Severe injury to the brain or spinal cord can leave victims with long-term or permanent disability in the form of paralysis. Depending upon the location and severity of the injury, paralysis can be partial or total and completely change the lives of victims and their families.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury that has left you paralyzed, a Philadelphia paralysis attorney from Youman & Caputo may be able to help. Call today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
At Youman & Caputo, our Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorneys have significant experience representing clients who have been catastrophically injured. We understand how to maximize the value of serious injury cases and have won more than 100 settlements or verdicts in excess of $1 million for our clients.
To instantly access the resources at any point on this page, please click the appropriate link below.
What is Paralysis?
Categories of Paralysis
Negligence & Paralysis
What Are the Costs Associated With Paralysis in Philadelphia?
Damages Available for a Preventable Case of Paralysis
How Can a Paralysis Attorney in Philadelphia Help You?
Time Limit to File a Claim for Paralysis in Pennsylvania
Let Our Philadelphia Paralysis Attorneys Help
Paralysis is a condition that occurs when you are unable to make voluntary muscle movements as a result of damage or disruption to the nervous system. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent and partial or complete (meaning you have no control over any muscles. Many different conditions can cause paralysis, but an injury to the brain and or spinal cord is the most common cause resulting from unintentional injury. Most typically, injuries that result in paralysis come from motor vehicle accidents, although defective products, work-related incidents, and medical malpractice are also common causes.
After an injury to the spinal cord or brain, paralysis typically affects larger areas of the body and are categorized generally as:
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any type of paralysis, you may be entitled to financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Our brain, back, and spinal cord injury attorneys in Philadelphia are prepared to take on your case and fight for your rights.
Paralysis is not always related to negligence, but when it is, the victim has the right to file a lawsuit in pursuit of financial compensation (damages) to become whole again. In Pennsylvania, the civil justice system provides an opportunity for an accident victim to seek damages from the person or party at fault for causing a catastrophic injury, including an injury that results in paralysis. It is the victim’s responsibility to prove negligence during a personal injury lawsuit as the plaintiff or filing party.
The definition of negligence is a careless or wanton failure to act with an appropriate level of care toward others. Negligence consists of a duty of care owed, a breach of the duty of care, causation for the injury and damages suffered. In general, if a reasonably prudent person would have done something differently to avoid the injury suffered by the plaintiff, a negligence-based claim can be filed for paralysis. A successful personal injury lawsuit for a victim with paralysis can result in damages for myriad related costs and losses.
Depending upon what part of the spine is injured, victims may have more or less feeling and function. However, many people paralyzed after an injury spend the rest of their life in a wheelchair and require assistance for everyday activities and tasks. They may be unable to return to work or have a significantly reduced capacity to earn wages. According to The Spinal Cord Journal, just 11.7 percent of people suffering from a spinal cord injury are employed. This means that the loss of earning potential is one of the most significant expenses for people with paralysis injuries.
There are also many longer-term expenses associated with paralysis including long-term health issues such as respiratory infections, home modifications, and additional equipment. According to the Journal on Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, the lifetime financial burden for those having sustained a spinal cord injury can be immense for both patients and insurance systems because of the re-hospitalization rates which can quickly balloon into hundreds of thousands of dollars of associated medical costs.
When a spinal cord injury results in quadriplegia or high tetraplegia, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates a lifetime cost of around $2.8 million for a victim who is 50 years old at the age of injury and $5.1 million for a victim who is 25 at the age of injury. With low tetraplegia, the estimated lifetime costs fall between $2.3 and $3.7 million. Even with a low level of motor dysfunction, paralysis can result in estimated lifetime costs of $1.2 to $1.7 million. These estimates only look at health care costs and living expenses – not losses in wages or productivity.
No amount of money can ever make up for a permanent, life-changing medical condition such as paralysis. However, a victim can avoid the financial stress and strife that comes with an expensive long-term injury by collecting fair compensation for a defendant’s negligence. A successful personal injury claim for paralysis in Pennsylvania could repay you for the following losses, and more:
A personal injury case involving a victim who has been paralyzed because of someone else’s negligent or reckless actions is often worth a significant amount due to a lifetime of foreseeable expenses. For example, our lawyers at Youman & Caputo have recovered settlements of $8 million, $7 million and $6 million for spinal cord injury cases in the past. While we never guarantee results, we do promise to work relentlessly toward the results that you deserve for an injury as catastrophic as paralysis.
If you have suffered a paralyzing injury as a result of an accident or the negligence of another, you should hire a lawyer to investigate your potential claims. A paralysis lawyer can work on your behalf to identify all potentially liable parties, collect evidence to build a strong case, and handle all interactions with insurers and their lawyers to maximize your compensation. If insurers refuse to offer a fair and full settlement, a personal injury or medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia can take them to trial.
Because there are time limits for filing paralysis injury claims, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Judiciary and Judicial Procedure Section 5542, a claimant has two years to file a personal injury cause of action for the negligence or wrongful conduct of someone else. This deadline may change, however, if you are filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, a claim against the government or a case involving an injured minor. Contact a lawyer right away about your deadline to avoid losing your right to recover compensation.
If you or a loved one suffers from paralysis as a result of an accident, contact a Philadelphia paralysis lawyer from Youman & Caputo to investigate your claims, file a paralysis lawsuit against any party responsible for your injury, and win the maximum possible compensation by way of either settlement or jury trial. We handle all injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge no fees unless we win. Call (215) 302-1999 today to request a free case consultation.
