Paralysis of any area of your body can have a serious impact on your life, as well as on your family. If you or a loved one suffered a paralysis-inducing injury in an accident, you have the right to file a lawsuit to hold everyone responsible for their negligent and reckless activities.
If you were paralyzed by an accident you did not cause, a Cicero paralysis injury lawyer could help you recover compensation for your injuries and losses. A compassionate catastrophic injury attorney who understands the unique challenges you may face after a paralysis-inducing injury may be able to help you hold those responsible for your injuries liable.
Types of Paralysis Injuries
Paralysis injuries are characterized by a loss of voluntary movement and motor function, as they result in the brain being unable to transmit signals to an area of the body. According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, injury to the spinal cord is one of the leading causes of paralysis injuries. However, paralysis injuries can also be caused by diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
There are many types of paralysis, including:
- Monoplegia – Characterized by paralysis of a single area of the body
- Hemiplegia – Affects the arms and legs on the same side of the body and is often caused by cerebral palsy
- Paraplegia – Often characterized by a loss of functionality below the waist
- Quadriplegia – Often affects the body below the neck as well as all four limbs, and can also cause a degree of disability in the major organs
Legal Basis of Paralysis Injury Lawsuits
Every person has a duty to use ordinary care and to avoid causing another person to suffer an injury or to suffer damages. If a person does not exercise ordinary care or does something that a reasonably careful person would not do under similar circumstances, they can be said to be negligent and can be held liable for any resulting injuries.
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, a person is entitled to recover compensation for any injuries caused by another person, provided they themselves were not considered more than fifty percent negligent themselves. If they are found liable to some degree, though, a plaintiff’s final damage award may be reduced by the same percentage of fault the court determined they bore.
How an Attorney Could Help
A paralysis injury attorney in Cicero could provide critical support after a paralysis-inducing injury by working to determine who is liable and what the financial impact of a paralysis injury might be.
Establishing Negligence
Generally, personal injury lawsuits are predicated on a theory that one or more people were negligent. This requires proving that a person owed another a duty of care, that they subsequently breached that duty of care, and that as a result, a person suffered a compensable injury.
A Cicero paralysis injury lawyer could work to prove that another person was negligent and therefore should be held responsible for a paralysis injury. Among other methods, they may be able to accomplish this by reviewing post-accident police reports, conducting interviews with eyewitnesses, and consulting with medical experts.
Determining the Financial Impact
After a paralyzing accident, injured victims often incur vast medical expenses. However, there are often other expenses associated with paralysis injuries that people do not take into account, such as home remodeling and buying assistive devices. A paralysis injury lawyer in Cicero could help determine the full financial impact of a paralysis injury by working with experts and financial specialists to estimate current and future costs.
Contacting a Cicero Paralysis Injury Attorney
A Cicero paralysis injury lawyer could be prepared to address a wide range of paralysis cases. Whether your injury was caused by a car crash, doctor’s mistake, workplace accident, or act of violence, a dedicated attorney could help you determine if you qualify for compensatory damages to help cover the astronomical costs often associated with a paralysis injury. Call today to get started on your case.
