Paralysis—the medical term for the partial or total loss of sensory and motor function in a specific area of the body—is one of the most universally catastrophic outcomes that any kind of traumatic accident can have. Unfortunately, it can also be uniquely challenging to recover for effectively through civil litigation, especially if you are unfamiliar with exactly how state law governs these sorts of cases and what kinds of losses you should be seeking compensation for in the first place.
In a situation like this, it is crucial to have assistance from a local catastrophic injury attorney with more than 30 years of experience helping people around the Phoenix area with cases much like yours. From beginning to end of your legal proceedings, a dedicated Tempe paralysis injury lawyer could make sure your rights are respected and demand every cent of the restitution you deserve for your damages.
How Can an Injury Lead to Paralysis?
Medically speaking, paralysis typically stems from damage to one or more parts of the central nervous system, and more specifically to either the spinal cord, the brain, or individual nerve endings. Spinal cord trauma is the most straightforward cause of paralysis—the spinal cord is what allows the brain to communicate with the entire rest of the body, so any disruption to that line of communication will result in a loss of bodily function below the injury site.
Depending on the location and severity of a spinal cord injury, the resulting paralysis may manifest as paraplegia of the lower limbs and torso or quadriplegia of the whole body below the neck. Severe brain trauma may likewise result in paralysis, or—in the event of a medical condition such as a stroke—more unique types of paralysis like hemiplegia of the entire left or entire right side of the body divided vertically.
Meanwhile, injuries to the shoulders or hips may result in monoplegia of just one arm or just one leg, and high-degree burns can cause localized paralysis where nerve endings have been destroyed by the burn. Common causes of paralyzing events include:
Regardless of how your injuries occurred, a skilled Tempe paralysis accident attorney could help demand fair financial recovery for any type of paralyzing injury.
Recovering Fairly After a Paralyzing Accident
Because paralysis is often permanent and irreversible, civil recovery for a paralysis injury typically must take a long-term view of what counts as “compensable losses.” Depending on how substantial their paralysis is and what kind of life they led prior to becoming paralyzed, an injured person may have legal standing to recover for damages like:
- Lost consortium
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost working and earning ability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment/quality of life
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Disability-related expenses for things like assistive equipment, home/vehicle modifications, and in-home care
A knowledgeable lawyer could provide crucial guidance not just with identifying recoverable losses stemming from a paralysis injury in Tempe, but also with estimating a fair value for future losses based on available evidence and verdicts or settlements from similar past cases.
Trust in a Tempe Paralysis Injury Attorney
Paralysis injuries almost inevitably cause fundamental changes to the life of anyone who sustains one, and those changes can be difficult to manage on an emotional level without accounting for the physical and financial costs. Needless to say, someone who causes another person to become paralyzed through negligent misconduct should be held comprehensively accountable for the consequences of their actions.
Assistance from a knowledgeable Tempe paralysis injury lawyer could be essential to doing just that and getting paid what you need for your damages. Call the Phillips Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
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