Every year, approximately 250,000 to 500,000 individuals sustain spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Various factors can cause these injuries. But the most common cause is blunt trauma resulting from accidents, such as motor vehicle crashes.
In the US, car accidents make up 48 percent of the leading sources of blunt trauma, contributing to a significant number of spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord causes temporary or permanent paralysis, depending on the severity and level of injury.
Paralysis after a spinal cord injury can lead to complications in different parts of the body, affecting the injured victim’s health and quality of life. If you or a loved one suffered from paralysis after getting injured in a car crash, seeking legal support is advisable.
With a lawyer’s assistance, car accident victims living with paralysis can get compensation for the harm they suffered. Moreover, being well-informed about the potential causes of paralysis and available treatment options can help you in your physical and financial recovery.
Key Takeaways
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Understanding the Different Types and Causes of Paralysis
Damage to the spinal cord is one of the worst car crash injuries an accident victim may experience. The spinal cord comprises a bundle of spinal nerves responsible for transmitting nerve signals between the brain and all parts of the body.
Spinal cord injuries can stem from direct damage to the spinal cord and its nerve tracts. They can also be caused by injuries to the surrounding tissues and vertebrae that protect the spinal column. These injuries can contribute to temporary or permanent bodily function changes.
It’s worth noting that the spinal cord doesn’t have to be severely injured to cause an impairment of nerve function. Even a minor spinal cord injury can give rise to nerve dysfunction and lifelong complications, especially when left untreated.
When the spinal cord is injured, individuals experience a variety of symptoms, including paralysis. Paralysis refers to the temporary or permanent inability to move one body part. The degree of disability significantly depends on the location, severity, and level of injury.
The vertebrae that serve as the spinal cord’s protection are categorized into sections. Generally, an injury occurring in the higher regions is likely to cause paralysis in various body parts. Let’s explore the different types and causes of paralysis in the following sections.
Monoplegia
Monoplegia refers to a paralysis or loss of motor function affecting a single part of the body. Individuals with monoplegia commonly lose the ability to move or experience sensations in one arm or leg. But they may still have muscle control over unaffected body areas and perform daily activities.
Several medical conditions, such as strokes, peripheral nerve damage, and brain tumors, can result in monoplegia. However, common causes of this type of paralysis are associated with cerebral palsy. It’s a group of neurological disorders that impairs motor function, primarily in infancy or early childhood.
Currently, there’s no known treatment that can permanently cure monoplegia. But several therapeutic interventions can help restore the functionality of the affected limb. As the injured victims recover, the extent of this localized paralysis may be reduced, improving their quality of life.
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia refers to muscle weakness or paralysis that affects one side of the body. Most often, this type of paralysis results from congenital disorders or acquired brain injuries occurring before or at birth. But it may also occur later in life due to traumatic brain injuries or nervous system-related disorders.
The severity of hemiplegia can vary depending on the injured victim’s overall health, physical activity level, and other lifestyle factors. Besides motor difficulties, individuals with this medical condition may also experience loss of sensation, memory, and cognition.
The brain will compensate for damage by redistributing functions to undamaged areas. In cases of hemiplegia, where there is localized brain damage in one cerebral hemisphere, the effects are often opposite to the affected side.
For instance, suppose an injury occurs on the right side of the brain. It will result in muscle weakness or paralysis of the body’s left side. Conversely, damage to the left side of the brain affects the function of the right side of the body.
Like monoplegia, hemiplegia doesn’t have a cure. Specific treatments for this type of paralysis also depend on the underlying cause. However, physical therapy and mirror therapy, in particular, can help improve motor function in the affected limb.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is a type of paralysis that affects the lower half region of the body, typically from the waist down. Besides being unable to move their legs, paraplegic patients may suffer from impairment of lower body functions, such as bowel and bladder control.
Common causes of paraplegia are associated with spinal cord injuries, specifically in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions. These injuries interfere with the transmission of signals between the lower body, spinal cord, and brain.
It’s rare for individuals with paraplegia to recover spontaneously. This may be attributed to the complex functions of the brain or spinal cord that are not yet fully understood, such as regeneration of neurons. Still, physical therapy helps paraplegic patients regain certain functioning levels in most cases.
Quadriplegia
Also known as tetraplegia, quadriplegia is the most severe form of spinal cord injury. Paralysis affects all four extremities and the parts of the body below the point of injury. It often occurs due to an injury in the cervical or neck region. Additionally, medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and early birth injuries can result in quadriplegia.
Like other types of paralysis, the loss of function in quadriplegia can differ from one person to another. In some cases, intensive rehabilitation can help individuals with quadriplegia to regain slight movements. But in most cases where four limbs are affected, quadriplegic patients need complete assistance with daily living activities.
Legal Options for Accident Victims With Paralysis of All Four Extremities
Experiencing a spinal cord injury that leaves you or a loved one paralyzed can be too much to handle. It can result in substantial losses, ranging from hefty medical bills and loss of employment and wages to diminished quality of life.
Getting fair compensation for the resulting harm and losses is essential, especially if another person’s negligence caused them. Learn the possible legal options for injured victims with quadriplegia or paralysis of all four extremities.
Apply for permanent partial disability benefits
Depending on the state, workers’ compensation programs offer benefits to workers with permanent partial disability. States may have different coverage and rules on compensating workers, notably for permanent partial disability.
But under the Code of Federal Regulations, qualified employees may receive medical coverage and compensation benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses. Specifically, it provides payment for loss of wages, medical and rehabilitation services, permanent or temporary disability, and death of a loved one.
Suppose you experienced paralysis as a result of work-related injury or illness. You may apply for permanent disability benefits through your state’s worker compensation program.
Pursue compensation through a personal injury claim
As mentioned, motor vehicle accidents are the common causes of spinal cord injuries that could result in paralysis.
If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, you may qualify for compensation by filing a personal injury claim. The same applies to a workplace accident caused by a third party that resulted in paralysis. Injured workers can also pursue additional compensation through a fault-based claim.
But for a personal injury claim to be viable, you may have to prove that the other party involved was at fault and caused your paralysis injury. This process entails presenting solid evidence demonstrating the at-fault party’s negligent actions.
Recover damages through a negligence lawsuit
The medical costs and other losses associated with paralysis often exceed what
Remember that the impact of paralysis can affect your day-to-day life. Hence, you may also qualify for seeking damages for future medical expenses, costs of assistive devices as well as damages for diminished quality of life.
Suppose you’re not adequately compensated for the harm and losses you sustained due to paralysis. You can fight for your rights in court by filing a lawsuit based on negligence. But to succeed in a negligence lawsuit, you must demonstrate that the other person owed you a duty of care.
That means they are legally obligated to exercise reasonable care to keep you from harm. After establishing this, it’s also essential to prove that they breached the legal duty, which caused you actual damages.
Recoverable damages in personal injury lawsuits are categorized into three types:
- Economic damages: These aim to compensate you for the financial losses associated with your paralysis. Typical examples include past and future medical expenses, lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs incurred due to the injury.
- Non-economic damages: These intend to reimburse you for the subjective losses caused by your paralysis injury. Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and diminished quality of life are common examples of non-economic damages.
- Punitive damages: These seek to punish the liable party and deter similar misconduct in the future. Generally, these damages are only recoverable if there’s gross negligence or intentional conduct on the defendant’s part.
The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer for Paralysis of All Four Extremities
Quadriplegia, involving the paralysis of all four extremities, is the most traumatic personal injury you can experience after a car accident. It’s also one of the most complicated personal injury cases, presenting many unanticipated hurdles for the injured party.
The case becomes even more overwhelming if you suffer paralysis because of someone else’s negligent actions. Regardless of the circumstances, an experienced personal injury lawyer will be valuable in obtaining the best financial recovery possible.
Having a lawyer on your side when dealing with paralysis of all four extremities can be beneficial. The legal process involved in this type of personal injury case can be complex. Without sufficient knowledge of the law, it can be challenging to choose what legal actions to take. But a lawyer with extensive experience handling paralysis cases can walk you through the possible legal options.
Dealing with paralysis of all four extremities can be overwhelming as it involves significant immediate and long-term costs. An attorney will be valuable in determining your current losses and damages in the future. They know what particular law applies to your case and how you can recover the maximum amount of damages you legally deserve.
Furthermore, presenting evidence is crucial to substantiate your personal injury claim. Part of the lawyer’s role is to collect and evaluate all the evidence necessary for your case. They know what arguments to present to the insurer or jury and how to demonstrate the injury and losses you sustained.
An attorney can also secure medical documentation and testimonies from the medical professional to support your claim. They possess the skills to negotiate with
Did you know?
The lifetime costs of spinal cord injuries can exceed $2.5 million per victim. However, insurance policies only cover a portion of these costs, around 50 to 60 percent in most cases.
Learn More About Your Rights With an Attorney
Paralysis of all four extremities is one of the most severe consequences of a spinal cord injury. Besides the significant financial expenses for treatments and surgeries, injured victims may suffer a lifetime of medical challenges. Additionally, they may lose their ability to work and perform daily activities.
Legally, victims injured in an accident caused by negligence can obtain compensation for financial losses as well as pain and suffering. But every case is different, so the outcome for partially or totally paralyzed accident victims may vary.
It’s always in your best interest to get an attorney’s complete and unbiased assessment of your case’s worth. The Personal Injury Center can connect you to a lawyer who understands the complexities involved in quadriplegia cases. Schedule a free evaluation of your case today.
Obtain legal assistance for your paralysis injury. Contact The Personal Injury Center to connect with an attorney.
FAQs on Paralysis of All Four Extremities
What are the treatment options for individuals suffering paralysis for all four extremities?
Treatment options for individuals suffering paralysis for all four extremities may involve surgery or non-surgical procedures. Non-surgical treatments for quadriplegic patients include:
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech/language therapy
- Use of mobility devices, such as walkers, wheelchairs, and braces
What actions should you take if you or someone you know has paralysis after an accident?
If you or someone you know experiences paralysis after an accident, it's important to respond appropriately. Here are some actions you should take:
- Contact 911 or emergency medical services for help.
- Don't move or keep the person still as much as possible.
- Seek prompt medical treatment.
- Report the accident to the police.
- Reach out to a lawyer for proper legal assistance.
How long should you file a legal claim for paralysis of all four extremities?
The timeframe for filing a legal claim for paralysis of all four extremities varies according to your specific state laws. In most cases, claims involving personal injuries have a two-year statute of limitations.
