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What Does a Paralysis Injury Look Like?

Many circumstances could cause paralysis injuries. But generally, paralysis involves the temporary or permanent inability to use certain limbs or parts of the body. Depending on where the spine has been injured, you could experience a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury.

A complete spinal cord injury means a portion of the spinal cord has suffered permanent damage. An incomplete spinal cord injury means there is partial damage. Although the injury is not as significant as a complete injury, you might experience some lost function.

Common Accidents That Cause Paralysis

Some examples of accidents known for causing paralysis injuries in NYC include:

You can also suffer paralysis from a stroke, seizure, or traumatic brain damage. It can all feel overwhelming, but a paralysis lawyer in NYC can help assess your situation, identify the cause of your paralysis injury, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

All Paralysis Injuries Are Not the Same

A paralysis injury is as unique as the victims involved. The portion of the spine that has been injured will determine the severity of your paralysis injuries and which limbs will be affected. Even if you are dealing with partial paralysis, you may still have the right to compensation for your damages.

This is particularly true if another person or entity’s negligence is responsible for causing the accident that injured you. You can rely on your NYC paralysis attorney to scrutinize your case details to ensure we seek maximum restitution to protect you financially for years.

Types of New York Paralysis Injuries

Our NYC injury lawyers have encountered all manner of devastating spinal injuries and cases involving paralysis. In our decades of fighting for the rights of injury victims, particularly in the construction industry and after car accidents, we’ve learned that paralysis can take multiple forms. These include:

  • Tetraplegia
  • Paraplegia
  • Hemiplegia
  • Monoplegia

With the proper medical care and circumstances, you might be able to regain some functionality, even if you have been completely paralyzed. You will need to discuss your prognosis with your healthcare provider to prepare for the future and know how much compensation is available in your paralysis claim.

Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)

Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, occurs when there is severe damage to the neck or cervical spinal cord. Tetraplegia means all limbs will be permanently paralyzed.

Individuals with quadriplegia will have no movement or feeling below their injury and often require around-the-clock medical attention and care to complete daily living activities.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is caused by damage to the spine’s thoracic region, the area just below the neck to the upper back. This paralysis affects your legs and can impact some of your arms’ functionality.

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia means only one side of your body is affected by your paralysis injuries. For many individuals, it begins with the sensation of a limb falling asleep, also commonly known as a “pins and needles feeling.” This feeling progresses to debilitating muscle weakness or complete paralysis of the affected side of the body.

Monoplegia

Monoplegia affects only one area of the body. While you may still control other body parts, you may not have functionality in the area affected by your monoplegia spinal cord injury. You might suffer paralysis in your right leg or left arm. This could be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of your injuries and the specific circumstances of your case.

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What Should I Do After a Paralysis Injury?

When someone’s negligence caused your or a loved one’s paralysis, your next steps are crucial. It’s common to battle depression, and often difficult to cope with such immense pain and loss.

However, you can build a powerful case against the liable party by getting the medical attention you need and obtaining recommended treatments. For example, some of the top treatment options for paralysis include:

  • Participating in support groups for your emotional health
  • Working with trauma specialists
  • Ongoing physical and occupational therapy to regain as much function as possible
  • Surgical intervention to improve functionality
  • Mental health counseling

As soon as possible, make sure you hire a paralysis lawyer in NYC who can help you handle the legal details of your case. This way, you can devote time and energy to recuperating and rebuilding your life.

Compensation After a Paralysis Injury

After becoming paralyzed due to another’s negligence, you can recover compensation for your losses. For instance, if you are involved in a work accident, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits according to the New York Workers Compensation Impairment Guidelines.

However, workers’ comp benefits are unlikely to cover your damages fully. If this is the case or your injuries stem from another type of negligence, you may need to consider a third-party liability claim, where you can seek compensation for every loss, including economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Losses

Examples of financially-based or economic losses you could recover and your paralysis claim include:

  • Costs of adapting living quarters
  • Costs of purchasing adaptive equipment
  • Ongoing occupational and physical therapy costs
  • Costs of daily living assistance
  • Reduced earning capacity and loss of income
  • Other out-of-pocket expenses

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses do not have fixed financial values. It can be more difficult to quantify them, but since they impact victims’ lives, it is essential to recover restitution for these damages accordingly. Examples include:

  • Your physical pain and suffering
  • Compensation for family members who have had to change their lives to take care of you
  • Emotional distress and psychological trauma
  • Loss of companionship, love, support, protection, and advice
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Disfigurement and skin scarring
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Call a New York Paralysis Injury Lawyer

Your paralysis injuries may permanently alter the course of your life. Make sure you have access to the compensation that is rightfully yours. Bring the liable party to justice and get the most out of your claim when you contact an experienced NYC paralysis lawyer at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C.

Our firm proudly offers free consultations to injury victims across New York City and the state. Schedule yours by completing our online contact form or calling our office. There are no up-front fees, and you owe nothing until we win compensation for you.

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