Paralysis Injuries from New York Motor Vehicle Accidents

Paralysis Injuries As a Result of a Car Accident

It’s difficult to fathom how much your life can change after you become paralyzed. Mobility, taking care of yourself, and daily activities will never look the same once you become paralyzed. When you do things by yourself, you may run into situations that do not go exactly as planned or expected. An example could be the emotions that are felt when you realize you can never drive yourself around again. You have to rely on others for accessibility and that can be frustrating to the mind and body. Others may feel a sense of loss or anger over the fact that they can no longer enjoy their hobbies without assistance with gardening and cooking. All of these are struggles that come with being paralyzed, and these struggles can induce feelings of anxiety and stress. It’s essential to know that you do not have to live like that forever. Paralyzed victims are able to learn to live a happy and full life with their injuries by utilizing the NYC Paralysis and Disability Resources.

Experienced car accident lawyers in Queens are dedicated to assisting victims seeking compensation for their traumatic injuries due to negligence of another person, business, or government agency. It’s frustrating when another party’s recklessness or carelessness results in serious or permanent injuries that affect the victim for the rest of their lives. Paralysis injury lawyers are devoted to protecting your rights and helping you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you have endured. 

Paralysis Defined

Paralysis can be caused by multiple different factors. This can include injuries such as:

• Spinal cord injuries

• Traumatic Brain Injuries

• Stroke

• Birth Defects

• Much More

After being injured in an accident or suffering from paralysis, it can feel as if your life is at a standstill. Have no fear. You can develop a normal lifestyle and routine as there are many options for those who have been paralyzed. As a matter of fact, many of these programs can improve your quality of life and help you gain some control over your body. 

Depending upon how the nervous system has been affected, symptoms will vary. If the muscles in your arms and legs are paralyzed then you may not be able to move your arms or legs. If the nerves that send signals to the brain are damaged, then you may experience issues with:

• Communicating

• Thinking 

• Memory

• Sensations

• Hearing

• Balance

• Coordination 

The severity of injuries depends on how far the nerve fibers travel into the body. If the nerves are only limited to the neck area, then it’s possible that the damage is only to the neck and head. More severe cases could include injuries to the spinal cord which could result in complete paralysis. 

Common accidents that could cause paralysis are:

• Car accidents

• Motorcycle accidents

• Bicycle accidents

• Truck accidents

• Construction accidents

• Slip and fall accidents

• Pedestrian accidents

• Nursing home abuse & negligence

• Wrongful death

Various Paralysis Types

After an accident that results in paralysis, the victim’s level of paralysis is dependent upon the level of function they have.  The National Spinal Cord Injury and Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that in the United States, the prevalence of each type of paralysis is as follows:

• 12.3% of all cases result in complete quadriplegia.

• 19.6% of all cases result in complete paraplegia.

• 47.6% of all cases result in incomplete quadriplegia.

• 19.9% of all cases result in incomplete paraplegia.

The following types of paralysis result from temporary or permanent paralysis from the point of injury downward:

Quadriplegic

Quadriplegia is the most common form of spinal cord injury. According to the NSCISC, 58.7% of all spinal cord injuries result in quadriplegia. A quadriplegic cannot move anything from the neck down and is also known as tetraplegia. Damage to the vertebrae in the neck or upper back can result in quadriplegia. The damage can be complete or partial. A victim with a complete spinal cord injury could have quadriplegia affecting their whole body, meaning they may not be able to move anything from the neck down.  A victim with a partial spinal cord injury may have some sensation or movement but would need extensive physical and occupational therapy in order to have the ability to complete normal household tasks. These accidents are catastrophic and require a New York City paralysis injury lawyer to recover the maximum amount of compensation. 

Generally speaking, the two main forms of quadriplegia are partial and complete. Incomplete or partial quadriplegia is diagnosed when the spinal cord in the cervical spine (the neck) is only partially damaged. This means the spinal cord is not completely severed and is still able to send some messages from the brain to the body. Victims with partial or incomplete quadriplegia may have some mobility or may be able to move some parts of their body including any of their four limbs. An extensive amount of physical and occupational therapy will need to be implemented to help the victim regain some sensation or motor skills. 

Complete or total quadriplegia is the second most common form of quadriplegia. This form is the most severe out of the two mentioned. This form of quadriplegia happens when there is extensive damage to the spinal cord in the neck that results in the spinal cord being completely ruptured. This results in the spinal cord being cut into two pieces, meaning the brain is unable to send the rest of the body any signals. There are some promising spinal cord research and experimental treatments that are ongoing, but it is still unlikely that a complete or total quadriplegic would ever be able to regain sensation or movement below the neck. 

Paraplegic 

Paraplegia refers to the paralysis or loss of sensation in the lower body and trunk. It has many causes, but the main cause is an injury to the spinal cord. Depending upon the level of injury, the symptoms may vary. If damage to the spinal cord occurs below the neck, then the most common result is paraplegia. Victims who become paraplegics will lose sensation and movement in their trunk and lower body. This means they cannot move their legs or torso. Most of the time, paraplegia is permanent, but with physical and occupational therapy the victim may be able to partially regain some sensation. 

The amount of damage is usually dependent upon if the spinal cord is partially or completely severed. If partially severed, the spinal cord is still intact. This can result in partial sensation, mobility, and function of the body parts below where the spinal cord is damaged.  If completely severed, the spinal cord is cut into two separate pieces. This results in no sensation or movement below where the spinal cord is severed. There is an extremely low likelihood of this injury ever healing. 

Paraplegia alters the victim's life completely. Paralysis will require the victim to use a wheelchair and learn to self-propel themselves. Home modifications may be needed such as a wheelchair ramp or widening the doorways so they are wheelchair accessible. Adaptive hand controls allow paraplegics to operate vehicles. Bathing, dressing, and moving from the wheelchair to bed may at first be challenging, but most victims are able to eventually do all these things independently. 

Paraplegics often are affected by complications of being wheelchair-bound. Pressure sores, obesity, and osteoporosis can affect wheelchair-bound persons, but they can mitigate these complications by participating in exercises such as wheelchair basketball or using wheelchair adaptive bicycles. Physical and occupational therapy are imperative for the victim to be able to perform daily living activities, as well as improve strength and range of motion to affect muscles and joints. If you or a loved one have been in an accident resulting in paraplegia, retaining a Queens paralysis injury lawyer is essential in order to receive the maximum compensation owed to you for your pain and suffering. 

Monoplegia

This type of paralysis only affects one limb. It typically tends to affect an arm rather than a leg. Monoplegia can be temporary, or it can be permanent.

When a person has monoplegia, the shoulder is often affected.  The brachial plexus nerves come from the lower cervical vertebrae and upper thoracic vertebrae to form a bundle of nerves at the base of the neck on both sides. These nerves travel to the front of the shoulder and down the shoulder girdle. This injury is typically caused by seatbelts. When in a car accident, especially a powerful one, the seatbelt puts pressure and even pulls on the nerves in the shoulder while the body travels forward. This amount of pressure and pulling can sever the brachial plexus nerves which can result in monoplegia in that shoulder and arm. Additionally, the lumbar and sacral plexuses control parts of the foot and leg.  Similar to the brachial plexus, a motor vehicle accident can seriously damage these groups of nerves, leading to monoplegia. However, this type of injury is less common due to the fact that there are two large networks of nerves instead of just one like in the arm. Also, legs are usually protected more than arms in motor vehicle collisions due to the legs being protected by the door siding, and the legs being held firmly in the seat. In contrast, the brachial plexus is above the door siding, and at window level which leaves it open to debris which can cause damage to the arm. 

Hemiplegic

Muscle weakness or partial paralysis is experienced on one side of the body, either the left or right side. Usually, hemiplegia affects the arm and leg on the same side of the body, but can also affect the muscles in the lower face on that side of the body. 

Diplegic

When this happens, the person is experiencing weakness or paralysis on both sides of the body, such as affecting both arms or both legs. Cerebral palsy is a common form of diplegia.

Paralysis Compensation

It is for these reasons that it is crucial to hire a New York City paralysis injury attorney who is experienced in handling catastrophic paralysis injury cases. Paralysis victims may receive compensation for their injuries and damages in the following ways:

• Past and future pain and suffering

• Medical bills

• Past and future lost wages or medical appointments

• Loss of consortium

• Mobility assistance devices such as wheelchairs, handheld operations for vehicles, and braces

•  Modifications to the victim's home or vehicle

• Nursing care, including 24/7 care as the victim ages

• Any other damages specifically pertaining to the victim