed for usage with the victim’s specific injuries or handicaps.
Personal Injury Lawsuits for Paralysis
As you can imagine based on the small collection of information about paralysis above, the lawsuits and settlement amounts vary greatly depending on the cause of the injuries, the extent of the injuries, the impacts on the victim’s life, and more.
When 1800-Injured connects you to an attorney, you will be able to build your case with an experienced professional who understands the specifics of personal injury law and is able to build an argument for your specific damages with confidence.
Although the financial impacts on your life are immediately apparent as you start seeing the medical bills accrue and you are unable to work, these are only a small part of the total amount you will seek in your lawsuit. Your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, stress, depression, and anger are all very valid, very important things that need to be included in your lawsuit, and a trustworthy lawyer will be sure that you are compensated for each.
Contact us today to get connected with a network attorney who will set up an initial consultation. It has been proven that stress plays an enormous role in recovery. When your attorney is handling the details of your case, you can take that stress off of your plate and work towards getting your life back on track.