Paralysis Injury Attorney in North Carolina

By their very nature, paralyzing injuries have life-altering effects. Coping with the physical and emotional changes that follow a paralyzing injury can be very challenging. You may find yourself struggling with frustration and anger, especially if someone else caused your injury. Beyond the physical and emotional challenges, a paralyzing injury can leave you with ongoing medical expenses, medical debt, and financial stress. You might be tempted to accept whatever settlement offer an insurance company makes. But how do you know if the offer is fair?

Before you agree to any settlement offer, you should speak with the North Carolina paralysis injury lawyers at Hardison & Cochran. Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers understand the gravity of a paralyzing injury and the severe strain such an injury can place on accident victims and their families. We can review your situation and outline your legal options for pursuing every dollar available after such a devastating injury. Contact our Raleigh office today for a free consultation.

What To Do After a Paralysis Injury?

In the immediate aftermath of a devastating accident, the situation can seem overwhelming. An insurer might use this to their advantage, offering you a settlement that might seem generous at first. But the initial offer is almost certainly less than you deserve. It’s unlikely to cover future medical costs.

As you recover, consider these measures to protect yourself and your compensation claim:

  • Follow your treatment plan – Keep all follow-up medical appointments and stick to your treatment plan. This can improve your prognosis while strengthening your claim.
  • Contact an attorney – The last thing you should have to worry about after a severe injury is dealing with an insurer on your own. Contact an experienced lawyer for help. An attorney can navigate the claims process, develop a strong case for compensation, negotiate with insurers, and pursue the case to court if necessary.
  • Keep all bills and receipts – To claim compensation, you will need proof of the financial harm you have suffered. Keep all medical bills, repair receipts, and out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident and your treatment.
  • Track your recovery – A pain journal records your daily struggles and recovery, offering insights into how the injury affects your daily life. The journal can help you cope with your injuries and establish the pain and suffering you have experienced.

Why Choose Hardison & Cochran to Deal with a Paralysis Injury?

A paralysis injury is a catastrophic injury. Unfortunately, insurance companies are often reluctant to pay the full value of large catastrophic injury claims unless they are forced to do so. That’s why you need the help of an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer. Our attorneys at Hardison & Cochran know that claims involving devastating injuries are more complicated than other accident claims. If you accept a quick settlement, you may be leaving money on the table.

Our lawyers will thoroughly review the circumstances of your accident and gather vital evidence before it is lost or destroyed. This helps us establish the extent of your compensable losses and determine who is liable for them. We will then manage communication between you and the insurer and aggressively negotiate on your behalf for the money you deserve. If negotiations fail, we will be prepared to pursue the matter in court.

Why should you choose Hardison & Cochran to represent you? Because we care about people we represent and genuinely care about making a positive impact on your life.

How Much Compensation Can You Recover for a Paralysis Injury Claim?

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation estimates that lifetime costs associated with paraplegia (partial or complete paralysis in both legs) can exceed $2 million. The costs associated with quadriplegia (all four limbs and the entire torso completely or partially paralyzed) can be as high as $5 million. You should not be responsible for paying these costs if someone else was responsible for your injury.

At Hardison & Cochran, we will pursue every dollar that you are owed for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Loss of consortium
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage

Before you accept an insurer’s offer, you should discuss your situation with one of our paralysis injury attorneys. Don’t trust a for-profit business to tell you the value of your claim. Turn to a trusted personal injury lawyer for guidance.

Every catastrophic injury case has unique factors that affect the value of the claim. Our results reflect our experience handling cases involving serious injuries.

Most Common Causes of Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries are the second leading cause of paralysis after strokes, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes found that these injuries are principally caused by motor vehicle accidents and falls.

Paralyzing injuries can occur in a number of situations, including:

Regardless of the circumstances, if someone else caused your injuries, they may be financially liable. Our Raleigh paralysis injury lawyers have the experience and resources to advocate on your behalf as you seek compensation for your financial losses.

Types of Paralysis

Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is damaged. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the neck and back. Its job is to transmit messages from the brain to the body and vice versa. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is damaged, there may be a partial or total loss of communication between the brain and body. This loss of communication is known as paralysis.

Medical professionals recognize two types of spinal cord injuries that can cause paralysis:

  • Incomplete Injury – An incomplete spinal cord injury means damage has occurred to the spinal cord. The nerves, however, can still transmit some messages to and from the brain to the body.
  • Complete Injury – A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is severed or damaged so severely that it can no longer transmit messages at all. Complete spinal cord injuries are permanent.

Spinal cord injuries can be categorized by location as follows:

  • Cervical – Cervical vertebrae are in the neck.
  • Thoracic – The following 12 vertebrae in the spine make up the thoracic region. Thoracic bones protect the upper back.
  • Lumbar – Lumbar vertebrae are in the lower back.
  • Sacral – Sacral vertebrae are unique. These bones fuse to make up what is collectively known as the tailbone.

Although paralysis can affect different areas of the body, the two more common types of paralysis are:

  • Paraplegia – Paraplegia affects everything below a person’s waist and sometimes the torso, depending on the location of the injury. Most paraplegia-causing injuries occur in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. Those diagnosed with paraplegia typically cannot walk, will lose sensation in the legs, and have urinary, bowel, and sexual complications.
  • Quadriplegia – Quadriplegia is the loss of sensation and function of all four limbs and the torso. Most individuals with quadriplegia lose motor function from the neck down and may have difficulty breathing. Urinary retention and bowel and sexual dysfunction are frequent side effects.

Paralysis is the most severe complication of a spinal cord injury. Some individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries may be able to regain some sensation and muscle control. However, when the spinal cord is severed, paralysis is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Paralysis Treatment Options

When the injury is incomplete, surgery may be needed to remove broken bone splinters or foreign objects or relieve pressure on the intact spine. Physicians may also need to prescribe medications and antibiotics to prevent or treat infection and reduce pain.

In the long term, rehabilitation and physical therapy can help patients with partial paralysis regain some function and mobility. Vital to the treatment process are psychotherapy and support groups. These programs can help people address mental health concerns that may accompany a paralysis injury. Treatment options should always be specific to the individual’s specific condition.

Schedule a Free Case Review with Our Experienced Raleigh Personal Injury Attorneys

A paralysis diagnosis can be devastating, particularly when someone else is to blame. At Hardison & Cochran, our legal team knows you need a law firm that cares about you and will fight to see that you receive the compensation available by law. For more than 30 years, we have advocated for accident victims’ rights and helped them secure the financial security they needed to live their fullest lives possible. Let us put this experience and determination to work with you.

When you are ready to discuss your situation with an experienced Raleigh paralysis injury lawyer, contact our office to set up a no-obligation case review.