Fighting For Paralysis Injury Victims in Georgia
An injury that results in any type of paralysis can be a devastating, life-changing event. Whether it is partial or complete, or whether or not it affects your entire body, paralysis can rob you of your ability to move freely, steal away your career, alter your relationships, and empty your bank account.
While it is possible to live a full and happy life in the wake of an accident and paralysis injury, it is difficult to do so without the resources and financial support that you and your family require for rehabilitation, daily care, emotional support, and other related needs.
At Van Sant Law, we want to make certain that the person, party, or entity that is responsible for your accident and injury is also held responsible for all of your related medical needs in addition to your non-economic losses.
Common Types of Paralysis
- Complete Paralysis – This type of paralysis leads to the total loss of function in some or all of the body, usually as a result of a spinal cord injury. These injuries are usually permanent.
- Partial Paralysis – This type of paralysis results in the incomplete loss of function in some of all of the body, usually as a result of a brain injury or stroke. Partial paralysis may improve with therapy or may be permanent.
- Monoplegia: Paralysis of a single limb (arm or leg).
- Hemiplegia: Paralysis of one side of the body (an arm and a leg on the same side).
- Paraplegia – Paraplegia is the permanent paralysis of the lower half of the body, usually due to a spinal cord injury in the lower back.
- Quadriplegia – Quadriplegia is the permanent paralysis of both arms and both legs, usually due to a spinal cord injury in the upper back or neck.
- Diplegia: Paralysis of the same area on both sides of the body (e.g., both arms or both legs).
- Facial paralysis: Paralysis of the facial muscles.
- Bell’s palsy: A type of facial paralysis caused by inflammation of a nerve.
The severity and duration of paralysis are influenced by the underlying cause. If you experience symptoms of paralysis, it’s vital to consult a medical professional without delay.
What are The Long-Term Costs of Paralysis?
A paralysis injury has three different impacts: physical, financial, and emotional. All three types of consequences can greatly alter your life. Many, if not all, paralysis victims and their families will confront:
- Medical Bills – The initial medical bills immediately following a paralysis injury can be staggering, especially if you require surgeries and extended hospital stays. In addition, many paralysis survivors require extensive rehabilitation and long-term medical care.
- Other Costs Related To Care – Those with partial or complete paralysis may require wheelchairs, modified homes, modified vehicles, and even around-the-clock nursing help. These costs can quickly add up to millions of dollars of expenses over a lifetime.
- Loss of Earning Power and Job Loss – Some paralysis survivors will never work again, while others are forced to change their careers or earn less money. Many who can return to work need new job training.
- Permanent Disabilities and Health Problems – Losing the loss of function in part of your body is not only debilitating in itself, it is also often paired with a number of other chronic health issues. These health issues can be costly and could affect your quality of life and overall lifespan.
- Loss of Quality of Life – You may not be able to enjoy the activities you used to love or even complete simple daily tasks. You may have to change your long-term goals and dreams. Your everyday life will be more difficult than before.
- Changes in Your Relationships – Your spouse may go from being your partner to being your caregiver. You may not have the ability to engage in physical relationships. You may not be able to help or care for your children.
- Emotional Pain and Trauma – Losing function, such as losing the ability to walk, can be extremely detrimental to your mental health, especially if your paralysis was caused by a traumatic accident or medical mistake. You may require therapy, medication, and other types of mental health support.
Common Causes of Paralysis
Paralysis occurs when nerve signals to muscles are disrupted, resulting in an inability to make voluntary movements. Paralysis takes a number of different forms, but all of them are serious and many of them are permanent and they often involve damage to the nervous system.
Some of the main causes of paralysis include:
Strokes: Strokes are a leading cause of paralysis. They occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either due to a blood clot or a burst blood vessel. This can damage brain cells, leading to paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord can sever the nerves that connect the brain to the body, causing paralysis. These injuries can be caused by accidents, falls, sports injuries, or other traumatic events.
Nerve disorders: Certain nerve disorders can cause paralysis. These include:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): MS is an autoimmune disease that damages the protective sheath around nerves, leading to inflammation and nerve damage.
- Guillain-Barré syndrome: This is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis.
Brain injuries: Brain injuries, such as those caused by accidents or tumors, can damage the parts of the brain that control movement, leading to paralysis.
Birth defects: Some people are born with birth defects that can cause paralysis, such as spina bifida.
Other causes: Other potential causes of paralysis include:
- Bell’s palsy: This is a temporary facial paralysis caused by inflammation of a facial nerve.
- Sleep paralysis: This is a temporary inability to move or speak during the transition between sleep and wakefulness.
- Certain types of cancer: Cancer can sometimes cause paralysis by compressing nerves or damaging the spinal cord.
Negligence can lead to paralysis injuries in a number of various ways. At Van Sant Law, we have seen paralysis result from the following:
- Traffic accident injuries
- On-the-job injuries
- Medical errors
- Birth injuries
- Nursing home abuse
- Dangerous drugs
- Defective products
- Slip and fall injuries
What is Considered Paralysis?
Paralysis refers to the inability to move or control a part of the body. When we think of paralysis, we most often picture a person in a wheelchair. However, in truth, paralysis takes on a wide variety of forms, from mild to severe. One paralysis victim may simply experience a loss of function in one arm and hand, while another paralysis victim may be sentenced to life in a hospital bed, unable even to breathe on his or her own.
Paralysis can be caused by various conditions. A brain injury may cause paralysis in only the right side of the body, while a spinal cord injury may cause paralysis only in the lower half of the body.
Contact Our Atlanta Paralysis Injury Lawyer Today
If your paralysis was caused by negligence, you should make certain that the at-fault party takes responsibility for how your life has been altered forever. Our Atlanta paralysis injury attorney can help you understand your case and ensure that you receive appropriate compensation for your losses.
