Learning that you or your loved one has quadriplegia is devastating. You might fear having to give up your independence and relying on others to help you get through even the most basic of everyday tasks. The cost of medical treatments, accommodations, physical therapy, and other continuing care programs can be overwhelming.
A skilled Pensacola quadriplegia injury lawyer can help. With assistance from the experienced attorneys at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, you can pursue financial damages from the person or entity responsible for causing your paralysis.
Quadriplegia is a type of paralysis that can affect your entire body. People with quadriplegia generally experience a total loss of sensation and movement from the neck down. Most commonly, people develop quadriplegia after suffering trauma to their cervical spine, which is the area of the spine closest to the brain.
Quadriplegia can affect all patients differently, depending on the severity of the initial trauma and the location of where the injury is on the patient’s cervical spine.
If the injury fully severs the nerves surrounding the vertebra, the patient is likely to experience a complete spinal injury, in which case they have no motor control or feeling below the damaged area of their spine. If the patient suffers a less severe blow or partial tear to the nerves of their spine, they might experience an incomplete spinal cord injury where they retain limited sensation and the ability to make limited voluntary movements.
The degree of paralysis depends on where on the spine the patient suffers trauma. Quadriplegia occurs when patients suffer injuries to their cervical spines. However, even slight differences in the location of an injury in the cervical area of the spine can significantly affect the amount of paralysis. For example, an injury to C1—which is the highest cervical disc—would probably result in complete quadriplegia, where a patient has no sensation or motor control in any portion of their arms or legs. A patient with a C1 injury might also require a respirator to help them breathe. An injury to C8, or any of the other low cervical vertebrae, might result in some feeling and limited motor control of arms and hands.
Our seasoned Pensacola lawyers have successfully helped people facing different degrees of quadriplegia. They can carefully scrutinize the evidence from an accident to determine what went wrong and who is potentially to blame.
The medical costs of caring for a quadriplegia injury are staggering. After an injury, immediate medical care is critical. Any delays in treatment can lead to permanent damage. Continued medical care and physical therapy are essential to prevent a patient’s muscles from atrophying and promote nerve and muscle stimulation. Most quadriplegic patients require constant care and assistance. They need help caring for their basic needs and require assistance with their personal hygiene, getting dressed, eating, and emptying their bladder or bowels. Most patients are unable to return to their former jobs, which can lead to financial instability for their families.
A successful resolution of a Pensacola quadriplegia injury claim can give a family the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
After experiencing a quadriplegia injury, your life has changed. While our legal team cannot restore your mobility, our dedicated local attorneys can help you pursue a settlement that relieves your financial worries and allows you to focus on your health and future.
Meet with a Pensacola quadriplegia injury lawyer at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon today to discover how we can help.