Tucson Paralysis Injury Lawyer

An injury that causes paralysis is life-altering for most people. It could force you to change your work and leisure activities and even your home. Adapting to paralysis and caring for a paralyzed person can also be expensive.

When the incident that led to paralysis was someone else’s fault, they have an obligation to pay for the resulting damages. Contact a Tucson paralysis injury lawyer to learn how to claim appropriate compensation for your injury. With over three decades of representing people in the area, our compassionate catastrophic injury attorneys have the skill and knowledge to advocate for your best interests in and out of the courtroom.

Common Causes of Paralyzing Injuries

According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, strokes are the leading cause of paralysis. Although many factors contribute to stroke risk, if a medical professional’s misdiagnosis or poor response to stroke symptoms leads to paralysis, a patient could hold them liable by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Birth injuries sometimes cause cerebral palsy, which can lead to paralysis—in such cases, the doctor who delivered the baby could be responsible for the injury.

After strokes, spinal cord injuries cause most paralysis. Falls are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in older adults and motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause in younger people. Sports accidents and violence are other leading causes.

In almost all cases, someone’s carelessness or recklessness contributed to the injury. A Tucson accident lawyer could investigate an incident to identify parties whose negligent conduct contributed to the paralyzing injury.

Proving Negligence Caused an Injury

The legal meaning of negligence is failing to meet the same standard of caution as a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances. The proof necessary to establish negligence depends on the situation.

When a medical error may have led to paralysis, a Tucson attorney must show that the healthcare provider did not exercise the judgment and skill that other similarly credentialed professionals would have exercised in the same scenario. When a bicycle accident causes a spinal cord injury, the legal professional could use a citation the driver received as evidence of their negligence.

Pure Comparative Negligence

In some circumstances, the injured person’s conduct may play a role in the incident that caused their paralysis. Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505 establishes the pure comparative negligence standard. When an injured person is partially responsible for their injury, they can still collect compensation for part of their damages from other negligent parties, but must absorb a portion of the costs equal to their degree of fault.

Damages in Paralysis Injury Cases

All victims of negligence are entitled to compensatory damages. Compensatory damages reimburse their injury-related expenses and provide money to acknowledge the change in their quality of life due to the accident.

Medical expenses and lost income are components of these damages. The payments cover home renovations if necessary to accommodate an injury and reduced earning capacity if the injured person cannot return to work. Pain and suffering are also elements of compensatory damages.

When someone’s conduct was especially outrageous, a Tucson paralysis attorney might ask a court to award punitive damages. These damages are not available in most cases, but a court might award them if the defendant’s conduct showed an intention to harm or a disregard of a known danger of causing harm. For example, punitive damages could be awarded when a drunk driver causes a paralyzing injury.

Work With a Tucson Attorney to Get Compensated for Your Paralyzing Injury

Adjusting to paralysis can be a long and difficult process, and getting the right kind of support can make a big difference. A lawsuit against the party whose conduct led to your injuries could provide the funds to get the help you and your family need.

Contact a Tucson paralysis injury lawyer today. They could use their best efforts to get you the compensation you need and deserve.