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Paraplegia Lawsuits: Severe Spinal Injury Litigation

On Behalf of | Dec 29, 2015 | Personal Injury

When injury victims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey need strong advocates ;

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and & expert legal counsel, they can count on the lawyers of Wilhelm & Roemersma, P.C. These skilled legal advocates have years of experience when it comes to personal injury lawsuits and civil litigation.

Some of the most severe injuries that may be sustained involve major harm to the spinal cord. With this in mind, we’d like to go over the basics of paraplegia cases in basic terms.

About Paraplegia

Paraplegia is a type of paralysis that occurs following serious injuries to the middle or lower portions of the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is severely damaged, it can cause a person to lose sensation and control over his or her lower extremities. This makes it impossible for patients to walk or generally move their lower body.

Paraplegia is sadly an irreversible condition, and while many people who become paraplegic are able to lead independent and fulfilling lives, they also face significant challenges in life as a result of the injury and its effects.

Potential Causes of Paraplegia

Paraplegia may be the result of any sort of serious injury to the back. This may include any of the following incidents:

  • Auto accidents
  • Majors falls
  • Workplace injuries
  • Assaults and physical altercations
  • Sports injuries (especially in contact/combat sports)
  • Medical mistakes

The Immediate Impact on Your Life

When a spinal cord injury rendered you paraplegic, you will lose your ability to use your legs and you will be reliant on a wheelchair for the rest of your life. In the immediate aftermath of such an injury, you will have to make major adjustments in your lifestyle. Recovering from a severe injury that caused you to become paralyzed can take time, which means lost wages and often major medical care and physical rehabilitation.

How Paraplegia Affects Your Future

The career path for a paraplegic may change drastically, especially if the injury victim was pursuing a career in a physically demanding field. The physical limitations caused by paraplegia may rule out certain occupations, meaning that the injury victim has to chance the trajectory of his or her life.

In addition, transportation methods will need to be reconsidered. Special lifts can be outfitted on a vehicle to assist with loading and unloading a person in a wheelchair, and a system of levers may be used to allow a paraplegic to drive a vehicle without the use of the pedals. However, these devices come at a cost and can take time to get used to.

What Damages Can Be Sought?

In a paraplegia lawsuit, both compensatory damages and punitive damages may be sought. Compensatory damages are intended to cover material losses associated with an injury or accident, such as lost wages, lost future earnings, damaged property, medical expenses, and so forth. Punitive damages will punish the negligent party for the severity of the incident, discouraging future behavior in the process.

Learn About Your Legal Options

For more information about your legal options following a serious spinal cord injury of any kind, we encourage you to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Wilhelm & Roemersma, P.C. will fight diligently for you and your legal rights.

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