San Antonio Paralysis Lawyer
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis in San Antonio, TX
Spinal cord injuries can be absolutely devastating. Damage to the spinal cord can cause issues in almost every part of the body and can cause a person to experience partial or full paralysis. Not only that, but paralysis affects the life of the victim and the lives of their family in many ways. While medical treatment can help the victim recover physically, a San Antonio paralysis lawyer at Janicek Law can help the victim and their family recover financially.
If you or a loved one have suffered from paralysis as a result of catastrophic injuries, call San Antonio spinal cord injury lawyers and San Antonio paralysis injury lawyers at Janicek Law. We help spinal cord injury victims recover compensation for medical expenses, physical and emotional pain, and more. Call us today at 210-366-4949 and schedule a free consultation to discuss your spinal cord personal injury claim with us.
What is Paralysis?
Paralysis is often marked by a lack of motor function and sensory function in one or more parts of the body. Paralysis can be caused by many things, including a spinal cord injury. The body’s entire nervous system is connected to the brain, and most of the nerves running throughout the body are connected to the spinal cord. When spinal cord damage occurs, part or parts of the nervous system can lose their connection to the brain and, therefore, lose their ability to function. Without the ability to communicate with the brain, the body could lose the ability to control movement or feel physical sensations.
How Common is Paralysis in the United States?
Paralysis injuries are not as uncommon as one might think. A study done in 2013 found that about 1.7% of the US population lived with paralysis injuries, which totals about 5.4 million Americans. Stroke was the leading cause of paralysis, followed closely by spinal cord injuries.
Common Causes of Paralysis
Paralysis injuries can occur as a result of a wide range of accidents. More often than not, paralysis occurs as a result of a spinal cord injury, which can be caused by:
- Motor vehicle accidents, like car accidents;
- Workplace accidents;
- Slip and fall accidents;
- Medical malpractice accidents (especially during spinal surgery);
- Sports accidents; and
- Acts of violence.
If you or a loved one has suffered paralysis as a result of a serious accident, call San Antonio car accident lawyers, San Antonio slip and fall accident lawyers, San Antonio medical malpractice lawyers at Janicek Law. With over 20 years of experience in trying personal injury cases, we strive to help accident victims recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Call us at 210-366-4949 or contact us online and schedule a free case evaluation with one of our professionals.
Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are categorized as either complete or incomplete paralysis. Incomplete paralysis, or partial paralysis, is when a person experiences a partial loss of motor and sensory function in a part of their body. The nervous system is able to send and receive some signals to and from that part of the body, but not like it could before the paralysis injury. Luckily, most spinal cord injuries result in incomplete paralysis.
Complete paralysis refers to the complete loss of motor and sensory function in a part of the body. In these cases, the connection between the brain and the nerves in this part of the body is completely severed. Complete spinal cord injury victims often experience permanent paralysis to one or more of their body parts
Types of Paralysis
There are different types of paralysis, depending on the part or parts of the body that the paralysis affects. These types of paralysis include:
- Localized, which normally occurs in the face or hands;
- Hemiplegia, which is when half of the body is paralyzed;
- Monoplegia, which is when one limb is paralyzed;
- Paraplegia, which is when both legs are paralyzed;
- Tetraplegia, which is when three limbs are paralyzed (can occur in the lower and upper extremities); and
- Quadriplegia, which is when all four limbs are paralyzed.
Different types of paralysis can also be categorized by the area of the spinal cord that is injured. These different areas include:
- Sacral, which is the bottom part of the spine;
- Lumbar, which is the lower part of the spine;
- Lower thoracic, which is the lower middle part of the spine;
- Upper thoracic, which is the upper middle part of the spine; and
- Cervical, which is the upper part of the spine, also known as the neck.
Other Health Complications From Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Just like any traumatic injury, paralysis injuries can affect multiple areas of the body and impede certain bodily functions. They can even increase the likelihood of suffering other injuries. Spinal cord injuries can lead to:
- Broken bones
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Autonomic dysreflexia
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Neurogenic bowel
- Paralytic Ileus
Paralysis can also cause:
- Bowel dysfunction;
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Urological dysfunction;
- Cardiovascular dysfunction;
- Respiratory dysfunction; and
- Issues with thermoregulation.
Health treatment for these complications can be costly, which is why it’s important for paralysis injury victims to contact qualified paralysis lawyers. A paralysis law firm like Janicek Law can help victims recover compensation for past and future medical costs, lost wages, and more. Call our San Antonio personal injury lawyers today at 210-366-4949.
Is Paralysis Reversible?
Certain types of paralysis injuries can be reversible. Partial paralysis from things like strokes can be reversible after treatment. Unfortunately, permanent paralysis from spinal cord injuries may not be reversible. It mostly depends on the severity of the spinal cord injury or other causing factors, like a brain injury.
Paralysis Treatments
There are treatment options for partial and complete paralysis from spinal cord injuries. These treatments can include:
- Physical therapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Speech therapy;
- Amputation of the limb or limbs affected; and
- Medical treatment for dysfunction of pelvic organs, lings, and more.
A person suffering from paralytic injuries may also require assistive technology to move, eat, speak, and drive.
Can You Sue for Paralysis?
Yes, if you suffered partial or complete paralysis as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to sue the person responsible for your spinal cord injury. For example, someone who causes a motor vehicle accident that results in serious injury can be held liable for financial damages like medical costs, emotional distress, and more.
A San Antonio paralysis injury attorney will help victims of spinal injuries prove their injuries were the result of negligence by gathering witnesses and evidence, including medical records and photos of the injuries.
Proving Negligence in a Paralysis Claim
In order to prove negligence in claims involving spinal cord injuries and paralysis injuries, a personal injury attorney would have to gather enough evidence to prove the 4 Ds of negligence. These elements include:
- Duty of Care, which is a person’s responsibility to behave in a way that minimizes harm to others;
- Breach of Duty of Care, which occurs when a person behaves in a way that could cause harm to others;
- Evidence, which is used to prove that injuries occurred; and
- Causation, which links the evidence of injury to the breach of duty of care.
A skilled paralysis law firm will evaluate the facts of the case and gather information and evidence to help prove the 4 elements of negligence. The attorneys at Janicek Law have experience filing personal injury claims involving car accidents, workplace accidents, medical negligence, and more.
Damages for Paralysis
Those who experience a catastrophic injury like a spinal injury can experience both financial and emotional hardships. The families of paralysis victims can also experience hardships as a result of their loved one’s injuries. That’s why it’s so important for the victim of a life-changing injury to contact experienced personal injury lawyers to help them recover compensation.
Paralysis victims can recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future physical therapy bills
- Lost wages
- Medical devices
- Mental health treatment
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of earning potential
- Scarring and disfigurement; and
- Funeral expenses, in the case of wrongful death. To learn more about the types of damages you could recover in a wrongful death claim, call a San Antonio wrongful death attorney today.
Spinal injuries are often considered to be incapacitating injuries, which are injuries that impede a person’s ability to function normally. Since a spinal cord injury can partially or completely prevent a person from working a job, they may also experience a loss of earning potential, which can be compensated for in a paralysis lawsuit.
Additionally, with paralysis causing sexual dysfunction, the spouse of the injury victim may be able to recover compensation for loss of consortium. All paralysis cases are different, so be sure to call a San Antonio personal injury lawyer who can help determine what damages you suffered and how much compensation you deserve.
Call a San Antonio Paralysis Lawyer at Janicek Law Today
If you or a loved one was the victim of a severe accident, resulting in partial or complete paralysis, call the San Antonio paralysis injury attorneys at Janicek Law. With experience in a wide range of personal injury cases, our law firm is dedicated to helping victims of paralysis injuries begin on the path toward financial recovery. Call today at 210-366-4949 to schedule a free consultation with a San Antonio catastrophic injury attorney regarding your paralysis injury case.
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