Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
What to Do if You Are Paralyzed After an Accident
A serious accident can have alarming physical consequences. Injuries may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. In some cases, an accident can cause long-term injuries such as paralysis. Paralysis is one of the most devastating diagnoses that you may receive. If you or a loved one suffered paralysis as a result of an accident, you may wonder what to do. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will help guide you through the process.
What is Paralysis?
Paralysis is the inability to move some parts of the body. It occurs due to an injury or illness that prevents parts of the body from connecting to the brain. Paralysis may be temporary or permanent. It may impact a specific area or several areas of the body. Paralysis can be life-threatening when it impacts swallowing or breathing, for example. There are various types of paralysis.
- Monoplegia – Impacts one limb
- Paraplegia – Affects both limbs and sometimes part of the torso
- Tetraplegia – Also called quadriplegia, affects all limbs
- Hemiplegia – Affects both limbs on one side of the body
- Diplegia – Impacts both of the same type of limb (both arms or both legs)
Complete paralysis means that you cannot move the specific area at all, while partial paralysis means that you may be able to have some limited control. Paralysis may be spastic or flaccid. In spastic paralysis, the affected body parts are tight, while in flaccid paralysis, they are loose and sagging. Paralysis may be the result of a birth injury or defect, an illness, such as multiple sclerosis, a medical condition, such as a stroke, or an accident.
Accidents That May Result in Paralysis
Spinal cord injuries may be the result of an accident. Some common types of accidents that may cause paralysis include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, and sports injuries. A serious car crash could cause spinal injuries that may cause temporary or permanent paralysis. A person with a neck or back injury must be carefully moved and transported in order to keep the injury from worsening. Moving a person with a spinal cord injury could result in paralysis. Immediate care is essential for a positive outcome. Paralysis may occur even with quick medical intervention.
Treatment for Paralysis
The prognosis of the injury depends on various factors, including the severity and location of the injury, among other things. Temporary paralysis may improve over time, with the potential for a full recovery. Complete paralysis due to a spinal cord injury may not improve with treatment. Those who experience paralysis may need to participate in physical therapy to improve function and take measures to adapt to the injury. Adaptive equipment is available to assist patients in improving their independence and quality of life.
If you suffered any type of serious injury, such as paralysis, as a result of an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed money from the negligent party. In addition to medical expenses that you have already incurred, you may be entitled to compensation for future medical needs as well as for loss of consortium. To learn more, call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation with our legal team.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.webmd.com/brain/paralysis-types
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