Posted on Friday, April 28th, 2017 at 12:12 am
Car accidents, falls, defective products, medical malpractice, and other personal injury accidents result in catastrophic injuries each day that causes paralysis for thousands of people. Our Sacramento catastrophic accident attorneys understand how some injuries can change the lives of accident victims forever. Below are three catastrophic injuries that can result in partial or complete paralysis. Victims who suffer these injuries can face a lifetime of medical treatments, physical therapy, counseling, and personal care.
Spinal Cord Injuries
It is estimated that there are 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries followed by falls, violence, sports, and recreational activities. The location of the spinal cord injury in addition to the severity of the injury determines whether the victim will suffer complete or partial paralysis.
The risk for being completed paralyzed (quadriplegia) is greater when the injury is sustained above the first thoracic vertebra or with the C1 to C8 cervical sections. With complete paralysis, the victim loses function in all four limbs.
When the damage is below the first thoracic spinal levels, the victim can suffer partial paralysis or paraplegia. A victim suffering from paraplegia has full use of his or her hands and arms but has partial or total paralysis of the lower body and lower limbs.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are another cause of paralysis. The brain is very fragile, and any injury can result in life-altering, permanent conditions, such as paralysis. The risk for paralysis after a head injury depends on the area of the brain injured and the severity of the injury. Traumatic brain injuries result in over two million emergency room visits each year and are a contributing factor in approximately 50,000 deaths each year.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are another cause of paralysis. Also known as cervical injuries, neck injuries can result in complete paralysis or quadriplegia. As discuss above, quadriplegia results in the loss of use of all four limbs.
A Lifetime of Pain and Suffering
A person with quadriplegia requires a lifetime of personal care and medical care because he or she is unable to perform even the most basic personal tasks. The financial, emotional, and physical damages caused by paralysis can be overwhelming for the victim and the family. When a preventable accident causes the paralysis such as a motor vehicle crash, medical malpractice, slip and fall, or defective product accident, the party who was negligent in causing the accident should be held liable and be required to pay compensation to the victim for damages.
A victim who suffers paralysis because of a personal injury may be entitled to receive compensation for his or her:
- Medical expenses, including future medical treatment and long-term personal care
- Lost wages, including the loss of future income
- Physical pain, mental trauma, and emotional suffering
- Permanent disability
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury or long-term care
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Contact a Sacramento Catastrophic Injury Attorney for Help
If you or a loved one has suffered paralysis because of a catastrophic injury, we want to help. Contact the Tiemann Law Firm to schedule a free legal consultation and free case evaluation by calling (916) 999-9000. You can also visit our website to request additional information or speak with a representative. Our catastrophic injury attorneys represent clients throughout the Sacramento area, including residents in Folsom, Roseville, and El Dorado Hills.
