If you’re paralyzed in an accident, some of the most basic tasks you carry out every day become far more difficult, if not impossible. If your paralysis means you can no longer work the same job or now require special equipment to assist in your daily living, you might also be facing significant financial burdens. Norm Steiner of The Steiner Law Firm, PLLC, knows exactly what you’re doing through.
Norm suffered a similarly debilitating injury when he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. But Norm’s as much a fighter in the courtroom as he once was in the boxing ring. He understands what it takes to seek recovery when wrongfully injured, whether it’s overcoming a personal challenge or a legal one.
Causes of Paralysis Injuries
The majority of paralysis injuries are the result of damage to the spinal cord. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the majority of injuries to the spinal cord come from car accidents and falls. Other causes include:
- Acts of violence, including assault and gunshot wounds
- Sports and other athletic activities
- Medical procedures
- Workplace accidents
- Diseases and other medical conditions that affect the nervous system
The reason for the paralysis injury is one of the primary factors in the type or level of paralysis, and will play a role in your ability to recover damages.
Types of Paralysis Injuries
Paralysis can be either localized or generalized. If it’s local, it’s limited to a relatively small part of the body, such as the face, hands, feet, or vocal cords. If it’s generalized, it can affect the major parts (or most) of the body. There are five main categories of generalized paralysis:
- Quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia): Paralysis that affects all four limbs. Many people with quadriplegia are paralyzed from the neck down.
- Paraplegia: Paralysis that affects both legs, but may also include part of the torso.
- Monoplegia: Paralysis that affects just one arm or leg.
- Hemiplegia: Paralysis that affects only one side of the body.
- Diplegia: Paralysis that affects the same area on both sides of the body, such as both arms or both sides of the face.
Legal Remedies for Paralysis Injuries
If someone else is responsible for your paralysis, our legal system gives you the right to sue them for compensation in civil court. In most cases, your primary cause of action will likely be negligence. This means:
- The at-fault party had a duty to do something (or not do something);
- There was a breach of that duty;
- The breach of the duty led to the injury that caused your paralysis;
- And you suffered economic and other damage as a result of those injuries.
For example, if you became paralyzed after someone negligently hit you with their vehicle while you were a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk, you could sue them for negligence. You’d have to show:
- That they had a duty not to hit you;
- That they breached that duty when they hit you;
- That getting hit by their vehicle caused your injuries;
- And that, as a result of these injuries, you suffered certain damages, such as lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
Depending on the facts of your case, other legal remedies, such as strict liability or reckless endangerment, may be available instead.
Talk to an Attorney If You or Someone You Know Has Suffered a Paralysis Injury
Norm Steiner understands the grit and determination necessary to move on from a serious injury and how that can affect someone for the rest of their lives. There are many skilled personal injury lawyers out there, but Norm is among the very few who have the skills and experience necessary to help you recover both emotionally and financially from your accident. Norm successfully fought for his recovery. Now let him fight for yours. Set up a free consultation by calling (914) 770-1000.