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When people think about catastrophic personal injuries, paralysis often comes to mind. The fear of becoming vulnerable and dependent on others for care can weigh on people’s minds. Paralysis does not just change what you can do, but can also dramatically alter the nature of your relationships.
When someone else’s negligence is the cause of your paralysis, they should be financially responsible for all the damages resulting from that injury. For paralysis injuries, it can mean physical, emotional, and financial damages to the injured person. A Henderson paralysis injury lawyer could help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Paralysis is a catch-all term that describes the loss of movement or sensation in a portion of the body. Organic conditions like strokes or illnesses are the leading causes of paralysis. Inorganic conditions—like a severed spinal column or damage to the brain—are also potential causes.
Negligence can lead to either organic and inorganic injuries. For example, a car accident could directly sever a victim’s spine, causing paralysis. It could also lead to blood loss, which can trigger a stroke, resulting in paralysis. Injured parties could have claims for paralysis injuries that are directly—or indirectly—the result of negligence.
Paralysis can be temporary or permanent. Temporary paralysis is often the result of a physical condition, such as Bell’s Palsy, or an injury. Temporary paralysis may be reversed, and depending on its cause, the reversal could be the result of medical intervention or spontaneous. On the other hand, permanent paralysis is often the result of a severed or severely damaged spinal cord. As of right now, there are no cures for this type of injury, though medical science is always evolving.
Paralysis can be total or partial. These terms refer to the amount of sensation or movement lost. Someone who lacks all sensation or movement in an area has total paralysis. Individuals with some sensation or movement has partial paralysis, which exists on a continuum. Even people with partial paralysis might have a significant reduction in their abilities to work or care for themselves.
Paralysis can impact the whole body or parts of the body. There are different terms to describe the various impacted areas.
Healthcare professionals use two other terms to describe paralysis—flaccid and spastic.
Flaccid paralysis features muscle atrophy and a complete lack of movement. Spastic paralysis features spasms, jerks, and muscle tightening. For people who retain sensation, spastic paralysis can range from uncomfortable to painful.
Spastic paralysis features spasms, jerks, and muscle tightening. For people who retain sensation, spastic paralysis can range from uncomfortable to painful. It also indicates some remaining nerve function, which could mean a greater chance that treatment will be able to help restore some function.
Determining damages for a paralysis injury depends on the degree of paralysis, the location, and whether the condition is likely to be permanent. Other factors can also influence the decision, such as the nature of an individual’s pre-injury employment, whether they were a breadwinner or a caregiver, and how much it will cost to adapt their home to their medical needs. A Henderson attorney who handles paralysis injuries could look at the facts and provide a more reliable valuation.
A wide range of personal injuries can lead to paralysis, such as:
Anything that can contribute to the risk of a stroke can potentially lead to paralysis as well.
Paralysis is a life-changing injury that can impact every part of a person’s life. In addition to impacting movement and sensation, it can impact involuntary functions like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. It can even impact bowel, bladder, and sexual function. All of these changes can lead to depression and other emotional challenges for you and your family.
Treatment is expensive, and while those expenses often decrease over time, they are also long-term. An attorney from our firm could help you seek justice and compensation. Schedule a consultation with a Henderson paralysis injury lawyer to explore potential remedies.