Personal Injury Cases and Quadriplegia: Your Legal Rights
When someone suffers a spinal cord injury that is caused by another person or party’s reckless or negligent actions, they have the legal right to pursue financial compensation for their losses. While all spinal cord injuries are serious, those that result in partial or total paralysis are especially catastrophic.
Serious injury lawyer Michael E. Shelton recognizes the unique, and often lifelong, damages that stem from a spinal cord injury, such as quadriplegia. He is committed to helping victims in Houston, TX, and surrounding areas understand their legal rights in regards to personal injury cases involving quadriplegia.
What Is Quadriplegia?
Quadriplegia is defined as the partial or total loss of the use of all four limbs and the torso. Quadriplegia generally results in the loss of both motor and sensory functions, so quadriplegia victims may be unable to control their limbs or torso, or feel any sensations in those parts of the body.
Quadriplegia in any form can dramatically impact a person’s way of life and their ability to perform even the most basic functions, but there are different degrees of the condition. Quadriplegia is caused by an injury to the cervical portion of the spine, or that which makes up the neck. The higher up the injury occurs, the greater the effects of the injury. Besides a loss of sensation and movement in the limbs and torso, severe cases of quadriplegia can result in:
- Impaired ability to speak
- The requirement of a machine to assist with breathing
- The need for 24 hour care
Liability for Quadriplegia Damages
The leading causes of quadriplegia are car accidents, slips or falls, sports injuries, and acts of violence. If any of these accidents are caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another person or party, they should be held accountable for all damages stemming from the accident.
The best way to hold parties liable for quadriplegia damages is by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Michael E. Shelton can help injury victims in the Houston area take legal action against the person or party responsible for the accident and resulting injuries.
What Kinds of Damages Am I Due?
The law allows personal injury victims to pursue financial compensation for all damages related to the injury, including economic and non-economic losses. When considering the damages of a quadriplegia injury, we must take into account any losses that our Houston clients will suffer in the future, as well as those that have already been incurred.
Since quadriplegia is a permanent condition, the damages in personal injury cases involving quadriplegia tend to be much greater than those involving other types of injuries. Typical areas of compensation for quadriplegia victims include:
- Past medical expenses
- The cost of anticipated future medical expenses
- The cost of ongoing personal care
- The cost of necessary medical equipment and/or home restorations to accommodate the injury
- Lost wages
- Loss of wage earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia, personal injury attorney Michael E. Shelton can help you explore your legal options. To discuss your situation with our legal team, send us a message online, or call (713) 807-0700 at your earliest convenience.
