Paralysis is a devastating condition experienced by 5.6 million individuals in the United States today, a number that also represents roughly 1 in 50 Americans. An injury of this nature—which can be temporary or permanent and can range from a loss of feeling in your legs to complete quadriplegia—occurs as a result of a breakdown in the functioning of the spinal cord. Paralysis is a catastrophic injury that can leave the victim unable to move their legs, one side of their body, or all four limbs.
The emotional impact of paralysis can be devastating. Depression and feelings of helplessness are often significant secondary complications of paralysis affecting both the victim and their loved ones. If you or someone you know has suffered a personal injury that has resulted in paralysis, it’s important that you consult an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer who can help you pursue the compensation you need to cope with the hardships associated with your injury.
Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body and occurs when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Most paralysis-related injuries are a result of a stroke, spinal cord injury, or broken neck. Paralysis can also be the consequence of nerve and autoimmune diseases.
Generally speaking, there are four types of paralysis, broken down into the following categories:
Monoplegia is a type of paralysis that impacts one limb, most often an arm or one of your legs. When a part of the nervous system becomes damaged, it can disrupt the signaling activity to a muscle or muscle group and can lead to muscle weakness or paralysis in the affected area. The symptoms of monoplegia can come on suddenly—as in the case of an injury or stroke—or the symptoms may progress gradually over time due to the progression of cerebral palsy or a motor neuron disease.
Hemiplegia is defined as paralysis in the muscles of the lower face, arm, and leg on one side of the body. The most common cause of hemiplegia is a stroke, which damages the corticospinal tracts in one hemisphere of the brain. This condition causes weakness, problems with muscle control, and muscle stiffness. The degree of hemiplegia symptoms varies depending on the location and extent of the injury.
Paraplegia refers to paralysis that occurs in the lower half of the body. It can be a result of an accident or chronic condition. People with paraplegia will have mobility problems and may require the use of a wheelchair. However, long-term treatment options exist to help reduce symptoms and complications for individuals suffering from paraplegia.
Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is paralysis of the body from at least the shoulders down. Quadriplegia is primarily caused by injury to the cervical area of the spinal cord and can be caused by accidental events such as slip and falls, car crashes, and sports injuries. Likewise, quadriplegia can also be the result of diseases and conditions like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and polio.
Injuries that result in paralysis are often the consequence of car accidents, birth injuries, defective products, construction accidents, physical assault, slip and falls, playground accidents, sports-related injuries, surgical error, and workplace mishaps.
When a third party’s negligence causes your paralysis, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the life-altering changes that living with paralysis will cause. In order to establish your right to compensation under Florida law, our skilled paralysis injury lawyers will work to prove the following elements:
The difficulties of living with a paralytic injury are not limited to the condition alone. The intricate nature of these injuries means that paralyzed individuals frequently suffer complications and additional illnesses related to their paralysis. It’s vital, in this case, to secure the help of a dedicated spinal cord injury lawyer who can help you recover the compensation needed to pay off these bills as well as the pain and suffering associated with the injury.
To successfully get the financial help you need for you or your loved one’s spinal cord injury, your lawyer needs to show that your condition wasn’t pre-existing and was caused by someone else’s negligence. For a trusted and compassionate Florida spinal cord injury attorney who understands statewide personal injury law and who has experience protecting the rights of spinal cord injury victims, look no further than The Umansky Law Firm.
Our skilled spinal cord injury lawyers will fight to help you obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve so that you can recover lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, rehabilitation costs, and any other damages associated with the injury.
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our team has the time and expertise to launch an investigation into your case and the circumstances leading up to the injury. We’ll work tirelessly to fight for your rights. Give us a call or complete our online contact form to receive a free consultation.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
