Call Us Today (732) 249-0444 Although the human body can recover from many injuries, once the spinal cord is severed or severely damaged, paralysis can set in and is often irreversible. Your life changes forever because you must rely on others for daily tasks you take for granted. Adjusting to and coping with this trauma can be expensive.
A reliable catastrophic injury attorney might be able to get the compensation you deserve for continued medical care, retrofitting your home and vehicle, and as acknowledgment for the emotional trauma you have suffered. A Perth Amboy paralysis injury lawyer could negotiate with insurance companies who try to get you to settle quickly and could be your voice in official settlement negotiations.
Injured plaintiffs must prove that the defendant is responsible for the accident that paralyzed them. Proof entails showing the defendant had a duty to act reasonably, the unreasonable act caused the accident, and the plaintiff was injured because of it.
Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of paralysis injuries, with alcohol fueling one in four collisions. According to the New Jersey Revised Statutes, drivers are considered intoxicated if their blood alcohol level is 0.08 percent or higher. Proof of intoxication can be used in court to show the defendant acted irresponsibly behind the wheel.
Other accidents that can lead to paralysis for one party and a negligence action for the other include:
A Perth Amboy paralyzing injury attorney must assess the person’s needs to calculate a settlement amount that an insurance company or liable defendant would need to pay. The more devastating the injury, the more the injured party will be able to make a claim for.
Paralysis occurs in areas below the spot where the spinal cord was damaged because nerve cells are compromised and cannot signal muscles to move. The medical community has named different types of paralysis. Diplegia is paralysis of the same limbs, such as both legs. Hemiplegia is paralysis of one side of the body. Monoplegia is paralysis of one arm or leg. Paraplegia is paralysis of the lower body and quadriplegia is total paralysis below the neck.
Varying degrees of paralysis mean the injured party will need different levels of care. An astute lawyer must review medical records, law enforcement reports, accounts from the injured party and eyewitnesses, and any other viable evidence to fight for compensation after a paralysis injury in Perth Amboy.
A paralyzed plaintiff who faces extensive medical care and whose mobility may be compromised for a lifetime should be compensated accordingly. The plaintiff’s attorney must consider these factors when appealing to an insurance company or a jury for a justified award.
Compensation can include monetary losses, such as medical bills and wages lost when the plaintiff cannot work; but there are also emotional losses, such as the suffering associated with being paralyzed. Some individuals may also be unable to work many jobs, which puts their income at risk. A lawyer should talk to the plaintiff and their family to understand the full extent of the changes.
When an injury will not heal and will affect you for the rest of your life, someone needs to be held liable. You should not have to worry about how to pay for medical bills or how you will provide for your family.
If someone else was the cause of your injury, contact us to speak with a Perth Amboy paralysis injury lawyer. We can offer you a free consultation to determine the strength of your case.