Omaha Paraplegia Lawyer

Click For Free Consultation

Some of the most devastating accidents result in spinal cord injuries which lead to varying degrees of paralysis.  Paraplegia is one such resulting type of paralysis that can severely impact a person’s ability to lead an ordinary life.  Thousands of accident victims sustain injuries which result in paraplegia each year.  The majority of these accidents are often preventable, and you may be entitled to receive compensation for injuries sustained in the accident by you or your loved one.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is one form of paralysis which occurs when the spinal cord sustains an injury below the first thoracic spinal nerve.  Injury below this point results in the complete or incomplete paralysis of the victim’s legs or torso.  Paraplegia differs from quadriplegia and tetraplegia since the victim will still maintain control of their hands and arms.  However, some paraplegia cases are worse than others, and therefore each paralysis is evaluated on a case by case basis to determine the best form of treatment.  Some paraplegics may be able to stand with leg braces and walk short distances, while others may be completely confined to a wheelchair.  Out of the roughly 12,000 spinal cord injuries which occur each year, paraplegia occurs in a little under half of all cases.[1]

The most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

Paraplegia Treatment and Recovery

Paraplegic recovery is often not an easy task, as both victims and family members can attest to.  While paraplegics do not require the ongoing care that quadriplegics may require, this type of paralysis still requires extensive hospital stays and rehabilitation.  Within the first year alone, the average expenses for paraplegics is estimated to be approximately $500,000, and approximately $65,000 per year after.[2]

The transition from a healthy, fully functioning person to one who is reliant on others for the most basic daily functions also takes a toll on the mental psyche of the injured party.  A victim of an accident leading to paraplegia should not be forced to cover all related medical bills while going through the difficult recovery process.

The responsible party for the accident should be held liable for any and all damages associated with the accident, including:

  • Medical expenses
  • Rehabilitative care
  • Ongoing medical care
  • Lost wages
  • Future earnings
  • Loss of companionship
  • Pain and suffering

An experienced personal injury attorney will assist you in calculating out the full amount of damages, since many of these require a careful analysis of the future.  This type of paralysis will often affect a victim’s ability to care for themselves or hold a job.  An attorney will take this into consideration when drafting the claim, making sure to project out the potential future earnings the injured party would have received if not for the accident.

It is important that you not speak with the negligent party’s insurance company after the accident occurs.  If you agree to come to a settlement with the insurance company, you may lose your ability to bring a claim for the full amount of damages.  An insurance company tries to settle for the lowest amount possible, and will not be projecting out future costs of living with paraplegia.

The Knowles Law Firm | Omaha, Nebraska

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident resulting in paraplegia, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys of the Knowles Law Firm.  Our attorneys have years of experience in assisting our clients with severe paraplegic injuries to receive the compensation they deserve.  We will work tirelessly to defend your claim and the damages amounts.  Contact our Omaha, Nebraska office today for your initial free consultation.

[1] https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/fact_figures_docs/Facts%202012%20Feb%20Final.pdf

[2] https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/fact_figures_docs/Facts%202012%20Feb%20Final.pdf

ACCOLADES AND NEWS
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Omaha World-Herald
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
The Reader logo
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
Nebraska State Bar Association