Most injuries generally do not lead to any long-term complications as long as you seek comprehensive medical care and follow your doctor’s instructions. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for injuries that involve severe damage to the brain or spinal cord, as these may result in permanent paralysis and other life-changing complications.
If you recently suffered a paralyzing injury because of another person’s negligent behavior, you should talk to Bridgeport paralysis injury lawyer George W. Ganim, Jr. about your legal options. A skilled catastrophic injury attorney who knows how to handle these kinds of cases, he can provide crucial guidance and support about how to increase your chances of success with your claim.
What Are Common Causes of Paralysis Injuries?
There are countless ways the negligence of another individual could cause these injuries. Some common examples include:
- Swimming pool injuries
- Violent assault
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Medical negligence
- Sporting injuries
- Falls
- Workplace accidents
The common feature that ties these together is that the injury tends to stem from damage to the head, neck, or back.
What Are the Types of Paralysis?
Paralysis injuries fall into one of four general categories. These injuries are categorized by the part of the body that is impacted. Monoplegia is a form of paralysis that affects a single arm or leg. It often results in pinched or damaged nerves but usually leads to a full recovery.
Hemiplegia affects the limbs on a single side of the body. Typically, the arm and leg on the same side of the body become paralyzed due to medical conditions like cerebral palsy. Hemiplegia can also occur due to nerve damage or impingement.
Paraplegia is a common form of paralysis. Often the result of back injuries, paraplegia is the lack of sensation or motor control from the waist down. While some recover from paraplegia, it is typically permanent.
The most severe of the four types of paralysis is quadriplegia, which affects the entire body below the neck. It is commonly related to head and neck injuries.
How Could Negligence Lead to Paralysis?
While car crashes and sudden falls are the most common causes of paralyzing accidents, these injuries can also stem from negligence by medical professionals, impacts from falling objects and collisions during sporting events. No matter what specifically causes you to become paralyzed, you must prove legal negligence caused by another party in order to hold that party liable for their damages. This entails showing that the at-fault party acted irresponsibly towards you in a way that directly caused the damages for which you are seeking compensation.
The amount of compensation that you can recover through a successful civil claim depends on the severity of your paralysis and the losses you suffered. For example, a person suffering from paraplegia might still be able to keep their old job if they previously worked behind a desk. However, if that person performed manual labor then, just as a person suffering from quadriplegia, is able to factor in the loss of future earning capacity into their settlement demand or lawsuit as their ability to work has been severely compromised.
Connecticut law also takes into consideration a loss of income, earning potential and/or expenses associated with job retraining if they are paralyzed in any way due to an accident. Other damages that a Bridgeport paralysis attorney can pursue on your behalf include all expenses for emergency medical care and rehabilitative treatments, property damage stemming from the accident, physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as the loss of enjoyment that life has to offer.
Potential Obstacles to Recovering Damages
As with any civil claim, plaintiffs filing suit over a paralyzing injury may need to contest allegations of comparative fault made against them if they want to win as much compensation as possible. Under Connecticut General Statutes §52-572h, any percentage of fault that a court assigns to you will result in a reduction of your final damage award no matter how severe your injuries are. If you are deemed to be more than 50 percent to blame for your accident, then you are ineligible to recover anything at all.
People with paralysis are still beholden to the same two-year statutory filing deadline set by CGS §52-584 that applies to all personal injury claims. A local paralysis injury lawyer can provide critical assistance in navigating these roadblocks so that you do not miss out on much-needed compensation.
Work with a Bridgeport Paralysis Injury Attorney Today
Paralysis is one of the most serious outcomes of an accident that someone can suffer. If you sustained any permanent or temporary loss of motor function and/or sensation due to another person’s reckless or careless conduct, then taking prompt legal action to hold that person financially accountable is essential to preserving your future wellbeing.
A Bridgeport paralysis injury lawyer can inform you of your legal options and work tenaciously to pursue a positive outcome to your case. To schedule your free initial consultation with Attorney George W. Ganim, Jr., get in touch today.