Damage to the spine and spinal cord are the primary causes of paralysis sustained through civil accidents. Depending on the location of the spinal cord injury, paralysis may affect some or most of the body. Paralysis that stems from a spinal cord injury is often permanent and completely disabling. You may suffer significant financial damages from your paralysis injury in the event that you are no longer able to work, require ongoing medical treatment, and need personal care on a 24-hour basis. If a negligent party causes an accident that culminates in paralysis to victims, contacting a Will County paralysis injury lawyer may a good place to start after seeking appropriate medical treatment. Depending on your situation, an experienced catastrophic injury attorney may be able to assist you in filing a legal claim that could result in compensation for your injuries and losses.
Common Causes of Paralysis Injuries
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, over five million people in the United States are living with some degree of paralysis. The research of the Foundation defined paralyzed individuals as those who have difficulty or an inability to move some or all of their lower and upper extremities.
The research further revealed that the leading cause of paralysis was a stroke, followed closely by spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries originate from a number of different situations, but motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes.
Additionally, some spinal cord injuries are attributable to the performance of physical labor, falls, shootings and assaults, and sports accidents. Whenever paralysis results from the reckless or careless actions of others, though, injury victims may wish to consult with a Will County paralysis injury attorney about their legal options.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Resulting in Paralysis
Spinal cord injuries may be incomplete or complete in nature. With an incomplete spinal cord injury, individuals may still have some sensation and movement below the site of the injury. With a complete spinal cord injury, however, individuals typically experience a total loss of feeling or movement below the site of the injury.
The two major types of paralysis are:
- Paraplegia, which may fully or partially affect the trunk, legs, and pelvis
- Quadriplegia, which may affect the arms in addition to the trunk, legs, and pelvis
Generally, the higher the injury is on the spinal cord, the greater the degree of paralysis. For a very high spinal cord injury, individuals may be paralyzed from the neck down and the injury may impact their breathing. For a lower spinal cord injury, paralysis may occur only from the waist down.
Measuring the Costs of Paralysis Injuries
Any degree of paralysis injury is likely to result in high initial medical costs, as well as ongoing expenses for continuing medical treatment and care that may easily exceed one million dollars throughout the lifetime of the injury victims. For paralysis injury victims who may have lost their ability to work and their health insurance, these medical expenses can be simply overwhelming.
When the negligence of another person or entity causes an accident that results in this type of devastating medical condition, a knowledgeable paralysis injury lawyer in Will County may be able to help. Holding individuals responsible for their reckless behavior can result in an award of civil damages for injury victims, which may include compensation for the following:
- Medical bills and rehabilitation costs
- Home health care and personal care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and loss of future income
While it is difficult to quantify the permanent loss of feeling and movement in monetary terms, there are significant objective costs associated with paralysis injuries. As such, it is important that injury victims have the right to seek damages from the responsible party or parties. A Will County paralusis injury lawyer could protect an individual’s rights and help them seek compensation.
How a Will County Paralysis Attorney Could Help
When the outcome of a motor vehicle accident leaves victims paralyzed, they are forced to undergo a massive life change. They may be unable to work, confined to a wheelchair, and dependent on others for their daily needs, often on a permanent basis. Medical bills, an inability to work, and other financial pressures can be almost as debilitating as the injury itself.
A Will County paralysis injury lawyer may be able to relieve some of those pressures by helping you hold negligent parties responsible for their actions. Recovering compensation can be crucial to your ability to support yourself and take care of your medical needs, so call today to see how a dedicated attorney could help you pursue a positive outcome to a civil case.