Paraplegia is a devastating condition that can directly hinder the mobility and ability of the individual who has to endure these kinds of damages. Typically caused by some form of spinal cord or nerve damage, paraplegia, can also be caused by amputation or severe trauma to certain parts of the body. The damages caused by paraplegia go far beyond the physical trauma, but can also result in financial damages as well resulting from the extensive medical treatment and physical therapy needed to treat these life-altering conditions. Fortunately, if you suffered paraplegia as a result of an accident caused by the misconduct or negligence of another you may be eligible to file a claim for monetary compensation. However, when filing a lawsuit for paraplegia, it is always in your best interest to seek legal representation from an attorney experienced in handling paraplegia cases. At Normandie Law Firm, our Los Angeles paraplegia injury attorneys can guide you through the often complicated process of building a case, filing a claim, and collecting compensation for the damages that you and your loved ones have had to endure.
What Is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia is defined as the paralysis of the legs and lower body and is typically caused by spinal injury, however, can also occur as a result of infection, disease, or amputation. One of the most common ways for a person to develop paraplegia is to suffer from some form of nerve damage. While the legs remain perfectly healthy, the signals sent from the head to instruct the legs to move are being disrupted in some way. Often this is caused by some damage inflicted upon the brain or spinal cord. The symptoms that paraplegia can cause vary depending on the individual, as does the condition. For some paraplegics, symptoms can improve as swelling in the injured area dissipates. In cases of infection, treatment of the said infection can result in the reduction of the loss of sensation and can even reverse symptoms. While the symptoms of paraplegia can vary depending on the individual, paraplegia can arise in two main forms, complete and incomplete. Complete paraplegia is considered to be the total lack of sensory and motor function in the extremities below the waist. Incomplete paraplegia is not quite as severe, as victims of incomplete paraplegia still experience some sensation in the lower extremities, and have a limited range of function. Incomplete paraplegia can also lead to a condition known as phantom limb wherein the victim feels the sensation of a limb that is still attached, however, the affected limb cannot function as it may have prior.
Treatment for paraplegia can be incredibly extensive, ranging from invasive spinal cord surgeries to months or even years of physical therapy. These medical treatments can become quite expensive over a short period, and many paraplegic victims can end up facing a mountain of financial debt even if they have adequate health insurance. Fortunately, victims can file a lawsuit for paraplegia if their injuries were caused by the negligence or misconduct of another. These lawsuits, if a favorable outcome is found, can lead to substantial monetary compensation which can be used to cover the damages suffered. However, when filing a lawsuit it is important to take note of the kind of accidents that cause paraplegia, and how the legal process differs from each kind of accident. Listed below are some of the common accidents that cause paraplegia:
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Sporting Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Accidents Caused By Defective Products
- Slip and Fall Accidents
Identifying what kind of accident you suffered, and how the damages affected, you can make the difference between filing a successful claim for compensation and having your case dismissed from court entirely. This article will cover the various accidents listed above, how these accidents can cause paraplegia and the process by which you can receive compensation for the damages you and your loved ones have suffered.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Being diagnosed with paraplegia after a slip and fall accident can occur somewhat rarely. The force needed to inflict the level of trauma that causes paraplegia often doesn’t occur in slip and fall accidents. However, slip and fall victims can still be diagnosed from paraplegia, even if the odds of it happening are small. Slip and fall accidents are defined as any accident where the hazardous flooring conditions of premises or property resulted in a patron or customer slipping and falling. Slip and fall accidents can occur at shopping malls, restaurants, office buildings, and even hospitals. Regardless of where they occur, almost always the property owner can be held liable for the damages caused. Under premises liability, property owners are expected to keep a reasonably safe and secure environment for their patrons and visitors, and if they fail to remedy a hazard or adequately warn their patrons, they could face a truly damaging personal injury lawsuit. However, in filing a lawsuit against a property owner, it is important that you can prove that the following is present in your case:
- There was a hazardous condition or potentially dangerous condition on the property, like a wet or damaged floor, which presented an unreasonable risk of harm.
- The property owner should have been aware of the dangerous condition
- The property owner failed to either warn guests of a reasonable condition and did not take reasonable action to remedy the issue.
- The hazardous condition resulted in the injury of a tenant or patron.
In proving these claims, it is highly recommended that you collect adequate evidence to support your argument. This evidence can often take the form of eyewitness accounts, police reports, video footage, medical records, or photographs of the hazardous area. However, one of the most important aspects of any slip and fall case is that you report the incident immediately. The sooner you report your injury to the manager, property owner, or staff, the less likely they will be able to dispute your injuries.
Automobile Accidents (Car, Motorcycle, Truck, and Others)
Car collisions can leave its victims facing life-threatening injuries, one of those injuries being paraplegia. An individual could be left paraplegic whether their car collision involves a standard passenger sedan, a motorcycle, or a freight truck. However, it is important to note that accidents involving motorcycles and trucks have a higher risk of causing significant damages like paraplegia. Motorcycles for instance often leave the drivers and passengers exposed to the full extent of force that an accident can cause. This is the case as motorcycles offer little to no protection from other vehicles as well as other objects. Trucks pose a similar threat in that, trucks, especially fully loaded cargo trucks can vastly outweigh any other personal car on the road, leading to some truly devastating results. Fortunately, if you were a victim of an auto accident that resulted in you being left paraplegic, you can either collect compensation through an insurance provider or a lawsuit. To file a lawsuit however you must be able to prove that the other drivers involved were acting negligently while behind the wheel. Navigating these kinds of cases can be incredibly tricky as the laws differ from state to state, and can become especially complicated when placing fault on other drivers. With the help of a skilled auto accident attorney experienced in paraplegia injury cases, you could navigate these complexities, and receive compensation for the damages that you experienced.
Accidents Caused By Defective Products
Surprisingly a defective product can also lead to a traumatic diagnosis of paraplegia. Whether caused by a faulty component in an elevator, or a defective car, these products can result in some damages, paraplegia included. Fortunately, product liability laws protect consumers from the threat of defective products, and if a consumer receives a defective product that consumer has every right to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer for their paraplegia diagnosis. Filing lawsuits against manufacturing companies are somewhat challenging, however, as they more than likely have the resources to employ a whole team of legal experts to dispute any claim you try to make. One of the most challenging parts of suing a manufacturing company is being able to place liability accurately. In most cases, there are some companies involved in the manufacturing of a particular product, and as such any one of them could have been responsible for the defective product. Listed below are the three areas where product defects are most likely to occur in a production line:
- Design Defects: These are the defects that can occur before the product is sent to the assembly line. The defects that occur in this stage of production are faults that make the product inherently dangerous. In most cases, these defects can lead to full-scale product recalls, and the company which organized the design of the product could be held liable for the damages.
- Manufacturing Defects: These defects typically occur on the assembly line of the product. They can range from minor mistakes along the manufacturing chain to reoccurring errors that can result in substantial recalls. In these instances, the manufacturing company could be deemed responsible for the damages.
- Marketing Defects: These defects occur during the marketing of a specific product. These defects include things like improper labeling, insufficient instructions, or inadequate safety warnings.
Construction Site Accidents & Other Work Accidents
Workplace accidents can be just as damaging as any other accident previously listed. Depending on the profession, workers could experience paraplegia as a result of these accidents, and as such could be left facing the financial burden alone. Fortunately, federal law saves many workers from this fate, as employers are required by law to provide adequate workers compensation insurance for their employees. These insurance benefits are intended to cover for damages like medical expenses, a loss of wages, and even pain and suffering. For this reason, employees cannot sue their employer for the damages caused by paraplegia if they are receiving adequate workers compensation. However, if your employer fails to provide workers compensation insurance or they intended to cause you harm directly, you can file a lawsuit against them to earn the compensation that you deserve.
Construction workers are somewhat different in that they can collect compensation from both workers compensation insurance, and through a lawsuit that can be filed against their construction site manager, contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective construction product. However, just like any other lawsuit, it is highly recommended that you seek assistance from a lawyer experienced in representing paraplegia injury victims. Having the right attorney by your side can make the difference between filing a successful claim for compensation and having your case dismissed from court entirely.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Paraplegia is a truly devastating condition that can change the life of victims forever. The damages caused by paraplegia can extend beyond the physical, and many paraplegics are left facing a mountain of financial debt, as well as the emotional distress caused by this condition. Fortunately, you do not have to face this burden alone. If you or a loved one have suffered from paraplegia as a result of the misconduct or negligence of another, you may be eligible to file a claim for significant monetary compensation. At Normandie Law Firm our experienced Los Angeles paraplegia injury attorneys can help you sue the party responsible. If you file a claim with our law firm you could find some, if not all of the following damages compensable:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Loss of Income
- Loss of potential future income
- Emotional Damages (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc…)
- Punitive Damages
Being left paraplegic from a traumatic accident can be incredibly damaging, and there is no reason you should face the legal challenge alone. Our paraplegia injury attorneys in Los Angeles can help you sue those responsible for the damages. Our attorneys practice in major cities across the United States and are committed to ensuring all of our clients receive all the assistance they need to receive a positive outcome for their case.
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up to their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
