Florida Attorney for Accidents Resulting in Paraplegia and Paralysis Injuries
Some accidents can regrettably lead to catastrophic injuries, disabilities, and permanent impairments. Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia/tetraplegia, is one of the most serious life-altering injuries a person can sustain and is often the result of someone else’s negligence.
If you or your loved one was paralyzed due to another person’s negligence, seek legal counsel from an experienced injury lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. At Rick Kolodinsky, P.A., our Daytona Beach personal injury lawyer is committed to fighting for the rights of accident victims who sustained an injury that led to paralysis and paraplegia.
Types of paralysis
Paralysis is the loss of muscle function and ability to move limbs and parts of the body. Paralysis can be either complete or partial, temporary or permanent. In addition, a person can be paralyzed on one, or both, sides of the body.
Different types of paralysis include:
- Paraplegia: paralysis of the lower half of the body.
- Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia: when a person is paralyzed from the neck down.
- Diplegia: a form of paralysis that affects corresponding body parts on both sides of the body.
- Hemiplegia: paralysis of one side of the body.
- Monoplegia: only one limb is paralyzed.
Causes of paralysis injuries
Causes of paraplegia and other forms of paralysis can be divided into three categories:
- Traumatic brain injury: Brain injuries caused by traumatic events, accidents, and violence can result in partial or complete paralysis when damaged nerves stop sending signals to different parts of the body.
- Spinal cord injury: Depending on which part of the spinal cord was damaged, a person can suffer different forms of paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia/tetraplegia.
- Catastrophic injury: In some cases, different parts of the body can be paralyzed as a result of lacerations and other types of damage to the nerves and ligaments. Depending on the severity of the injury, nerves may never recover completely.
Accidents that cause paraplegia and paralysis injuries
Accidents and incidents that can result in paraplegia, quadriplegia and other forms of paralysis include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck crashes
- Bicycle accidents
- Acts of violence
- Assaults
- Sports injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Injuries caused by defective equipment and products
When someone else’s negligence causes paralysis, the victim is entitled to compensation for their damages. It’s important to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney to determine how the accident occurred, what caused your paralysis injury, and who should be held responsible for your losses.
Effects of paraplegia and paralysis on your quality of life
Paralysis injuries can have a tremendous and irreversible impact on various aspects of the victim’s life, which is why many personal injury cases involving paraplegia and other types of paralysis lead to multi-million-dollar settlements.
Paralysis can have a number of effects on your quality of life, including:
- Mental anguish and depression: Most victims who were left paralyzed after an accident undergo mental health treatment because living with paraplegia or any other form of paralysis is extremely painful and challenging. Paralysis often leads to depression, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other mental struggles.
- Loss of job and income: Depending on the victim’s job and the type of paralysis, they may no longer be able to work, which can result in the loss of job and loss of income.
- Modifications to the environment: Paralyzed people usually require a lot of modifications to their environment. Some of the adjustments that could be made are home modifications to help you move around the house, purchase of a special vehicle, equipment, and many more.
- Family, friends, and relationships: Sustaining an injury that results in paralysis may impact the victim’s ability to spend quality time with their family members and friends.
- Medical expenses: Paraplegia and other paralysis types require life-long medical expenses and long-term care costs, including hospital bills, rehabilitation and therapy costs, prosthetics, the cost of specialized care and home modifications, and many more.
What damages can you recover after a paralysis accident in Florida?
While no amount of money can compensate a paralyzed person for what they are going through and all the effects of the life-altering injury, it’s vital to seek compensation from the liable party to help cover the costs of managing the injury.
Types of damages that can be recovered following an accident resulting in paraplegia or other paralysis injuries include:
- Medical bills (past, current, and future)
- The cost of life-long rehabilitation and therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent impairment and disability
- The cost of adjustments, home modifications, and personalized care
- Long-term care facility costs
- Punitive damages (under the Florida Statutes Section 768.72, victims can recover punitive damages when the defendant is guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct)
Contact an experienced injury attorney in Florida
If you or someone you love sustained an injury that resulted in paralysis, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with our Florida personal injury attorney. Our lawyer Rick Kolodinsky will help you evaluate the extent of your paralysis injury, identify liable parties, gather necessary evidence to determine the value of your case. Let our Florida Board-Certified Civil Trial lawyer at Rick Kolodinsky, P.A., fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Call at 386-200-1866 to schedule your free case review.
