Paralysis is the total or partial loss of mobility or disfigurement of an individual’s body. This is because the nervous system loses coordination capacity due to an illness or injury. The spinal cord and the brain are the most vulnerable parts of the nervous system that cause paralysis when injured.
Suppose you suffered spinal or brain injuries due to another’s negligence; in this case, it is your legal right to pursue the deserved compensation. An El Paso paralysis injury lawyer from Loncar Lyon Jenkins can help you file a claim, prove negligence and negotiate a proper settlement.
Common Causes of Paralysis
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, 5.4 million Americans live with paralysis, and 1.2 million of these cases are due to spinal injuries. The following are the common causes of paralysis:
- Medical malpractice
- Sporting accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Gun violence injuries
- Stabbing injuries
- Falls and slips
- Toxins and poisons from defective products
- Airplane crashes
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Symptoms of Paralysis
It is crucial to seek medical assistance following a brain or spinal injury. A doctor will help you manage the pain, prevent further suffering, and prepare a medical report. This report will come in handy when proving the suffering caused by the negligent party.
Below are the common symptoms of paralysis:
- Chronic nerve and muscle pain
- Sexual impotence due to nerve damage
- Loss of the sense of touch
- Impaired bladder and bowel functions
- Difficulty breathing
- Painful muscle spasms
Potential Types of Paralysis
There are different ways of classifying paralysis; doctors classify it according to the affected parts of the body or the spinal cord region hit by the injuries. We will classify paralysis according to the affected body parts. Using this classification, we have three significant types of paralysis. These types include:
Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia
Quadriplegia is the most fatal and common type of paralysis. It immobilizes the upper and lower parts of the body, including both arms, legs, and everything else from the neck down. Victims cannot move any aspect of their body apart from the head, and immobility may cause loss of coordination of crucial body functions such as breathing, bowel movement, and bladder control.
Paraplegia
Sometimes, the brain or spinal injury will affect only the lower part of the body, commonly known as paralysis from the waist down. This type of paralysis is paraplegia and occurs when the injury targets the lower part of the spinal cord (lumbar spinal cord). Paraplegia may affect a person’s lower limbs, hip movement, and abdominal activity.
Hemiplegia
When an accident or illness causes trauma on one side of the brain, one side of the body may lose nerve coordination and mobility. This type of paralysis is known as hemiplegia, ‘Hemi’ denoting half.
The half of the body affected complements the injured part of the brain. For example, if a car accident hits the right side of your head, you might suffer paralysis in the left part of your body. You may be unable to move the left leg or arm and lose your sense of touch on the left side.
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Determining Liability in a Paralysis Injury Claim
Paralysis injury claims are not easy to settle because the victim must prove the liable party’s negligence. While it is possible to pursue the compensation yourself, you might find it challenging to demonstrate how the actions caused your paralysis.
A paralysis injury attorney can help you determine who is liable through accident reconstruction, interviewing eyewitnesses, incident footage, and examining medical records. The following are possible responsible parties in a paralysis injury case:
- At-fault vehicle driver
- Negligent medical practitioners
- Manufacturers of defective products
- Other parties whose negligent actions caused your injuries
Damages You Can Recover in a Paralysis Injury Case
The deserved compensation for paralysis injury cases varies from one claim to another, depending on the extent of injuries and subsequent corrective procedures. Below are some of the damages you can recover from a paralysis injury claim.
- Ongoing and future medical costs, including at-home care
- Loss of wages
- Emotional suffering
- Physical distress
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
How a Paralysis Attorney Can Help You
While it is not mandatory to hire a paralysis lawyer for your case, you should hire one if you want to be successful in receiving a proper settlement. This is because insurance companies and liable parties will attempt to pin part of the liability to you or offer meager compensation as settlement of your claim.
A paralysis injury lawyer will help you build a compelling case and receive the best possible settlement in the following ways:
- Reconstruct the incident to pull out evidence
- File the lawsuit within the statute of limitations
- Obtain eyewitness statements to serve as evidence
- Handle all the legal paperwork
- Calculate your damages to ensure you get the deserved compensation
- Take the case to trial if out-of-court negotiations do not yield a settlement
Texas Law Limits Your Time to Take Legal Action Against the At-Fault Party
The statute of limitations outlines the period within which a case is valid. It is how long you have to file a claim and legally seek compensation from the liable party. For example, in El Paso, Texas, the statute of limitations for a paralysis injury case is two years per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Your claim becomes invalid after this period elapses; after this, you cannot pursue reimbursement for your damages.
The days following a catastrophic injury can be overwhelming in such that you may lost track of time. However, a paralysis attorney can help you file your claim within the statute of limitations.
Our Paralysis Injury Lawyers in El Paso Are Ready to Get Started Helping You Today
When choosing a lawyer, consider their prior experience with similar cases, availability, and the areas they serve. At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we tick all the above boxes and are committed to giving you the legal care you deserve. We also work on a contingency basis; we will only collect payment if we win or settle your case.
Contact our paralysis injury attorney in El Paso for a free consultation today.
