Nassau County Paraplegia Injury

June was driving home from work when drunk driver Patricia cut her off. June lost control of her vehicle. It ran off the road and hit a tree at a high speed. June broke her back when her car slammed violently into a tree. As a result she is now a T-10 paraplegic. Paraplegia is a type of paralysis where there is a complete or incomplete loss of function in the lower part of the body or legs due to a spinal injury. It can include not only loss of feeling, but also pain or stinging, bladder and bowel incontinence, muscle spasms and a shorter lifespan. Paraplegia is a type of personal injury can result from an accident involving the negligence of another including a car accident, slip and fall or motorcycle accident. However this type of injury can also be due to a slip and fall, fall from a ladder or a construction site accident. If you have been paralyzed in an accident due to the negligence caused by someone else, it is important that you immediately contact a Nassau County personal injury attorney as you may have a right to receive compensation for your injuries which may include reimbursement for medical expenses, loss of income, loss of future income capacity and pain and suffering.

Paralysis is the loss or destruction of voluntary muscular power. While paraplegia, quadriplegia and other types of paralysis can occur from damage to the nervous system due to an illness, it is also caused by a traumatic injury to the spine in an accident where the bones that make up the spine are crushed, fractured or dislocated. This type of catastrophic injury often occurs in a construction accident, slip and fall accident, or vehicle accident. In fact car, truck, SUV, and other vehicle and auto accidents are the leading causes of paraplegia. In these types of accident the victim's spine is seriously damaged such that there is a loss of ability to move a part of the body. Sadly, in most cases the accident that resulted in paralysis was due to negligence and could have been avoided.

In other cases the spinal damage is caused by an act of violence. For example, John was shot in the back. The bullet shattered his spine and damaged the

The symptoms of paraplegia will depend on the site of the injury to the spinal cord. Symptoms of paraplegia can include:

• Loss of feeling and/or inability to move legs or feet
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Low blood pressure
• Decreased muscle tone in affected limbs
• Confinement to a wheel chair
• Incontinence
• Impotence
• Thrombosis
• Bedsores or pressure sores
• Chronic nerve pain

Treatment for paraplegia or any type of paralysis centers around improving power in the affected muscles and preventing additional physical problems commonly associated with paralysis. Treatment for paraplegia may include:

• Therapy to improve muscle tone
• Insertion of a catheter to address bladder control issues
• Use of enemas
• Surgery
• Bracing
• Medication
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Assistive technology
• Counseling

Losing the use of your legs is devastating. You will no longer be able to get around the way you used to. You will not be able to interact with your friends the way you once did. In general your quality of life may be diminished. Through a personal injury lawsuit you can demand that the person whose negligence or intentional act caused your injury compensate you for related expenses and losses. Examples of compensable losses include:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Special equipment
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

Victims who suffer paraplegia or any type of permanent paralysis typically need lifelong medical care, medical equipment, modifications to their homes, physical therapy, and psychological counseling. The fees associated are substantial. If you suffer a catastrophic injury that was caused by another person's negligence, medical malpractice or an intentional act of violence, you have the right under the law to hold that person accountable for the losses you suffered as a result. To ensure that your legal rights are protected, it is important that you contact an attorney with experience. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have years of experience successfully handling personal injury 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.