Atlanta, Georgia Paralysis Injury Attorneys

Paralysis is one of the most life-altering and traumatic injuries a person can suffer in an accident. Learning how to deal with a permanent disability can be a stressful and difficult experience.

The Atlanta paralysis attorneys at Bailey, Javins & Carter, L.C. work hard to help our clients during this challenging time, and one of our goals is to prevent paralysis from overwhelming you and your loved ones.

Our legal teams work tirelessly to ensure accident victims and their families recover maximum compensation in these complex cases. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.

What is Paralysis?

Few people can imagine the drastic shift that takes place after an injury resulting in paralysis. This is a serious medical condition that leaves victims suffering physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. And, it’s not uncommon. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation reports that 1 in 50 people are living with paralysis.

Simply put, paralysis refers to either partial or full loss of muscle function in part of the body. It occurs when there is a disruption in the messages passing between your muscles and brain. This reaction often happens in response to an injury, and the results can vary.

While partial and full paralysis aren’t medical terms, these can help differentiate between the different types of paralysis.

Partial Paralysis

This term can refer to many types of injuries, some that might have nothing to do with the spine. However, when it comes to spinal cord injuries, paraplegia is the most common type of partial paralysis. This includes absent or diminished movement in the feet, legs, and most areas below the waist.

The effects of paraplegia can vary and will often depend on the location of the injury. In general, these effects can include:

• Inability to feel or move legs or feet
• Inability to walk
• Difficulty with bladder and bowel functions
• Difficulty with sexual functioning
• Phantom pain below the injury site

Full Paralysis

This term refers to quadriplegia, which is the fullest form of paralysis. This might also be referred to as tetraplegia. Both indicate that there is absent or diminished movement in the legs, feet, torso, arms, and hands.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with quadriplegia include:

• Complete lack or diminished sensation below the injury site
• Inability to walk, move legs, or arms
• Difficulty breathing without assistance
• Difficulty swallowing
• Problems with bladder and bowel control
• Phantom pain throughout the body

This type of paralysis is severe, although it may be possible to move the neck and face. However, this condition generally requires that victims receive extensive assistance with even the most basic tasks.

Common Causes of Injury Resulting in Paralysis

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that there are roughly 17,300 new spinal cord injuries annually in the U.S., not counting the injuries that result in instant death. Less than 1% of the people that suffer a spinal cord injury fully recover and nearly 80% of injury patients are male.

The most common causes of these catastrophic injuries are:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents. A staggering 39.3% of new spinal cord injuries each year are due to motor vehicle accidents. While most of these are car and truck accidents, the statistic also includes motorcycles, bicycles, boats, aircraft, and construction heavy equipment.
• Surprisingly, 31.8% of paralysis injuries are due to falls. This includes falls in the workplace as well as those on private and public property.
• 13.5% of these injuries annually are caused by violence, primarily gunshot wounds.
• 8% of new spinal cord injuries are caused by sports. These are all types of sports such as football, baseball, hockey, skiing, and kiteboarding.
• 4.3% of these injuries are attributed to medical/surgical causes, many of these are strokes, but paralysis can also be caused by medical and surgical errors.

Navigating Paralysis Claims in Georgia

Claims involving catastrophic injuries such as paralysis can be even more complex than wrongful death claims because of the requirement for specialized and lifetime medical care. According to the latest figures, a 25-year old that becomes a quadriplegic will incur $4.7 million in lifetime living and medical costs, not counting lost wages and pain and suffering. A 50-year old with the same injury is going to have over $2.6 million in costs over their lifetime.

While no amount of money can properly compensate a victim of one of these accidents for their injuries, you and your loved ones deserve the financial security to help ease the burden of what is to come and to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable.

The damages in these cases can be significant, but no one is going to simply hand you what your case is worth without a fight. You’ll need to have the documentation on hand to establish liability as well as prove the amount of future medical care and accommodations that you’ll need so that you aren’t forced to struggle because of someone else’s actions.

Contact a Paralysis Lawyer in Atlanta Today

If your catastrophic injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, you can and should file a personal injury claim for damages. Paralysis injuries generally have large financial implications, and it can be particularly tough placing a fair value on these cases. If an insurance company is giving you a lump sum figure for your case, you can trust that this number is far too low.

When it comes to personal injury and paralysis cases, the attorneys at Bailey, Javins & Carter, L.C. are dedicated to helping you and your loved ones through this difficult time. While we’ll put our negotiation skills to work to get you the best settlement possible, we are always willing to take a plaintiff to court to maximize your compensation.

We have more than 40 years of experience covering many forms of personal injury and are prepared to work tirelessly on your behalf. Contact our Atlanta office today at 678-981-5370 or via our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.