Paraplegia, quadriplegia, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis are among some of the most serious injuries that an individual may suffer in an accident. These injuries are often permanent in nature and require thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical care.
Texas personal injury attorneys represent victims suffering from these injuries and ensure that their current and future medical bills are accounted for in these difficult claims.
What Causes Paraplegia and Quadriplegia?
Paraplegia and quadriplegia are caused by spinal cord injuries. Paraplegia is paralysis that occurs below the waist and impacts the legs and feet, whereas quadriplegia is paralysis that impacts the hands, arms, legs, and feet.
Whether paraplegia or quadriplegia results from a spinal cord injury depends on the location of the injury, as well as the severity of the injury.
Complete injuries are those that involve a complete loss of sensory and motor function. With incomplete injuries, some sensory or motor function is retained.
Many cases of paraplegia and quadriplegia are caused by traffic accidents, slips and falls, and sports injuries.
Paraplegics and quadriplegics are also at risk of developing additional injuries and conditions, such as bed sores, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries encompass any damage to the spinal cord. Some spinal cord injuries may eventually heal, whereas others may cause permanent disability.
Accident victims, slip and fall victims, and athletes are especially at risk for spinal cord injuries. The symptoms of spinal cord injuries include:
- Weakness or a lack of coordination
- An inability to balance
- Incontinence
- Severe pain in the back, head, or neck
- Weak breathing
These symptoms warrant a trip to an emergency room. With spinal cord injuries, the earlier they are treated, the better the prognosis for the victim.
Paralysis
Paralysis is a broad medical term that refers to the loss of sensory or motor control of any part of the body.
Around 6 million Americans have been diagnosed with some kind of paralysis. Paralysis is most commonly caused by:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Strokes
- Cerebral palsy
- Poisonous or toxic substances
Accidents are a leading cause of paralysis. In other cases, medical negligence may cause paralysis. For example, birth injuries may lead to a lack of oxygen, which often causes cerebral palsy.
Holding Defendants Accountable for Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Spinal Cord Injuries, and Paralysis
Many serious injuries are caused by the negligence of others. To prevail in a Texas negligence claim, the victim must show:
- The at-fault party owed a duty to the victim;
- The duty was breached due to the at-fault party’s negligence; and
- Due to this negligence, the victim suffered damages.
Individuals do not have to personally know each other to owe a duty to each other. Every time you drive on a public road, for example, you have a duty to follow traffic laws and drive carefully. Medical professionals have a duty to provide treatment that meets applicable standards of care. An attorney is able to help determine what duties the at-fault party owed a victim.
Breaching the duty may be proven by demonstrating that a law was broken, such as drinking and driving. Or, perhaps safety standards in a place of employment were not met, or a medical professional used an outdated treatment technique. Again, Texas injury attorneys are able to identify the negligence in a claim.
Linking the negligence to the victim’s injuries is often challenging. The at-fault party will attempt to deny liability, perhaps by arguing that the victim had a preexisting condition or that the victim was partially at fault for the accident. However, experienced injury attorneys are able to anticipate these arguments and fight against them.
If You Have Suffered a Serious Injury, Call Our Dallas, Texas Injury Attorneys Today
At Brooker Law, PLLC, our attorneys are prepared to help you and your family fight your injury claim. We know that these claims are stressful and difficult and are able to help you through every step of your case. To schedule your free consultation with our firm, contact or call (214) 217-0277 today.