Nassau County Paralysis Injury

Every year in the U.S. thousands of people experience paralysis, most commonly as a result of a spinal cord injury. Often these injuries are the result of an accident at work, an auto accident, motorcycle accident or construction accident. Paralysis is the inability to voluntarily move a body part. Paralysis is a devastating condition as it affects a person physically and emotionally. You may experience difficulty in carrying on your life, and your relationships with friends and family will be affected. Physical therapy will be required, as well as assistive devices and various medical services to help. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer because you are suffered a catastrophic injury that left you paralyzed, it is critical that you contact an experienced Nassau County personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You have a right to be compensated for your injuries and other losses you suffered as a result of the accident.

While paraplegia, quadriplegia or any other type of paralysis can occur suddenly following a traumatic injury to the spinal cord, there are also cases where symptoms of paralysis do not appear for days or even weeks following the injury. Signs that you may have an injury to your spinal cord that may eventually lead to paralysis include:

• Twisted back or neck
• Sharp pain in your back
• Pressure in your head, neck or back
• Weakness in any part of your body
• Muscle spasms
• Mobility problems such as difficulty walking
• Lack of coordination
• Tingling in your hands, fingers, feet or toes
• Numbness or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes
• Lack of bladder control
• Impaired breathing

Every type of paralysis is caused by some type of injury to the spine. The spinal cord is made of bundles of nerves that run through the spine column to the brain. These nerves play the primary role in the functioning of the body and they are a large part of the body's central nervous system. The spinal cord is delicate. The precise place where the injury occurs on the spinal cord will determine where the paralysis occurs.

There are various types of paralysis:

• Quadriplegia: Paralysis of the legs and arms- typically a quadriplegic is described as being paralyzed from the neck down.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis of the legs- typically a paraplegic is described as being paralyzed from the waist down
• Hemiplegia: Paralysis of a single side of the body
• Monoplegia: Paralysis of a single limb, such as a one arm or one leg
• Diplegia: Paralysis of the same body part on both sides, such as both legs or both arms

There are many instances in which a victim is left paralyzed because of a medical mistake. A few of the most common types of medical malpractice that leads paralysis includes:

• Poor positioning of the patient during surgery
• Failure to stabilize the spine after an accident
• Failure to monitor spine during surgery
• Chiropractic malpractice such as negligent manipulation
• Intubation errors

Injuries to the spine can also in a construction accident. For example, a construction worker falling from a scaffold or from a ladder can lead to a catastrophic injury to the spinal cord. Similarly, a car accident or slip and fall accident can result in a devastating injury to the spinal cord.

An injury that leaves you paralyzed is not only physically devastating, it can also have catastrophic effects on your finances. Treatment of a spinal injury is costly. Examples of expenses include:

• Emergency room treatment
• Hospital stay
• Surgery
• Medication
• MRIs
• Lab work
• Wheelchair
• Specialized medical equipment
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• In home care
• Counseling

All of these necessities area costly and will contribute to your financial distress.

A personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident will not only hold that person accountable for his or her negligence, but will provide you with needed financial relief. Through a personal injury action you can demand payment for both your past and future medical expenses. Because you are likely to miss a great deal of work and may not be able to return to work at all, you can also demand compensation for your lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity. Furthermore, the physical and psychological pain and suffering you endured from your injury are compensable losses as well.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that resulted in paralysis contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with spinal injuries. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.