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Paralysis is the loss of any mobility or movement in a part of your body and includes paraplegia and quadriplegia. The level of the paralysis will always depend on the severity and location of the injury.
If you were paralyzed due to someone’s negligence, you could file a lawsuit for compensation.
Put simply, the injury to your spinal cord is so severe that paralysis in one or more limbs occurs. In NY, paralysis is considered a catastrophic injury, which is an injury that has consequences that could permanently prevent you from performing any profitable work.
Paralysis and the loss of sensation can be partial or temporary, but also could be the more severe permanent injury. Generally, if bodily mobility has not recovered after a few months, then there is a greater chance the injury is permanent.
Permanent paralysis normally means there are damages to the spinal cord or nerve pathways. Victims are restricted to a wheelchair and will need long-term medical care and assistance with daily life activities.
Paraplegia or quadriplegia of two or four limbs is the most severe catastrophic personal injury that anyone can face. The medical cost alone can be overwhelming for accident victims.
Medical providers frequently use imaging tools such as CTs, X-Rays, and MRIs to confirm the causes of paralysis.
There are situations where someone else was at fault for a catastrophic injury causing paralysis.
If you were injured due to the negligence of another party, then you should retain legal representation from a personal injury attorney with experience dealing with paraplegia and quadriplegia injuries.
If you or a family member has become paralyzed due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for reimbursement for medical bills, rehabilitation services, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, a life care plan, and punitive damages.
Paralysis is defined as the loss of strength or mobility in a part of the body. Put simply, it’s the loss of muscle function in a part of your body, which occurs when there is nerve damage and communication between your brain and muscles is not functioning properly.
The paralysis may be partial or total, temporary or permanent; its severity depends on the location of the injury.
Many paralysis injuries occur in automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents and construction site accidents. Types of paralysis include:
Paraplegia is paralysis of the lower half of your body, normally below the pelvic area causing a lack of mobility of the feet and legs. Paraplegia is the impairment in the motor or sensory functions in the lower extremities.
Quadriplegia describes when all four limbs are paralyzed, including both arms and both legs, along with some specific organs. Quadriplegia is the impairment in the motor or sensory functions in both the upper and lower extremities.
Thus, the difference between the two is that paraplegia does not affect the upper body extremities.
Many paralysis injuries are due to a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, some of the most common causes of injuries resulting in paralysis include the following:
There are some injuries to the spinal cord that are not the result of a traumatic event but cause paralysis.
For example, strokes, genetic disorders, oxygen deprivation from choking, infections in the spinal cord or brain, cancer, among others.
However, motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of paralyzing injuries to a victim in the United States. Typically, paralysis injuries occur in an automobile accident or a motorcycle accident.
In New York, there can be more than one party liable for a paralysis injury.
There is often more than one party that can be held liable for a paralysis injury in New York.
For instance, if an employee’s negligence leads to your injury, their employer, parent company, or even insurance company may be liable as well.
Additionally, even if you are partially at fault for the injury, you are still eligible for compensation under New York’s comparative negligence law.
This law states that you may recover the percentage of damages that the other party is responsible for.
So if you are 30% at fault for the accident, the defendant will have to pay you 70% of the damages you would have received if they were totally at fault.
A jury will determine this percentage of fault after both attorneys present their cases and the facts surrounding the incident.
After an accident, it is crucial to see a health care provider. For one thing, if you choose to sue the negligent individual, having a paper trail of your injuries is critical to the outcome of your case.
Secondly, and more importantly, there are some instances where paralysis does not occur at the accident scene. It can take some time for the injury to manifest. Many patients experience changes in their symptoms over time.
Some paralysis patients will see improvement dramatically, while other patients might not see any improvement, even with proper medical treatment.
Most paraplegics and quadriplegics will continue their physical therapy to try and improve their situation. Here are some signs and symptoms that paralysis is occurring:
The amount of time between the accident and treatment can have a strong impact on the severity of your injury. In some instances, paralysis can be staved off or lessened if treatment is sought in time.
The array of adaptive equipment to help paralysis patients cope with their injuries is extensive and expensive. Examples include:
Catastrophic injuries resulting in paralysis are frequently caused by avoidable accidents.
If another party was negligent and caused the event leading to your paralysis, then our personal injury law firm can establish liability and help you recover financial compensation.
Awards for damages for paralysis victims include two forms of compensatory damages. Economic damages cover financial losses like medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages cover subjective losses like pain and suffering.
Thus, the compensation that is available for paralysis injuries in the state of New York includes:
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury leading that led to paralysis, an experienced injury attorney can ensure you are properly compensated.
Contact our paralysis injury lawyers for a consultation.
Paralysis will change every part of your life and can last a lifetime. The enormous cost of long-term medical care, therapy, and equipment can be completely overwhelming.
Put simply, anyone who is forced to live with paralysis must receive adequate compensation to cover the cost of daily living.
Michael Redenburg is a great attorney! Our experience with him was very successful. Mr. Redenburg has a high level of integrity, experience and know how to manage your case with the utmost level of confidence. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good attorney.
Contact Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. PC and get the wheels of justice spinning for you. Call 212-240-9465 now to schedule your free, in-office consultation.