Paralysis is a catastrophic injury that can occur as a result of car crashes, falls, medical malpractice, and serious accidents. When a person becomes paralyzed, the brain is unable to relay a signal to a certain area of the body. This is usually caused by nerve damage — rather than a direct injury to the affected body part — and can be temporary or permanent. If you suffered any type of paralysis in an accident caused by another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a personal injury action.
Types of Paralysis
Paralysis is defined as the loss of the ability to move all or part of your body. There are many different causes of paralysis, including spinal cord injuries and nerve damage. Typically, paralysis is diagnosed through testing which can include X-rays, MRIs, myelograms, EMG tests, and a spinal tap.
The main types of paralysis that can be caused by an accident are as follows:
- Quadriplegia — This type of paralysis involves all limbs, rendering a person incapable of moving from the neck down.
- Paraplegia — Paraplegia affects both legs, and in some cases also the torso.
- Monoplegia — Those who suffer monoplegia cannot move one limb, whether it is an arm or leg.
- Hemiplegia — With hemiplegia, the paralysis affects one whole side of the body.
- Diplegia — Diplegia refers to paralysis that affects the same area on both sides of the body, such as both arms or legs.
A diagnosis of paralysis can affect other functions in the body, apart from the affected areas. For instance, a victim may have difficulty breathing or blood clots may form. Paralysis can also lead to depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, speech problems, and bedsores. Although permanent paralysis cannot be cured, physical therapy and assistive equipment may be used to help improve function.
Personal Injury Compensation for Paralysis
The medical costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and costs in connection with household assistance that can be incurred due to temporary or permanent paralysis can be significant. If you are the victim of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence that resulted in paralysis, you may be entitled to compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses in a personal injury action. In such cases, the compensation you might be able to receive can be substantial.
In addition to your medical costs, you may have been unable to work or be incapable of working in the future. An economic loss award also takes lost wages and future loss of earnings into account, as well as any other monetary damages suffered in connection with your accident-related injury.
Critically, an accident victim who suffered paralysis may be forced to endure a considerable amount of physical pain and mental anguish. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, an accident victim may also be entitled to recover the economic losses they incurred, also referred to as pain and suffering damages. These damages are meant to compensate a victim for the way their accident-related injuries impacted their quality of life and their relationships. It’s not uncommon for a paralysis victim to be awarded a verdict in the millions for their injuries.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you were paralyzed due to an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be eligible to hold the negligent party accountable in a personal injury lawsuit. It’s important to have an experienced lawyer by your side who can fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
The Edelsteins, Faegenburg & Brown LLP is a personal injury law firm dedicated to upholding the rights of accident victims to ensure they obtain the monetary recovery they are entitled for their injuries. Located in Manhattan, our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout New York City since 1937. Call to schedule a free consultation at (212) 425-1999 today.