Paralysis is a scary thought, and definitely one of the most severe injuries a person can sustain. It’s a drastic life change that is difficult to adjust to — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Becoming paralyzed because of someone else’s negligence adds another layer of personal suffering that can be hard to overcome. Researchers estimate that as many as 12,500 people suffer from spinal cord injuries each year, and almost 40 percent of these cases are the result of a vehicular incident. More than half of those who injure their spinal cord end up at least partially paralyzed.
Vehicle wrecks are the leading cause, followed by falls, violence, sports or other recreation, and medical procedures. It’s easy to see that paralysis can be a direct result of wrongful acts and/or negligence, including:
Paralysis is most often associated with serious trauma to the central nervous system, and more specifically, direct damage to the brain or the spine. Severe injury that leads to paralysis usually results in either paraplegia, which is the inability to move the legs and the lower body, or quadriplegia, which is the inability to move the arms and legs. The extent of the damage is unique to each person. However, the lower the injury occurs to the spine, the more likely it is that someone will come out of the experience with mobility problems. . The higher the injury, the more likely it is the person will suffer permanent damage.
The most common areas for injury are in the top 7 vertebrae in the neck (called the cervical region) or the 12 vertebrae below that (called the thoracic region). Generally, injury to these areas is caused by sudden trauma, such as impact during an auto accident, blunt and deliberate force to the area, or a surprising fall. If the victim does not suffer paralysis, there is still a considerable risk of herniated discs, fractures, torn ligaments, or crushed vertebrae, all of which typically translate into chronic pain that requires a lifetime of physical therapy and/or medical treatment.
It’s clear that spinal cord injury and paralysis are life-changing, heart-breaking, and financially devastating. Not only does a paralyzed person need medical care and adaptive equipment such as a wheelchair, but such an injury often requires entirely new living spaces to accommodate the new mobility challenges. Also, he or she may never be able to go back to work – or at least, not the kind of work done prior to the injury. However, help is available and compensation is more than possible if negligence is at play including:
- Compensatory damages
- Lost past, present, and future wages
- Medical costs
- Psychological counseling
- Rehabilitation
- In-home care
- Pain and suffering.
If you have any questions about this topic or believe that someone else’s negligence caused your
spinal cord injury, you can find out more by discussing it with one of the personal injury attorneys at the
Johnson Law Firm. We have years of experience helping people, and we can help you. Our knowledgeable legal team will work closely with you every step of the way and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Based in Pikeville, KY, we proudly serve communities throughout the Bluegrass State. Contact us today by
filling out this evaluation form or calling us at 606-437-4488.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
