Understanding Paraplegia from a NYC Car Accident: Queens Car Accident Lawyers Explain
Motor vehicle accidents can cause major injuries to those involved, especially trucking accidents. One of the more severe injuries that can be sustained is a spinal cord injury. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, motor vehicle accidents are the largest case of spinal cord injuries at 38.3%. The two main types of paralysis are paraplegia and quadriplegia. Of these spinal cord injuries, paraplegia occurs approximately 40.6% of the time, with quadriplegia occurring the remaining portion. Paraplegia is a type of paralysis affecting the lower extremities and sometimes the lower torso. When a NYC car accident causes a paralysis injury, victims may be permanently disabled.
Here at COHEN & COHEN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, P.C. , our Queens car accident lawyers have dedicated their practice to handling cases involving victims catastrophically injured due to the negligence of another. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or if a loved one was wrongfully killed in a NYC car accident, ask how our legal team can help you.
Understanding the Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is protected by strong bones in the back but itself is relatively soft and easily prone to injury. These bones are individually known as vertebra and form the spinal column. The spinal cord is instead of a small space in the spinal column. Despite being very strong and protected, in a high speed motor vehicle accident it is common for spinal cord injuries to occur. These can be life changing events with implications not only for the victim but for their loved ones as well. Paraplegia can be a devastating result of spinal cord injuries.
What is Paraplegia? Severe Injuries from a NYC Car Accident
The term paraplegia refers to the paralysis and loss of sensation to the trunk and lower body. Paraplegia may have many causes but a major cause is spinal cord injury. These injuries are complicated and can present with many different symptoms depending on the level of injury. When the damage to the spinal cord occurs below the level of the neck, it usually results in paraplegia. Individuals with paraplegia will have no sensation of the lower part of their trunk or legs and they will also have total paralysis of these body parts. Luckily, the arms and neck are not affected by this. This damage is most often permanent however there may be partial recovery in some individuals.
The extent of the damage is generally based on whether the spinal cord was partially severed or totally severed. A partial severance or incomplete severance is where the spinal cord suffers damage but does not completely tear. This means that there may be some decreased sensation, motor movement, and function in the parts of the body below the injury. However, a complete severance or total severance is where the spinal cord sustains an injury which completely tears it. This means that there is no function or sensation below the point of damage. There is very little likelihood that this will ever heal.
Life with Paraplegia
Individuals with paraplegia will have to alter their life dramatically. Due to the paralysis, these individuals will require a wheelchair and will be able to self propel. Certain modifications to the home may be required such as an entrance ramp or widening doorways within the house to accommodate the wheelchair. Driving is possible with the use of adapted hand controls. Activities like bathing, dressing, and transfers will be difficult but often the individual can perform them independently.
Victims with paraplegia often develop complications from being wheelchair bound such as pressure sores, obesity, and osteoporosis however they can often return to some form of exercise such as wheelchair basketball or using adapted bicycles to mitigate these factors. Physical and occupational therapy will be essential following the injury to teach the patient how to perform activities of daily living and to improve strength and range of motion to muscles and joints affected by the injury.
Ask Our Queens Car Accident Lawyers For Help With NYC Car Accident Injuries
Life with paraplegia is very difficult. It is also unfair when it is caused by the negligence of another. However, these damages and extra costs can be compensated to help pay for what you will endure in the future. This includes vehicle or home modifications, physical therapy, mobility assistance devices (wheelchairs), and other devices. Our Queens car accident lawyers at COHEN & COHEN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, P.C. work hard to ensure that the rights of victims are protected. This means working with your treating physicians, liability experts, and other possible experts and witnesses to help build your damages claim and establish liability. Learn more today how we can help by calling 800-247-8164 for a FREE case evaluation or use our convenient and easy-to-use contact us box available here.
