Sustaining a blow and trauma to the spinal cord can be catastrophic and leave you with paralysis of one or more limbs. Quadriplegia is a severe form of paralysis that causes loss of movement ability and sensation in all four limbs and the torso. It is typically the result of a forceful blow in the cervical region, damaging the nerves responsible for mobility and sensation throughout the body.
The injuries are catastrophic and require extensive medical care to manage them and improve the individual’s quality of life. If someone else’s negligence causes you to suffer a devastating injury, you must hold them accountable with the help of a dedicated attorney. Call a seasoned Inverness quadriplegia injury lawyer to learn more.
The Financial Impact of Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia can have substantial financial impacts on the injured party and their family. The individual often requires immediate and ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, physical and psychological therapy, and medical equipment. The need for a full-time caregiver or a long-term care facility is also a significant financial burden.
The catastrophic nature of the injuries also causes challenges in maintaining employment, which can be extremely overwhelming. Therefore, when another person’s carelessness causes an accident, holding them financially responsible is crucial. An Inverness quadriplegia injury attorney could research extensively to collect the essential evidence needed to recover a fair award for damages.
Classification and Symptoms
Two primary components determine whether the individual loses total movement in the affected area or has limited movement ability and sensation. The first factor is the area of the spinal cord where the trauma occurs, and the second is the severity of the trauma.
Complete Injury
Complete injuries occur when the trauma completely severs the spinal cord, and the damage is permanent. Often, they result in complete loss of control of movement and sensation within the area of the injury.
Incomplete Injury
When someone has an incomplete injury, the spinal cord is not severed, and the nerves still send messages to the brain. Those falling within this category will have limited ability to control movement in the limbs affected by the trauma.
Accident Injury Lawsuit Process
Understanding the essential personal injury statutes is critical when seeking damages caused by someone else’s negligence. One primary rule to be aware of is the time limitation for commencing legal action, called the statute of limitations. Civil laws require the victim in quadriplegia cases to file the suit within two years of the accident.
The second concerns shared liability and the modified comparative negligence rule, which allows the claimant to collect damages when they share part of the responsibility for the accident. However, if the court determines they are 50 percent liable or more, they will bar recovery.
If the civil court finds the injured person shares less than 50 percent of the fault, it will subtract that amount from the total award for damages. A quadriplegia injury lawyer in Inverness could review the process, including the applicable statutes, during the consultation and handle the legal work to ensure compliance.
Call to Schedule a Consultation With a Seasoned Quadriplegia Injury Attorney in Inverness
An accident leading to spinal cord damage and quadriplegia can have devastating consequences for you and your loved ones. They can lead to extensive physical, emotional, and financial harm, leaving you feeling unsure about the future and uncertain of what to do next.
A seasoned Inverness quadriplegia injury lawyer understands the stress and frustration you are feeling and could help you throughout the process of collecting a fair settlement. Call today to review your case and options with our team.