Accidents, whether it’s a car accident or a slip and fall, can cause serious injuries. For victims, the effects can range from broken bones to paralysis. If you are paralyzed, making an injury claim for paralysis after an accident may be the best way to seek justice.
Since paralysis can affect everything from your health to your finances, compensation gives victims a lifeline as they restore their lives. You do not have to handle this alone; a lawyer can take on the claims process for you. You should only have to focus on your wellbeing at this time.
Overview of Paralysis
Paralysis is a health condition that manifests itself as the loss of muscle function in one’s body. Paralysis can be partial or complete, and in both cases, it affects movement. Paralysis caused by an accident occurs when the victim suffers a head injury or damages their spinal cord.
When someone is paralyzed, the communication between one’s brain and muscles is erratic or disrupted. Paralysis might also be accompanied by a loss of sensation in the affected body parts. Since the symptoms of paralysis vary depending on causes, the effects are also diverse.
What Are the Different Types of Paralysis Caused by Accidents?
After an accident, damage to the head or spinal cord might cause paralysis. The four types of paralysis include:
- Paraplegia: Injury to the spinal cord in the lower back affect the legs and pelvis area. Individuals with paraplegia cannot move the lower parts of their body voluntarily.
- Monoplegia: Injury to parts of the brain can lead to the paralysis of one limb. Monoplegia is usually exhibited as the lack of movement in one arm or leg.
- Hemiplegia: This is one of the most visible forms of paralysis that affects muscles on one side of the body, including the lower face, arm, and leg. Individuals with this type of paralysis suffer from damage to one hemisphere of their brain.
- Quadriplegia: This is the most severe type of paralysis, affecting the arms, legs, and torso. Someone with this condition is paralyzed from the neck down after damage to their spinal cord.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Paralysis Injury?
Paralysis changes a person’s life in extensive ways. Individuals with paralysis need costly emotional and psychosocial care. When a victim seeks compensation for paralysis, the valuation considers the costs of adjusting to a new and difficult reality. The amount of compensation you can claim in a personal injury case is based on the type of paralysis involved.
One category that plays a role in determining compensation is the number of intangible damages incurred. This refers to the pain and suffering or other non-economic damages caused by the accident. These aspects are calculated if you suffer from inconvenience, emotional trauma, or discomfort.
Another dimension to paralysis compensation considers the economic damages. These are financial damages suffered by the victim due to the accident. The medical expenses, time taken off work, and even care costs are considered when determining the value of your economic damages.
How to Manage and Treat Paralysis After an Accident
While there isn’t a cure for permanent paralysis, different forms of therapy can improve one’s ability to cope. Rehabilitative exercises help individuals with paralysis improve the quality of their lives and gain independence.
Since the effects of paralysis differ, care providers can recommend various ways of coping:
- Adaptive equipment. This type of equipment makes it possible to complete daily activities. They include tools that make feeding or even driving easier.
- Assistive equipment. Individuals with partial paralysis have control of most movements but need a little assistance. These assistive tools include crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and even scooters.
- Orthotic/prosthetic devices. Orthotics are designed to maintain support, restore stability, and protect functions of residual limbs. Examples are braces that are molded to guide movement.
- Voice-activated tools. In cases of permanent paralysis, individuals might need extensive help and comfort. Installing voice-activated technology can assist them around their homes.
The effects of paralysis can be tough for any individual to accommodate. Yet, the proper guidance and assistance from care providers and families can make life more manageable and even enjoyable.
How Can George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Help?
In paralysis injury claims, victims seek compensation so they can not only adapt to their new lifestyle but recover financial damages. Our attorneys can offer legal help to make the claims process easier. We will gather necessary evidence, negotiate with an insurance company, and more. George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers helps claimants get the compensation they deserve.
Operating on a contingency (no-win, no-fee) approach, George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can help you secure justice without worrying about the legal fees.* Since paralysis can change your life significantly, our firm will dedicate its resources to helping you move forward as comfortably as possible. Contact us for your free consultation with a team member. Let’s begin work on your case.