Paralysis

An injury that results in paralysis is not only emotionally shattering but can also affect you and your family financially, since it requires medical assistance as well as a change in your lifestyle and capacity to earn a living. If you were paralyzed in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon zealously advocate for people who have been seriously injured in Miami or other cities across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Whether you have been hurt in a slip and fall, medical malpractice incident, or motor vehicle collision, we can help you with your legal claims against those at fault.

Paralysis is defined as a loss of muscle function in any part of the body due to serious injuries to the nervous system. Many different kinds of accidents can leave a victim with severe spinal cord and nerve damage, which may result in varying types of paralysis.

Localized paralysis occurs in only one specific part of the body, while global paralysis affects a person’s entire body. Paraplegia, often caused by an injury to the lower spinal cord, results in the loss of the use of a victim’s legs, and quadriplegia, an upper spinal cord injury, results in the loss of the use of all four limbs. All paralysis injuries require medical care and often an adjustment to a victim’s lifestyle. Sometimes, depending on the situation, around the clock care may be necessary. In consideration of these life-altering factors, it is important to consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can help you identify your rights and take the proper actions.

To receive fair compensation following an accident, a victim may file a negligence claim against any person or entity that caused the injuries. To show negligence, he or she must establish that:

• The defendant, or defendants, owed the victim a duty of care, which usually means acting as a reasonable person would act under similar circumstance;
• The duty was breached;
• The breach resulted in the victim’s paralysis; and
• Quantifiable damages were incurred.

For example, motorists owe everyone around them a duty of reasonable care. If a motorcyclist is hit by a driver who fails to yield the right of way, the driver likely would be deemed negligent and held liable for the harm that resulted. In Florida, personal injury claims must be filed within four years of the date of an accident. Some lawsuits, such as medical malpractice or wrongful death, must be filed before then, since the statute of limitations for those claims is two years.

Damages that could potentially be recoverable for a victim paralyzed by someone else’s negligent actions include medical costs, pain and suffering, lost income and earning capacity, and property damage. Paralyzing injuries also require a long-term care plan based on a victim’s medical, rehabilitative, psychological, social, and educational needs. These plans help the court determine the proper amount of damages to give a victim to make sure he or she maintains a reasonable quality of life.

If you have fallen victim to paralysis as a result of someone else’s negligent actions in the Miami area or beyond, the capable injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can assist you in bringing a legal claim against those responsible. Victims of life-altering accidents need time and assistance to focus on their recovery following an accident, and having skilled attorneys on your side can ease some of the burden. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.