Paralysis and Its Causes

According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to funding research to find a cure and to provide living assistance for those suffering from spinal cord injuries, there are nearly 5.6 million Americans suffering from paralysis. And nearly 23% of all cases of paralysis in the United States are caused by spinal cord injuries. Of these, over one quarter are a result of occupational injuries, another quarter are caused by car accidents, and another quarter are caused by falls or from athletic or other recreational accidents.

Technically, the term paralysis means the loss of muscle function. It may or may not be accompanied by loss of feeling, as well. The causes of paralysis are varied, and may include injury from toxins, such as botulism; from disease, such as multiple sclerosis; from afflictions, such as a stroke; and from physical trauma, particularly trauma to the spine or to the brain and to the central nervous system, such as from an automobile accident or fall.

Paralysis is classified into five different types: monoplegia, diplegia, hemiplegia, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. Monoplegia refers to the paralysis of just one limb. Diplegia affects two limbs, on both sides of the body, symmetrically. Usually, diplegia is caused by damage to the brain, rather than physical trauma. Hemiplegia, like diplegia, is generally caused by brain damage, and affects one side of the body. For example, is not uncommon for victims of stroke to suffer from hemiplegia. Paraplegia refers to paralysis of the legs and the lower trunk. Paraplegia is generally caused by an injury that causes damage to the spinal cord at the level of the abdomen or lower. Finally, quadriplegia is paralysis of all four limbs, also usually caused by damage to the spine, but where the trauma occurs higher up on the spine, such as at the level of the shoulders.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation reports that studies from the University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have demonstrated that the expenses associated with coping with spinal cord injuries can be financially devastating.

Among their findings are that annual expenses for the first year can range from roughly one quarter to three quarters of a million dollars. These expenses may include the costs of medical procedures, physical therapy, special equipment, home and vehicle modifications, caregiver fees, and so on. And while the bulk of the expenses associated with spinal cord injuries may be incurred within the first year after the injury occurs, the costs are likely to continue throughout one’s life if the injuries are permanent. According to these same studies, an individual suffering a spinal cord injury at the age of 25 may incur costs of over $600,000 to $3 million over his or her lifetime, depending upon the severity of the injury.

Because of the difficulty of being able to meet these additional costs, if you or someone close to you has been paralyzed in an accident, a fall, an intentional act (such as being beaten or attacked), or through a medical procedure, it is critically important to find out whether you are legally entitled to monetary damages as a result of the circumstances surrounding the cause of the spinal cord injury. This is where the Flaxman Law Group can help.

The Miami paralysis injury attorneys at the Flaxman Law Group have many decades of combined experience dealing with personal injuries, and can help you not only determine whether you have a valid case for recovery, but also the monetary value of damages suffered by the injury. This is key to helping you get the full recovery that you may be entitled to. Call the Flaxman Law Group for a free, no-obligation, initial consultation, at 866-352-9626. You do not have to face your ordeal alone. We are here to help you when you need us. At FLAXMAN LAW GROUP, we are here to help you when you need us.