Know Your Options When a Car Accident Leaves You Paralyzed

Car accidents can be scary enough to endure when your vehicle is damaged or you suffer minor injuries, but they can be life-changing when you suffer a serious injury, like paralysis.

A catastrophic injury can alter your current life, and your future, in the blink of an eye. You might not be able to work anymore, live on your own, provide your own transportation, and more.

To compensate you for these issues and expenses, you can seek legal action against the person who caused the car accident. Learn about what causes paralysis in a car accident, what legal rights you have, and what compensation you can seek.

Types of Paralysis

While all forms of paralysis can be debilitating, the severity can depend on the type of suffering. The two types of paralysis are:

• Paraplegia: This is when you are paralyzed from the waist down. It typically means you have reduced – or have completely lost – nervous control of your legs.
• Quadriplegia: In this type of paralysis, you cannot use your arms or legs. Typically, everything below the neck is affected.

Causes of Paralysis in a Car Accident

In a car accident, numerous incidents can quickly result in paralysis. Some situations can include:

• If you suffer a laceration to your nerves or if your spinal cord is partially or completely severed.
• If the impact of the accident breaks the vertebrae in your back, causing a rupture or laceration to your spinal cord.
• If whiplash causes damage to your spinal discs or tears your spinal cord.

Legal Options After a Car Accident

When paralysis occurs, there are both immediate and long-term expenses and life changes you will endure. To get compensation for these costs, you should hire a personal injury attorney to represent you and seek the damages you are owed.

In most cases, you will file a claim against the driver who is responsible for the car accident. In certain situations, like if there was a defect in the car, you could also file a claim against the manufacturer. If you were injured by a drunk driver, you could also hold the person or bar who overserved the driver responsible.

While you will not directly sue the insurance company, in most cases it will be the insurance company who tries to settle the suit.

Some items your attorney will seek compensation for in the lawsuit are:

Medical bills for the initial treatment of your injuries. This can include surgery, emergency care at the scene of the accident, hospital stays, and more.

• Physical therapy bills.
• Costs of ongoing medical care and future surgeries.
• Ongoing care at home.
• Loss of wages and future earnings.
• Loss of benefits.
• Remodeling costs to your house.
• Modifications to your vehicle.
• Wheelchairs, and other medical equipment.
• Compensation for emotional stress suffered as a result of your injuries.

When you seek damages, the insurance company will likely try to offer you less than what you are owed and will try to quickly close your case. This is why you need an experienced attorney. A lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases will be able to advise you when your offer is too low and can fight for fair compensation.

We Can Help

If you were paralyzed in a car accident, you need help from top-rated, hard-working representation. At Shapiro|Delgado, our attorneys put their injury law experience to work for you. And we handle cases on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do.

We represent clients throughout Florida, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, and surrounding communities.

To set up a free personal consultation, call 941-954-4000 or use our convenient online contact form.

Your family counts on you.

 You can count on us.