How Do I Make A Paralysis Accident Claim?

After a serious personal injury accident, the crash may result in paralysis of a bicyclist, driver, passenger, or pedestrian. After the dust clears, a fully or partially paralyzed person might feel like their life is over. One person may have been riding their bicycle on El Camino Real in Palo Alto when an inattentive bus driver hit them, causing a traumatic brain injury resulting in total paralysis. Another person may have been driving their car in the slow lane of 101 south at the 280 interchange when a large truck crashed into their car, causing a spinal cord injury resulting in partial paralysis.

Before these serious personal injury accidents, both of these people got up out of bed on their own, played with their children, went to the gym, and did every single one of their activities of daily living on autopilot, never giving them a second thought. Now, each of these people faces a very uncertain future. The wrongdoers must be held to account for the harm they each caused. Blindsided by having their loved ones' lives turned upside down, the family and friends of both these people may ask themselves:

What Happens After A Paralysis Accident?

Read on to learn more.

What are the types of paralysis?

• monoplegia: affects only one arm or leg

• hemiplegia: affects one arm and one leg on the same side of your body

• paraplegia: affects both legs

• quadriplegia (or tetraplegia): affects both arms and both legs.

What is the most common cause of paralysis?

According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, stroke is the leading cause of paralysis in the United States. It's responsible for nearly 30 percent of cases. But, for people under the age of 65, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.  Spinal cord injury accounts for an estimated 23 percent of paralysis cases. And, did you know that a spinal cord injury can be an early predictor of whether you will develop sepsis?

How is paralysis treated?

Rehabilitation is the treatment for paralysis. Rehabilitation can be recommended to address the complications caused by paralysis. It can enable a paralyzed person to live as independently as possible, and provide the person with a high quality of life. Rehabilitation will also give a paralyzed person the tools they need to be as independent as possible and just get through daily living.

What are the rehabilitation treatments for paralysis?

Here are six types of paralysis rehabilitation treatments:

• Physical therapy: Uses heat, massage, and exercise to stimulate nerves and muscles.
• Occupational therapy: Concentrates on ways to perform activities of daily living.
• Mobility aids: Includes manual and electric wheelchairs and scooters.
• Supportive devices: Including braces, canes, and walkers.
• Assistive technology: Such as voice-activated computers, lighting systems, and telephones.
• Adaptive equipment: Such as special eating utensils and controls for driving a car.

What are some complications caused by paralysis?

Here are some common  complications caused by paralysis:

Problems controlling your:

• Bladder
• Breathing
• Bowel
• Emotions: Depression may set in due to all the changes caused by the paralysis.
• Muscles

Other paralysis complications include:

• Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity
• Muscle atrophy
• Nerve pain, especially in cases of incomplete injury
• Pain in the muscles and joints from overusing certain muscle groups
• Weight loss
• Sexual function changes

Can My Loved One Ever Come Back From Paralysis?

Until 2018, nobody has ever recovered from paralysis. But, a few patients using epidural stimulation therapy have regained abilities once believed permanently lost when the spinal cord is injured. The spinal cord itself can not be healed. But, it is possible to have some recovery after an injury that results in paralysis. The specifics of the possible recovery depend on a lot of things, such as:

• the severity of the injury
• the specific location of the injury
• how soon after the injury was it discovered
• whether rehabilitation is was successful.

The Jack Jablonski BEL13VE in Miracles Foundation is a charity created to support spinal cord injury recovery. BEL13VE is funding medical research at the Mayo Clinic. The research wants to make recovery possible for everyone living with paralysis.

How Long Do I Have To Make My Paralysis Accident Case?

Generally, there is a statute of limitations of two years to file a California lawsuit and sue for an accident that results in paralysis. That clock starts on the date of the accident. With extremely limited exceptions, the clock runs out exactly 730 days later, because a year is 365 days. But, it's still the best idea to contact a San Jose paralysis accident attorney as soon as possible. That way your loved one who is suffering from paralysis because of someone else's mistake can reap all the benefits and protections of having a good attorney fight for them from day one.

Do I Need An Attorney On My Paralysis Accident Case?

Paralysis accidents are always complex cases.  You should not represent yourself on a paralysis injury case. My name is Renée Yvonne Gardner. I am the attorney at Gardner Law. I speak Spanish - hablo español. I am a San José paralysis personal injury accident attorney. I have experience with personal injury and wrongful death accident. 

If you suffered paralysis as a result of an accident, please contact me for a free consultation at (408) 214-5555 or here: message me here. If your loved one passed away after suffering paralysis in an accident or dog attack. please call me about your wrongful death case. 

I am based in Santa Clara County but I represent injured people in these 12 California Counties:

○ Alameda County ○ Contra Costa County ○ Fresno County ○ Marin County ○ Merced County ○ Monterey County ○ San Benito County ○ San Francisco County ○ San Joaquin County ○ San Mateo County ○ Santa Clara County ○ Santa Cruz County

^{None of the information on this website of Attorney Renée Yvonne Gardner is offered as medical advice.}

^{If you have been injured in any type of accident, please seek immediate medical attention and follow the advice of your doctor.}