Virginia Paralysis Injury Lawyers Seek Full Compensation
Determined advocacy for victims of disabling spinal cord trauma
In the wake of a serious injury, victims may cling to the hope of a full recovery. Unfortunately, some injuries can be permanent. This is often the case with a spinal cord trauma resulting in limited mobility. In some cases, mobility returns as the impacted area heals. But in more severe cases, the spinal cord suffers irreversible paralysis, and therapy can only make moderate improvements in the victim’s condition.
The attorneys at Pikrallidas & Probasco have represented victims of auto accidents, slip and fall accidents and other causes of trauma leading to paralysis. Applying our skill and experience, we strive to recover the full compensation these victims need to live as full and comfortable a life as possible.
Degrees of paralysis with spinal cord injuries
Trauma to the spinal cord can prevent nerve signals from making their way to and from the brain, so patients can lose voluntary control of muscles. The extent of the injury depends on the location of the trauma and its severity. Generally, the area below the trauma zone on the cord will suffer partial or complete paralysis, so victims have diminished control or a total lack of mobility below the point of trauma. The result of such a trauma can be classified as one of the following:
- Paraplegia — Spinal trauma occurring in the thoracic or lumbar areas (i.e., chest and lower back) that immobilizes the legs.
- Quadriplegia — Spinal trauma in the cervical region of the spine (i.e., neck), causing loss of control over the arms and legs.
- Hemiplegia — A condition that paralyses one side of the body. This is often the result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury, but can result from a spinal cord injury as well.
If the condition is caused by mild to moderate trauma, healing is possible, and the patient can recover most or all of their lost mobility. However, severe trauma causing a break in the spinal cord produces permanent catastrophicinjury.
Common causes of paralysis injuries
Paralysis can result from natural conditions, such as a stroke or aneurism. However, trauma is a leading cause of paralyzing injury, which frequently results from:
- Motor vehicle accidents — Car, motorcycle, truck and bicycle crashes
- Workplace accidents — Falls from heights and injuries from industrial machinery
- Slip and falls — Sudden falls onto hard surfaces, such as concrete
- Assaults — Violent beatings or gunshots causing traumatic brain injury and spinal cord trauma
- Sport injuries — Collisions, blows to the head, falls onto hard surfaces or falls from a horse
In many cases, the injurious event occurs as the result of another person’s negligence or deliberate action, either of which makes them liable for the resulting injuries.
Medical treatment and rehabilitation for paralysis injuries
Injuries that might result in paralysis require immediate medical care, stabilization and sometimes surgery. However, the road to recovery can be long, and many patients can only hope to adapt to their new circumstances rather than to return to the life they knew. Victims of permanent paralysis may need any of the following forms of assistance:
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Adaptive equipment for activities from eating to driving
- Assistive equipment, such as wheelchairs, scooters, crutches and canes
- Orthotic/prosthetic devices, such as braces
- Voice-activated computer technology
- Psychological counseling
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Personal care
An experienced personal injury attorney can assemble the proofs necessary to obtain a settlement or verdict that adequately covers these costs.
Contact a proven attorney in Fairfax, VA for a free paralysis injury consultation
Pikrallidas & Probasco in Fairfax represents victims of paralysis injuries throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Call us at 703-267-2600 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Hablamos español.
