Paraplegia is a devastating injury, and its impact on your—or a loved one’s—life can be long-lasting. It occurs when damage to the nervous system results in paralysis of the legs and, possibly, other portions of the lower body or abdominal area.
In most situations, paraplegia will be accompanied by extensive medical bills and adjustments to the injured person’s everyday life and activities. If your injury was caused by another person’s careless or intentional actions, you do not deserve to bear those costs on your own. Reach out to our experienced paralysis injury attorneys for legal support. A Pensacola paraplegia injury lawyer at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon can evaluate your case, negotiate with the responsible parties, and, if necessary, try your case in court.
Although some forms of paraplegia can be hereditary, most often, it is the result of severe trauma. Some events that frequently lead to paraplegia include:
Although many lawyers may have experience with these types of accidents generally, it is important to work with a Pensacola lawyer who has experience with paraplegia injuries specifically. Because the effects of paraplegia can be extensive and long-lasting, an attorney must be able to consult with local medical experts to calculate an appropriate amount of future damages to pursue.
For a person to receive compensation for an injury, someone else must be at fault for causing that injury. But fault is not always black and white—in most situations, any one event could have multiple factors contributing to its occurrence. It is also possible that an injured person could have taken an action contributing to their own injury.
However, this is not enough to prevent the injured person from recovering. Florida Statutes § 768.81 explicitly provides that an injured person can still recover compensation if they are partially at fault for their own injuries. The amount of compensation they are able to recover, however, will be reduced in proportion to the amount of fault the judge or jury assigns to them for the incident.
Until recently, in Florida, this rule would not prevent an injured person from recovering even if they bore the majority of fault for the incident. In 2023, however, the Florida legislature amended Florida Statutes § 768.81 to provide that an injured person may not recover any compensation at all if they are more than 50 percent responsible for their own injuries. A Pensacola paraplegia injury attorney can help you understand the impact of this rule on your potential recovery.
When you or a loved one experiences a traumatic injury because of someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentionally harmful actions, you do not have to bear all of the consequences yourself. Our dedicated legal professionals at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon can investigate your accident, calculate your damages, and pursue the comprehensive compensation you deserve.
Schedule an initial consultation with a Pensacola paraplegia injury lawyer to get started on your case.