One of the worse case scenarios of any accident is a paralysis injury. Not only are they debilitating, but they can cause an extreme financial burden as well as a change in lifestyle. The most common cause of paralysis is an injury to the spinal cord. It controls the use of your upper and lower body extremities. In general, once spinal cord neurons are damaged, they do not have the ability to regenerate like other cells in the body.
In some instances, a paralysis injury may be temporary and you may have the ability to recover. In other cases, they are permanent and can leave you in a difficult situation. It can forever alter your dreams, the ability to make an income, take care of yourself, or live a normal life. If you or a loved one has suffered the catastrophic effects of a paralysis injury due to the fault of another person or party, it is imperative that you connect with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Give the Houston personal injury law firm of Jerome O. Fjeld, PLLC a call to schedule your free initial consultation today. Learn more about the cause and effects of a paralysis injury and how a personal injury attorney can be an asset, below.
Common Causes of Paralysis Injury
A Paralysis injury can happen to anyone at any time. This is especially true in a bustling city like Houston that is full of hazards. What can make things more complicated is when you are injured due to the negligence of another party. In any circumstance, if you have suffered paralysis, it is important to seek the appropriate medical treatment, collect evidence from the scene of the accident (if possible), identify potential eye-witnesses, call the appropriate authorities, and contact a reputable personal injury attorney. There is no need for you to fight against the high-powered lawyers of the insurance company alone. Listed below are the most common causes of paralysis injuries.
- Car Collisions
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Accidents on the Construction Site
- General Workplace Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Premise Liability (i.e. slip and fall accidents)
Types of Paralysis Injuries
A paralysis injury is defined as an injury that leaves a person without the ability to move (or feel in some cases) some parts of or most of the body. They most commonly occur as a result of spinal cord injuries. The four types of paralysis injury include the following:
- Monoplegia: This occurs when a person has lost the ability to move one or more of their arms or legs.
- Hemiplegia: A kind of paralysis that affects one half of the body. It typically affects one arm and one leg on the same side of the body.
- Paraplegia: A paraplegic has lost the ability to move and feel in both of their legs.
- Quadriplegia: Another term for this type of paralysis is “tetraplegia.” It involves the inability to move or experience sensation in all four limbs as well as the torso.
Damages That Can Be Recovered After a Paralysis Injury
In many cases, those that have suffered a paralysis injury will need to be cared for on a full-time basis. This may include nurses, transportation aids, and full-time home health care aid. Furthermore, you may need to invest in expensive medical equipment such as specialized beds, wheelchairs, lifts, etc. If you are the victim of an act of negligence, you may be able to recover economic damages, non-economic damages, and potentially punitive damages. These damages can include loss of income, cost of healthcare, future care, as well as pain and suffering.
Contact Personal Injury Lawyer of Jerome O. Fjeld, PLLC
If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and/or carelessness, you have every right to seek compensation for your paralysis injury. Though the insurance companies are in business to fairly compensate victims with a valid claim, they do not always act accordingly. In many cases, it will require the assistance of an aggressive and experienced personal injury attorney to fight for the best compensation and let the insurance companies know that you mean business. After you have suffered a paralysis injury, do not wait until it is too late to pursue your claim or take your case to court. Give the personal injury law firm of Jerome O. Fjeld, PLLC a call to schedule your free consultation today.
