A car crash can happen in a moment, leaving you with lifelong injuries. Beyond the obvious physical pain, catastrophic injuries like paralysis result in extreme emotional and financial burdens. If you or a family member have been paralyzed as a result of a car accident, it is vital to secure experienced representation as soon as possible. Catastrophic injury cases can take years to resolve. You need a firm willing to invest the time and resources necessary to achieve justice, no matter how long it takes.
The Fitzgerald Law Firm in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has helped clients who have suffered severe car accident injuries and other catastrophic injuries over forty years. Our knowledgeable attorneys will help investigate the cause of your accident, work with medical professionals to establish the severity of your injuries, and help you understand what damages you may be entitled to in order to cover your medical treatments, lost wages, lost future income, and more.
Here is what you need to know if you or a loved one were paralyzed or severely injured in a car accident.
Catastrophic Injury and Types of Paralysis
A catastrophic injury is an extreme form of personal injury that results in permanent physical injury, illness, or impairment. These injuries typically require extensive medical treatment, including surgery, physical therapy, and long-term medical support. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals provide vital documentation to help prove your claim.
Paralysis is defined as a loss of muscle function in a part of the body. This is most often caused by damage to the spinal cord that interrupts the neural connection between the brain and the muscles. About half of all spinal cord injuries suffered in the U.S. each year are caused by accidents involving motor vehicles. An individual with partial paralysis can control some but not all muscles in the affected area, while a case of complete paralysis means the person cannot use any of the affected muscles. The four main types of paralysis, categorized based on the affected part(s) of the body, are as follows:
- Monoplegia, the paralysis of one arm or leg
- Hemiplegia, the paralysis of one side of the body
- Paraplegia, the paralysis of both legs
- Quadriplegia, the paralysis of the entire body below the neck, including all arms and legs
A severe car accident may cause any one of these types of paralysis.
What Makes Catastrophic Injury Cases Unique?
As with all catastrophic injuries, personal injury claims involving paralysis are unique and complex. Patients need extensive medical treatment, which may cause your case to take longer than usual. After a catastrophic injury, you may be unable to speak for yourself or perform actions related to your claim, such as appearing in court. If a car accident has left you incapacitated or unable to make decisions, the court may need to appoint a conservator to oversee personal and financial interests. In these cases, you or your loved one will need an attorney able to adapt the legal proceedings to your unique needs while providing the support and attention your claim deserves.
What Types of Damages are Awarded for Paralysis?
In the state of Wyoming, when a jury in a personal injury case finds that a defendant’s negligence caused the injury, damages may then be awarded. In the case of paralysis or other catastrophic injury, both the physical impacts and financial burdens you suffer are considerable. The court will award damages based on the degree to which your injuries have impacted your daily life. Factors that affect this decision include:
- The extent of the injury
- The permanence of the injury
- The extent of the disfigurement or disability caused by the injuries
- The degree to which your ability to perform daily activities is impaired
- The loss of past and future earnings
- The loss of personal relationships
A court may also award damages to compensate you for emotional distress and loss of enjoyment in life, as well as for the costs of your medical treatments and any caretaking services you might now require. The experienced personal injury attorneys at the Fitzgerald Law Firm will build a case demonstrating the full extent of your injuries, physical and emotional, so you receive just compensation.
Contact Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
The Fitzgerald Law Firm has an extensive track record of successfully obtaining justice and damages for victims of catastrophic injury, paralysis, and permanent disability including the largest verdict for physical injuries ever upheld on appeal in the State of Wyoming. This case, among the firm’s other record-setting results, exemplifies our deep understanding of personal injury law, extensive experience with major insurance claims, and our trial team’s tenacity to fight for what is right and advocate for those wronged.
A catastrophic injury such as paralysis may cause a permanent disability, preventing you or your loved one from performing gainful work and leaving lasting effects on your life. If you or a loved one has been paralyzed in a car accident, please reach out and let our firm assess your case.