Paralysis Injury Attorneys

Spinal Cord Injuries that Often Result in Paralysis

Nerves that control much of the body’s function use the spinal cord as a sort of pathway, sending messages from the brain to various muscle systems. Different segments of the spinal cord control different muscle functions and sensory skills. Damage to the lower segments of the spine could result in paralysis of the legs, while damage to the upper segments of the spine can also result in paralysis of the arms.

Traumatic spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis include:

• Hemiplegia
• Hemiparesis
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia/tetraplegia

Paralysis can be a temporary or permanent state. The extent of the nerve damage and the placement of the lesion (injury) are among the factors that determine whether the condition is permanent.

In cases of paralysis through spinal cord injury trauma, doctors often seek to repair the immediate damage and preserve as much function as possible in the nerves. Other types of treatment will differ depending on the type of paralysis that is diagnosed.

Compensation for Paralyzed Accident Victims

Whether you were paralyzed in a car accident, as a result of a violent act, or due to a defective product, a personal injury attorney at The Ammons Law Firm can help you understand your legal rights and options. We understand that paralyzed victims require an extreme level of financial support to cope with their injuries. In many cases, paralysis is a lifelong condition, with total treatment costs reaching the millions of dollars range.

Our attorneys can help you seek fair compensation for your damages, including but not limited to the following:

• Immediate emergency medical treatment
• Ongoing rehabilitation and care
• Required medical treatment, such as wheelchairs
• Costs associated with at-home care
• Lost wages/income, including both current and future wages/income
• Modifications to your home and/or vehicle, such as the installation of ramps
• Lost or reduced earning capacity
• Treatment for emotional trauma, such as therapy
• Property repairs, if your vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress, PTSD, and other conditions

Our paralysis lawyers thoroughly investigate each client’s case, uncovering who is responsible for the injury, as well as the full projected cost of those injuries. From there, we are able to build a strong case aimed at securing all available compensation.

Different Forms of Paralysis

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia can result when a part of the spinal cord is lacerated, as with a puncture wound. This condition can be the result of disease, but it can also happen as a result of a serious accident or other physical trauma.

Hemiplegia notably causes patients to experience loss of motor function and sensation to just one side of the body. This rare condition is also known as Brown-Séquard Syndrome.

Quadriplegia

Quadriplegia is partial or complete paralysis that affects both the arms and the legs. It typically results from injuries to vertebrae near the neck (cervical vertebrae). By contrast, paraplegia only affects the lower extremities of the body, notably the legs.

While the spinal cord is protected by bones called vertebrae, it can be put at risk through trauma or disease. Patients who experience damage to their upper back or neck may experience quadriplegia, and possibly lose function in the arms, legs, trunk, and in some cases, the neck.

Paraplegia

Roughly 11,000 people each year are diagnosed with paraplegia. Paraplegia is generally the result of a spinal cord injury, birth defect, or degenerative disease. This life-altering condition refers to the loss of function in one’s lower extremities due to spinal cord injury. This typically includes the legs and trunk area, though the level of functional loss can differ.

Different sections of your spinal cord are responsible for controlling specific bodily sensations and functions. The sections that can result in paraplegia if damaged are the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. On the human body, this would roughly range from the middle of the shoulder blades to the top of the pelvis.