Paraplegia
Welcome to the Spinal Cord Injury Attorney’s guide to paraplegia legal options, a condition resulting from spinal cord injuries. Here we’ll explore paraplegia’s meaning, causes and effects and the legal recourse available to those who have suffered paraplegia in accidents caused by others’ negligence. Our mission is to provide you with essential information to help you navigate the challenges you face after enduring severe spinal cord injuries and seek justice and compensation with a personal injury claim or lawsuit for your brain or spinal cord injury claim.
What is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia is a condition involving the partial or total loss of voluntary motor function in the lower limbs (legs) and the lower body. It typically results from a spinal cord injury at the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral levels. This loss of function usually occurs at and below the level of injury to the spinal cord. Paraplegia is one of the most common types of paralysis from a complete spinal cord injury. Many paraplegics experience differing levels of disability which relate to the severity of the partial or complete spinal cord injury. A paraplegic often faces significant challenges in mobility and daily life due to the loss of lower body and limb functions
NAVIGATE THIS PAGE
- What is Paraplegia?
- Causes of Paraplegia
- Types of Paraplegia
- Physical and Emotional Impacts of Paraplegia
- Challenges in Daily Life
- Legal Rights and Options for Paraplegics
- Right to File a Lawsuit for Your Damages & Compensation
- Legal Options for Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Paraplegia
- How We Can Help
- Case Studies and Success Stories
- Contact Us
Types of Paraplegia
Paraplegia is classified by the level and extent of the injury to the spinal cord and divided into segments and degrees of paralysis. The main types of paraplegia are:
Complete Paraplegia
Complete Paraplegia is the total loss of motor function and sensation at or below the level of the injury to the spinal cord. Paraplegics suffering from complete paraplegia usually have no sensations or voluntary movement or function in the areas below the spinal injury.
Incomplete Paraplegia
Incomplete Paraplegia is the partial loss of sensation or motor function at and below the injury to the spinal cord. The degrees of impairment can vary as to the extent of the injury and trauma suffered to the spinal cord. Incomplete paraplegics may still have partial sensation and partial voluntary movement and function. The medical community classifies severity of the paraplegia and loss of function through a classification system by the American Spinal Injury Association also referred to an ASIA Impairment Scale:
- ASIA A – Complete
- ASIA B – Sensory Incomplete
- ASIA C – Motor Incomplete – Muscle Grade less than 3
- ASIA D – Motor Incomplete – Muscle Grade more than 3
- ASIA E – Normal Function
Causes of Paraplegia
Paraplegia can result from various things, but traumatic accidents are a common cause, and such accidents including:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Collisions involving cars, rollover accidents, motorcycles, trucks, or pedestrians can lead to spinal cord injuries and paraplegia. These wrecks or collisions may be due to the negligence of other drivers, who fail to follow traffic laws or drive recklessly. In many cases, the auto manufacturer may also be at fault due to weak roofs, airbag failures, seat belt defects, and ejections due to car accident collisions and rollover accidents. Due to the massive amount of energy of a high-speed wreck, it can produce catastrophic injuries, including paraplegia, quadriplegia injuries, psychological trauma, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requiring a lifetime of medical care and medical expenses.
Fall Accidents
Fall accidents can occur on poorly maintained property, defective ladders, unstable scaffolding, a workplace accident which may have hazards such as uneven surfaces, insufficient lighting, open manhole, lack of guards of barricades, or wet floors. Property owners and the managers of property may be liable for injuries that occur on such premises if negligence can be proven. In falls, even some a short distance, the neck can be broken, spinal cords can be severed resulting in lifelong paralysis and loss of function and sensation.
Refinery Explosions & Industrial Accidents
Falls at chemical plants and refineries are commonplace. In serious cases may lead to spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Fall injuries may occur from trip and falls down a set of stairs or ladders, off an elevated equipment, open holes in floors, scaffolding. Other injuries may occur from being struck by falling objects, electrical injuries, thermal burns, crane collapses and from explosions from storage tanks, pressure vessels, boilers, reactors, distillation towers, heaters, and cracking units. These can cause catastrophic spinal cord and brain injuries from a fall, or an explosion and of course death. In many cases, a lawsuit against the negligent parties including the product maker, 3rd party maintenance company, general contractor, or other subcontractor. It is critical in any case, especially and explosion, to hire an experienced team of lawyers are employed to preserve the evidence and begin an investigation on behalf of the injured parties.
Construction Falls & Accidents
Especially at risk of head and spinal injuries on the job are construction workers. Many construction jobs may present dangers from falls from great heights, malfunctioning equipment, caught between moving and stationary objects, crush injuries, trench and excavation wall collapse accidents, lack of barricading, falls from roofs, open pits and holes, elevated platforms, ladders, and scaffolding. Construction workers working in refineries, high-rise buildings, or residential construction, that are seriously injured due at least in part to the negligence of an employer or subcontractor or other third-party contractors may be able to file a lawsuit for all their injuries and damages. In all serious injuries, it is imperative that you have a lawyer watching out for you as the company and its insurance carrier are often only protecting their own interests.
Motorcycle & Side-by-Side Injury Accidents
Motorcycle riders are very vulnerable to auto accidents as the riders have virtually no protective barrier when hit by an auto or truck, as such the injuries can be catastrophic. Leg amputations, traumatic brain injuries and severe spinal cord injuries are common. In a motorcycle accident the defendants can include the other vehicle, the helmet manufacturer, tire maker and even the bike manufacturer. Drivers and passengers of golf carts and many ATV’s side-by-side UTV’s are also at a high risk of rollovers especially on uneven terrain and when they are fully loaded with people and gear, the center of gravity is raised resulting in increased risk of tip overs or rollovers. Many of the older golf carts, UTV’s and Side-by-Sides are not equipped with doors, safety netting or even seat belts, as such may be liable in a product liability lawsuit.
Physical and Emotional Impacts of Paraplegia
Physical Impacts
Paraplegia can have many severe physical impacts, including:
- Loss of mobility, or the inability to walk or move the lower limbs independently.
- Changes in sensation, or reduced or complete loss of sensation in the lower body.
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction, with difficulty controlling normal bladder and bowel functions.
- Muscle spasms, or involuntary muscle contractions, which can be common in persons suffering from paraplegia.
- Pressure sores, which can result from the lack of mobility that’s common among sufferers of paraplegia and can lead to serious infections.
- Loss of sexual function
Emotional and Psychological Impacts
Paraplegia also can have serious emotional and psychological impacts on persons, who may suffer from feelings of anger, grief, anxiety and depression as they face major life changes.
Challenges in Daily Life
Day-to-day life for persons suffering from paraplegia can present many and varied challenges. These can include:
- Mobility, or adapting to the use of wheelchairs, mobility aids or other assistive devices.
- Home modifications, which may be needed to make living spaces accessible via widened doorways, ramps and other adjustments.
- Financial and legal matters, which can involve the challenges of dealing with insurance claims, disability benefits and the legal actions necessary to hold negligent parties responsible.
Legal Rights and Options for Paraplegics
Understanding your legal rights and options is vital if you or a family member has been diagnosed with paraplegia due to an accident caused by the negligence of another person, persons or entity. These legal rights include:
Right to File a Lawsuit for Your Damages & Compensation
- Medical costs, including past and future medical bills related to your paraplegia.
- Lost wages or salary, or income that is lost due to an injury, including future earning potential.
- Pain and suffering, or the physical and emotional distress caused by such an injury.
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Consortium with Your Spouse
- Assistive devices, including costly mobility aids, wheelchairs and other needed equipment.
- House Modifications for Paraplegic Needs
- Handicapped Cars and Vans for Transport
- Medical Care in Past and Future
Legal Options for Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Paraplegia
You have legal recourse, which means the right to pursue legal action against those responsible for your spinal cord accident-causing paraplegia. In this way you can seek accountability, justice and monetary reward for your injuries. Such legal recourse may involve:
- Personal injury claims or lawsuit, or filing an injury claim against the at-fault party to seek compensation for damages, recovery of lost wages, medical care, and other damages for your life changing injury.
- Product liability lawsuits, or pursuing a lawsuit against designers, manufacturers, or suppliers for product liability when their defective product contributed to your paraplegia.
- Medical malpractice lawsuits or taking legal action against negligent healthcare institutions or providers if your injury resulted from their medical or healthcare errors.
- Workers' compensation claims, involving benefits granted to workers who were injured by accidents in the workplace. You may be eligible for such workers' compensation benefits.
How We Can Help
As Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers, we are focused on representing persons who have suffered paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other spinal cord injuries due to accidents caused by others’ negligence. Our experienced legal team understands the intricacies of these cases and is dedicated to fighting for your rights. We have a proven track record of securing substantial compensation for our clients, thus providing them with the resources they need for their recovery and their future well-being.
Case Studies and Success Stories for Some of Our Former SCI & TBI Clients
Please take time to read over our past results studies to see how we have helped persons with paraplegia to achieve justice and financial compensation. We are committed to fighting for our clients’ rights and ensuring that they receive the financial recovery they deserve.
Joseph S.
David W.
Ofelia P.
Arthur R.
Marcus G.
Contact Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers for Help With your Case
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with paraplegia as a result of an accident caused by another party’s negligence, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Our compassionate legal team is here to guide you through the legal process, ensure your legal rights are protected, and fight for the financial compensation you deserve. Your journey to justice and healing begins with contacting an experienced team of Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers.
Paraplegia is a life-altering condition that often results from accidents due to negligence. If you find yourself in this challenging situation, remember that you have legal rights, and justice can be sought. Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer is here to be your advocate and partner on this journey toward recovery and accountability. You are not alone in this fight, and we are dedicated to helping you rebuild your life. Contact us today to begin your path to legal justice for your injury accident.
At Spinal Cord Injury Attorney, we stand ready to guide you through the legal process and vigorously advocate for your rights. Take the first step toward justice and recovery by contacting us today for a free consultation to discuss your spinal cord injury case. You are not alone in this journey – not when we are here to support you every step of the way.
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