Paralysis Injuries

In Florida, residents and visitors can enjoy the great weather and attractions. Unfortunately, what starts out as a typical day can turn into a tragic day when there is an accident or incident causing serious personal injuries including those related to paralysis. Many Jacksonville paralysis injuries could have been avoided with better attention, due care, and attention to safety measures. Whether it is an automobile, motorcycle or trucking accident or a slip and fall or other incident, a claim or cause of action can be brought on behalf of the injury victim for economic and non-economic damages associated with the paralysis injuries.

Among the more serious and permanent forms of paralysis are associated with spinal cord injuries. The severity and permanency of the paralysis injuries will depend on the location and complexity of the spinal cord damage. There are two primary forms of paralysis associated with spinal cord injuries:

Paraplegia - This type of paralysis usually results from injury, damage, or trauma to the mid back (thoracic spine). The effect of the paralysis is manifested in the loss of full use of the legs and in some instances sexual performance / function and urinary bladder control.

Quadriplegia - This type of paralysis usually results from injury, damage or trauma to the neck (cervical spine). The effect of the paralysis is manifested in the loss of full use of all four limbs. In many instances, the injury victim also experiences breathing difficulties which, in turn, require the use of a ventilator.

When a person suffers paralysis related personal injuries, the resulting damages can be astronomical in nature. This is especially true when the injury victim needs a lifetime of medical care, therapy, attendant care, and other resources in order to get through the day. There are also rights to compensation by the spouse and minor children of the injury victim who have lost (to a great extent) the support and services of the injury victim due to these injuries.

It should be pointed out that there are both legal and practical considerations when pursuing a claim or case on behalf of a paralyzed injury victim. The legal considerations involve what laws and causes of action are available to pursue a case or claim on behalf of the injury victim. For instance, in an automobile accident case, the driver and owner of the vehicle at fault can be held legally responsible for the injuries if it can be established that the driver was negligent in the operation of the vehicle. It also must be shown that the crash was the proximate cause of the personal injuries. An employer can also be held liable for the personal injuries under a negligence theory in that the employer can be held vicariously liable for the negligent driving / negligent acts of its employee.

Practical considerations are different from legal considerations. In this context, practical considerations would involve the type and amount of liability insurance in place for the incident and accident. There also will be an evaluation of the financial assets of the person or business entity involved with the accident or incident. Unfortunately, in far too many situations, there is not adequate insurance coverage or assets to fully compensate the injured victim and the family for the injuries / damages associated with the paralysis and other conditions.

David Alan Wolf is a personal injury attorney with over 33 years of experience. Unlike the big box and big advertising law firms, David Alan Wolf keeps his caseload to a level in which he can provide each client with the attention needed to provide guidance, legal representation, and advocacy in a consistent, reliable and professional manner. David Alan Wolf will work around your schedule and availability as needed to make sure that the work gets done in a manner that suits your needs. Contact David Alan Wolf today for a free consultation. With David Alan Wolf, you get an experienced personal injury attorney who firmly believes in Giving a Voice to Injury Victims and Their Families.