Paralysis, a catastrophic injury with a far-reaching and long-term impact. Loss of movement and sensation brings profound changes, fundamentally altering how individuals experience the world and care for themselves. The physical, emotional, and financial consequences can be overwhelming for victims and their families.
These challenges often extend to loved ones who provide support and care. And in many cases, the paralysis may be permanent. If someone else's negligence caused your paralysis, whether due to an accident, unsafe conditions, or medical malpractice, California law entitles you to seek compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury, remember that you are not alone. Legal help is available, and it is essential. Hope often lies in successfully making the transition to the new normal. With the right support and resources, a fulfilling life is still within reach.
The ability to adapt to life with paralysis often depends on obtaining sufficient compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Suppose the injury to you or a family member was due to someone's negligence, recklessness, or deliberate act or omission. In that case, our California catastrophic injury lawyers can provide the essential help you need.
We have helped paralysis victims obtain fair and adequate compensation so they can meet their financial and physical needs and maximize their potential for a fulfilling life. A successful claim can provide critical financial resources to address medical bills, ongoing care, and the pain and suffering that comes with such a life-altering injury.
Our team of personal injury attorneys at Injury Justice Law Firm has extensive experience helping paralysis victims receive much-needed compensation to cover their expenses, care, and lowered quality of life. We are here to guide you through the legal process, fight for the compensation you deserve, and ensure your rights are protected.
Types of Injuries Causing Paralysis
Paralysis occurs when the connection between the brain and muscles is disrupted, usually due to a spinal cord injury or nerve damage. While the extent of impairment varies, the causes often fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI). Spinal cord trauma is one of the most common causes of paralysis. Depending on where the injury occurs along the spinal column, paralysis may affect only the lower part of the body (paraplegia) or all four limbs (quadriplegia). Causes include severe falls, car accidents, workplace incidents, or impact during sports.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Brain trauma may also lead to paralysis by interfering with motor control. A blow or penetration to the skull can damage regions of the brain that regulate movement, causing partial or full loss of motor function.
- Nerve Damage or Compression. Localized nerve damage can also result in paralysis. Severe cases of herniated disks, untreated infections affecting the spinal or peripheral nerves, or surgical errors can impair movement or sensation.
- Medical Negligence. Paralysis injuries stemming from medical malpractice are especially tragic. These cases might involve mishandling during surgery, delayed diagnosis of critical conditions, etc.
Paralysis from Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is one that forever changes the life of the victim, such as loss of limb, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis.
Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is prevented from transmitting signals from parts of the body to the brain and back again. With mild to moderate spinal trauma, paralysis can be temporary, although recovery is normally slow and rarely complete.
In more severe cases, when the spinal cord is broken, the body can be completely paralyzed below the trauma point. A victim whose neck is broken can suffer quadriplegia, the paralysis of arms and legs.
In contrast, a victim whose trauma point is in the thoracic or lumbar region of the spine can suffer paraplegia, the paralysis of the legs.
Common Causes of Paralysis Injuries
Paralysis can occur from trauma caused by such incidents as the following:
- Car accidents,
- Truck accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Bicycle accidents,
- Slips and falls,
- Sports injuries.
In these cases, our catastrophic injury lawyers can investigate whether the elements of a personal injury case exist. We will guide you through the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected and fighting for the compensation you deserve. Most often, someone was negligent in directly causing the injury or in putting another person in unreasonable danger.
Long-Term Impacts of Paralysis
Beyond the immediate loss of mobility and sensation, paralysis often leads to physical and emotional complications that can compound the challenges for injured individuals. Let's review in more detail below.
Physical Health Challenges
Paralysis disrupts normal bodily functions, often resulting in additional medical complications, including:
- Chronic Pain
- Respiratory Issues
- Pressure Ulcers
- Loss of Bladder and Bowel Control
- Muscle Atrophy and Bone Health
Mental Health Impacts
The abrupt life changes caused by paralysis can lead to emotional and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Losing independence is particularly challenging, affecting one's sense of self-worth, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Social and Financial Strain
Paralysis often requires constant medical care, assistive devices, home modifications, and personal assistance, which place immense strain on families. The cost of managing these needs over a lifetime can climb into millions of dollars, particularly for those who are unable to return to work.
The ripple effects of such an injury touch every part of life, making it essential for victims and their families to receive the support and resources they need.
Types of Damages Available
For victims of negligence-caused paralysis, pursuing compensation can ease the financial strain and provide some measure of justice. The process of determining the types and amount of damages is complex and involves a thorough evaluation of the injury's impact on your life. Damages typically fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
These damages are quantified and designed to cover financial losses, including:
- Medical Expenses: Current and future medical costs, including surgeries, medication, rehabilitation, assistive technology, mental health treatment, and necessary home modifications.
- Loss of Income: Compensation for lost wages and potential future earnings, particularly if the injury leaves you unable to work.
- Long-Term Care Costs: Expenses related to hiring in-home caregivers or residing in specialized facilities, such as remodeling a home and/or vehicle to accommodate the disability.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages account for intangible losses that profoundly affect quality of life, such as:
- Pain and Suffering: Chronic pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in daily life.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages for the strain placed on personal and family relationships.
- Psychological Harm: Compensation for the suffering caused by mental health challenges like depression or post-traumatic stress related to the injury.
Punitive Damages
While rarer, punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the responsible party's actions were particularly reckless or malicious. These damages are intended to punish wrongdoers and discourage similar conduct in the future. Each paralysis case is unique, and obtaining compensation requires several steps:
- A thorough investigation of the incident to determine and prove fault.
- Determining the value of damages by reviewing the injury's impact on all aspects of life and
- Procuring an appropriate settlement of the damages, either through skillful negotiation or litigation.
Contact a Paralysis Injury Lawyer
Paralysis that will last a lifetime deserves compensation that covers the full life of the victim. As your legal advocates, we aim to recover the maximum amount possible through negotiation, settlement, or trial. We are committed to fighting for the justice you deserve.
No matter how clear-cut the case may seem in paralysis injury claims, your best hope of obtaining enough compensation to cover these losses is with the help of a skilled California personal injury attorney.
If your loved one has been paralyzed due to some person's negligent act or omission, the Injury Justice Law Firm can help. Contact us online or call for a free consultation with one of our attorneys in Los Angeles, California.
We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
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