Paralysis Injury Attorney

Have You or a Loved One Suffered a Paralysis Injury?

Paralysis is a devastating condition experienced by about 5.4 million individuals in the United States today. Paralysis occurs as a result of a breakdown in the functioning of the spinal cord due to injury or disease. Damage to the spinal cord can block signals from the brain to the nerves, thus rendering the individual unable to move body parts affected by the injured area of the spinal cord. For paralysis to occur, the spinal cord does not need to be severed. A person may still experience a type of paralysis if the spinal cord injury (SCI) is the result of the spinal cord or its protective outer layer of bone being bruised, stretched or crushed.

Complete versus incomplete paralysis are terms that describe more specifically the ability of the nerves of the spinal column to communicate messages around the site of the paralyzing injury. Complete paralysis indicates there is total lack of feeling and movement capability below the site of the trauma. Incomplete paralysis indicates that some amount of sensation is possible below the injury, due to the ability for some messages to be conveyed past it, though in a compromised capacity.

A paralysis injury can be caused by a variety of factors, with spinal cord injuries serving as the second most common cause at over 27% of cases. In a recent study, the Reeve Foundation (a leader in the paralysis field), discovered that the previously believed statistic of 250,000 Americans living with SCI paralysis was five times less than the actual number, with the corrected estimate now at 1.2 million. Over 77% of these 1.2 million spinal cord injuries originate from accidents such as truck and motor vehicle collisions, worksite physical labor injuries, falls and sporting or athletic mishaps.

If you or a loved one have become paralyzed in an accident due to the negligence of another party, call our paralysis injury attorneys today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

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Types of Paralysis

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is a paralytic injury impacting the mobility and sensation of the torso and legs. The arms and upper torso may also experience some effects in sensation and/or motility depending on the severity and location of the injury to the spinal column, but generally, there is still mobility of the arms, neck, and head.

The range of the severity of the paraplegic symptoms depends on the location and intensity of the injury. Some paraplegic individuals experience minor immobilization, tingling, or lessened sensations in the legs, while others experience total, irreversible loss of movement and feeling from the waist down.

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Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia

Tetraplegia, which is also referred to as quadriplegia, is defined as total or complete loss of mobility and/or sensation in all four limbs and the torso. The degree of paralysis and degree of loss of sensation may be subject to the nature, location, severity and time since the trauma. In some cases, immediate intensive treatment and/or extensive rehabilitative therapy has demonstrated success in regaining ranges of sensation and motility. In other cases, individuals may experience tetraplegia so severe that it causes difficulty in breathing independently.

For an SCI to result in tetraplegia, the injury sustained to the spine must occur above the first thoracic vertebra, or in the range of cervical sections of the spine identified as C1-C8. Generally, the higher the location of the injury to the spine, the more absolute the paralytic symptoms.

Most doctors use the word tetraplegia to describe the condition, while paraplegia continues to be more popular with patients. The terms are understood as interchangeable in everyday use.

The distinctions (or “grades”) of paraplegia and quadriplegia can be somewhat complex, due to the range of ways that the human body reacts to damage to the spinal column. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) developed an Impairment Scale (AIS) to categorize the severity of a person’s neurological impairment following spinal cord injury.

  • Grade A: Complete loss of sensory function and motor skills below the injury.
  • Grade B: Some sensory function below the injury, but no motor function.
  • Grade C: Some motor function below the level of injury, but half the muscles cannot move against gravity.
  • Grade D: More than half of the muscles below the level of injury can move against gravity.
  • Grade E: Restoration of all neurologic function.

If you or a loved one have become paralyzed in an accident due to the negligence of another party, call our paralysis injury lawyers today for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Causes of Paralysis or Spinal Cord Injury

Your paralysis injury attorney at Thompson Law has extensive experience with many cases involving wrecks, mishaps, and disasters that can result in tragic consequences including paralysis.

Automobile collisions (31.5%) and catastrophic falls (25.3%) were the most common causes of SCI resulting in paralysis in the United States, according to a 2005-2011 study. Other major causes of SCI include:  gunshot wounds (10.4%), motorcycle crashes (6.8%), diving accidents (4.7%), and surgical or medical complications (4.3%).

Though by no means a complete list, some of the more common incident types that appear in SCI personal injury cases are the following:

If you or a loved one are the victim of a paralysis injury accident, call our personal injury attorneys today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION.

At Thompson Law

We provide paralysis injury victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring that you get fair value for your claim. Our Dallas paralysis injury attorneys will build a strong case with supporting evidence so that you recover the money that you deserve.

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Complications: The Hidden Costs of Paralysis

Frustratingly, the difficulties of living with a paralytic injury and SCI are not limited to the condition alone. The intricate nature of these injuries means that paralyzed individuals frequently suffer complex complications and additional illnesses related to their paralysis. Approximately 30% of individuals with SCI are re-hospitalized at least once a year. Duration of hospital stay can vary, but averages at about 22 days.

The most recent reporting shows the average cost of a day spent in the hospital in Texas is about $2,300, and this does not account for major or specialized procedures or additional associated institutional costs, such as ambulance fees. This means that even before necessary treatments are considered, paralytic injury and SCI patients are at high risk for re-hospitalization bills over $50,000 for just one incident, in just one year.

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Financial Impact of Paralysis and SCI

Paralysis Injuries by the Numbers

  • Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the 2nd most common cause of paralysis in the US
  • SCI is responsible for 27.3% of paralysis cases.
  • 1 in 50 Americans report living with some form of paralysis, meaning 1.458 million people are paralyzed due to spinal cord injury.
  • 28% of households with a paralyzed individual make less than $15,000 per year.
  • Spinal cord injuries cost roughly $40.5 billion annually. This is 317% higher than the costs estimated 20 years ago.
  • 15.5% of paralyzed individuals are employed.
  • 41.8% of paralysis victims report they are unable to work.
  • 82% of individuals living with paralysis are men.

More information by the numbers can be found here, and en español aqui. If you or a loved one has suffered a paralysis injury accident due to the negligence of another party, call our paralysis injury attorneys today for a FREE CONSULTATION.

The High Costs of Paraplegia, Tetraplegia, and Quadriplegia

The lifetime cost to a paralyzed individual, and to their support network of family, friends, and caretakers, is arguably incalculable due to the far-reaching consequences paralysis has on an individual’s ability to live a normal life. Estimates at lifetime costs, which vary widely based on the age at which the injury was sustained and the severity of the trauma, range between $1,113,990 and $4,724,181. These figures only consider healthcare and life costs, not indirect costs such as consideration of lost wages, productivity, and other unquantifiable benefits.

In addition to the hardships that paralytic injury and SCI cause to the individual affected, his or her support network of family and friends is also impacted. Family members often serve as primary caregivers for paraplegic and tetraplegic individuals. There are more than 50 million people providing this type of relational caregiving service each year. The estimated value of this group’s labor is $306 billion annually, and if that number is not astounding enough, it should also be noted that that figure is more than twice as much as the valuation of hospice care and nursing home care combined.

When a Thompson Law paralysis injury attorney fights for your deserved personal injury compensation, the funds received at settlement can help cover the monumental financial, personal, and emotional costs associated with:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Mental anguish
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Physical impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Wrongful death

Living with Paralytic Injury

Adjusting to life with a disability is not only a physical and financial burden, but also presents an array of practical and emotional challenges. Paralyzed individuals frequently have to make adjustments and allocate significantly more time and energy to navigating their lives than able-bodied individuals. The following list of activities, which is by no means comprehensive, illustrates some of the burdens of adapting to life with a paralytic condition:

  • Home modification/retrofitting (e.g., showers, toilets, countertops, paths of access to rooms, doors, gates, exits, navigable flooring, emergency exits)
  • Relocating to an ADA compliant home
  • Retrofitting your vehicle(s)
  • Finding alternative transportation to work and life obligations
  • Wheelchair mobility training
  • Ongoing physical therapy
  • Arranging assistance maintaining the home
  • Ongoing mental health therapy
  • Arrange and attend frequent doctor’s appointments
  • Extended time away from work for re-hospitalization or health maintenance
  • Extended amount of time for daily activities such as preparing meals, showering, maintaining the home, caring for children
  • Arranging assistance caring for children

Our Paralysis Injury Attorneys Charge No Fee Unless We Win

Call Our Paralysis Injury Attorneys for a FREE CONSULT

Have you or your loved one suffered paralytic injuries in a motor vehicle crash or another catastrophic event? The first action item is, of course, to pursue medical care immediately. Obtaining quality medical treatment and carefully following all treatment plans is essential to the best physical outcome.

The next part of the journey is to consult with your Thompson Law paralysis injury attorney about what your rights to compensation and reparation may be. Pursuing justice for the victims of accidents that result in injury and loss, especially as devastating as paralysis, is meaningful work to the tenacious team at Thompson Law.

Your paralysis injury attorney will guide the process of opening claims, investigating your case, submitting demands, negotiating a settlement, and taking any other legal actions or finalization requirements that result from the settlement. Thompson Law has a robust in-house litigation team that is fully prepared to take your case to trial if that becomes necessary.

At Thompson Law, we have a formidable track record of success in cases related to spinal cord trauma and paralytic injuries. Cases involving these types of dire injuries require extensive research and precise care. Your circumstances will be carefully investigated by our experienced paralysis injury lawyers, who will provide you with expert guidance for your pursuit of medical care, and strategic options for claims and litigation that may win you the compensation you deserve. Call today for a FREE CONSULTATION. Let us right the wrongs you suffered, so you can focus on healing.

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Office Location: 3300 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219

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Personal Injury FAQs

Personal Injury

If you are injured in any type of accident, your first priority should be to seek immediate medical attention, even if you are not certain that you are injured. Seeking immediate medical treatment does two things: 1) it ensures injuries you sustained are diagnosed and treated; and, 2) it helps eliminate any doubt by the insurance company that your injuries were caused by the accident. 

Often, the shock and adrenaline of an accident can mask symptoms of injuries, so making the mistake of skipping a medical examination can have profound consequences. By seeking prompt medical treatment, you protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation for your injuries with the help of your attorney.

If you were in a motor vehicle accident we have also detailed here what to do after a car accident.

A skilled personal injury lawyer is necessary to get full and fair compensation for injuries you sustained in an accident. Most defendants, whether individual drivers or commercial vehicle operators, are covered by liability insurance. Those insurance companies are not obligated to protect or take care of you. Insurance companies exist to protect the defendant (their customer) who caused the wreck. 

A personal injury attorney can help you obtain compensation for every category of damages to which you are legally entitled. These damages can include things like: medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain & suffering, punitive damages, loss of limb, diminished mental function, physical impairment, scarring or disfigurement, emotional or mental trauma, and loss of consortium (in wrongful death claims). Further, you may be entitled to future medical bills, future lost income, future pain and suffering, and other damages in severe injury cases.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage can help save the day if you are hit by an uninsured driver or if you are the victim in a hit-and-run collision. In short, UM coverage is an add-on coverage that drivers can add to their auto insurance policies that will protect them in the event that they are in an auto accident with a driver who either does not have insurance or cannot be located. You can contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your policy includes UM. If you do not have this coverage, the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law recommend that you consider adding UM to your auto insurance policy today. 

Absolutely not. It’s important to leave the investigation to the professionals. They know exactly how to work a case to determine all of the facts and details.

Some of the most devastating injuries caused by careless driving happen to pedestrians. As a pedestrian, you have the same right to be free from injury and harm caused by the irresponsibility, error, or negligence of others as any motorist on the road. In is important to obtain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible if you are injured as a pedestrian. The right attorney will see that you receive the medical care you need, guide your damage claim process, and receive full compensation for your injuries.  

Typically, yes. If a family member is seriously injured or killed in an accident, or if the injured party is a minor child, then it may be appropriate under the law for a parent, spouse, relative, or legal guardian to file a claim or lawsuit on behalf of the injured or deceased party.  These types of claims are complex, and usually depend on the type of relationship involved, as well as the individual facts and circumstances of the injury. Calling the experienced personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law is step one to explore filing a legal claim on behalf of your loved one. 

If the other vehicle involved in your crash was an 18 wheeler or another commercial vehicle, call an attorney immediately. Companies who own commercial vehicles and 18 wheelers often have their own team of investigators who will arrive on the scene immediately working on the driver’s defense case. The sooner you involve an attorney of your own, the better your chances are of receiving compensation for your injuries and damages.

No. They aren’t trying to help you. They’re trying to protect their drivers and reduce their costs. That’s why they have a team of lawyers ready to flock to the scene of any accident. Don’t accept any form of compensation until you talk to your attorney. Most victims of 18 wheeler crashes sustain more injuries than victims of normal crashes, and can receive higher compensation as a result. Don’t let them fool you into accepting a smaller payout for your injuries and damages. Your injuries could require years of medications and surgeries, and the company will try everything to avoid making huge payouts. Call your attorney and let them do the negotiating on your behalf.

The best personal injury attorney has three major characteristics: Excellent customer service, cutting edge technology, and a willingness to take cases and win at trial. Ask your potential attorney about the client experience they offer, what kind of technology they use to make your life easier, and when was the last time they took a case to jury trial. Asking these types of questions will give you guidance on what kind of experience you can expect as a client and what kind of results you can expect at the end of your case.

Thompson Law has high ratings from clients for its emphasis on customer service, and its attorneys have achieved significant results on small, large, and complex cases alike. No matter if you have been involved in a minor car wreck or are dealing with catastrophic injuries from a rarer and more devastating event like a terrible workplace accident, dog bite, or an 18 wheeler wreck, Thompson Law can assist you.  

Yes! Thompson Law is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide free consultations. If you have been injured in a truck wreck or car accident, hurt in a slip and fall incident, or otherwise injured from the negligence of another person or party, give us a call any time at 1-800-LION-LAW. We can speak to you over the phone, chat online through our website or social media outlets, or arrange an in-person meeting at your convenience. Our team is ready to help! 

An insurance company will not pay medical expenses or other damages as they come due; rather, after they have accepted liability, the insurance company will make a one-time, lump-sum final payment only at the end of your case.  Dealing with medical expenses, and obtaining the proper medical care, after an accident can be tricky. But it does not have to be! Call the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law, who can explain how to deal with the “day-of” hospital bills, how to continue to receive the care you need, and ultimately how to recover an appropriate settlement that takes care of your bills from the incident as well as fair and just compensation for you.

Let’s be honest: this isn’t a legal show on TV and your case will not settle in the next hour – or even tomorrow.  The true answer is: it depends.  We find that most cases settle within 7-10 months from date of incident; but the timeframe in your case could be shorter or longer depending on: the facts and circumstances of the accident; the length of time it takes you to complete medical treatment; and the character of the insurance company, or companies, involved in your case.  In the event that your case cannot settle pre-litigation and it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit, the litigation process alone can take 1 to 2 years due to the court system and legal process necessary to prepare for trial.  But because so much of the timeline depends on the facts and circumstances of your unique case, call Thompson Law today to discuss the personal injury claims process

Thompson Law Guarantee

Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.

State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.