Discovering that you are permanently paralyzed after a car accident can be a life-altering experience that comes with immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges. For accident survivors facing this reality, it’s essential to pursue compensation. It’s in your best interest to file an injury claim so they have the resources necessary to rebuild their lives.
Today, we explore what paralysis entails after a car accident, what it means to seek compensation, and the reparation an accident victim can recover. Compensation and justice are vital in helping accident survivors move forward with their lives and ensuring the financial security of the victim and their families.
Paralysis After a Car Accident
Paralysis is the loss of mobility or sensation in one or more parts of the body. Paralysis often results from severe spinal cord injuries or nerve damage. The degree of paralysis is typically defined as either paraplegia, which is paralysis of the lower body, or quadriplegia, which is paralysis of all four limbs. The classification and severity of the paralysis depend on the location and extent of the damage.
Paralysis is considered a catastrophic injury in California due to the permanent impact such injuries have on a person’s ability to work and be independent. The repercussions of paralysis extend beyond physical changes. Medical costs can skyrocket as spinal cord and nerve injuries often require extended hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and long-term care.
Emotional trauma, lost independence, and the need for extensive home modifications can complicate the recovery process and add to the financial burden. While some can partially recover and regain some semblance of their former life, many people who experience paralysis face lifelong challenges.
Seeking Compensation for Paralysis After a Car Accident
If another person’s negligent actions cause paralysis, the victim may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. Car accident survivors can seek compensation for the economic and non-economic losses resulting from the accident. Paralysis care can be exorbitantly expensive, so financial compensation plays a critical role in a victim’s ability to receive the treatment they need.
Personal injury claims require the plaintiff to establish that another party’s negligence directly caused their injury. Establishing liability involves providing proof that the other driver was speeding, distracted, under the influence, or failed to exercise reasonable care. In some cases, multiple parties can share liability, such as employers and manufacturers.
California’s comparative negligence system means that even if you share partial liability for the accident, you can still receive proportional compensation. For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 30% at fault, you can still recover $70,000. In California, injured parties may share up to 99% of the fault and still be eligible to seek compensation.
Compensation You Can Recover After a Car Accident
The financial and emotional toll of paralysis is immense. For most victims, compensation is often the only means by which they can access the care they need. You can recover several types of damages after an accident, which will differ based on the specific circumstances of the accident and the extent of the injuries caused.
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, medication, and ongoing medical care costs can quickly become insurmountable without additional support. Claiming medical expenses can help victims pay off medical debt and receive the long-term care they need.
- Future Medical Needs: Rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, and in-home care are critical for people living with paralysis. Victims need to have some level of independence or the necessary support to continue living a full life.
- Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity: Paralysis patients are often unable to work during recovery and may not be able to return to their jobs. This loss of income and the inability to earn an income in the future exacerbate financial strain, leaving families scrambling to keep themselves afloat.
- Pain and Suffering: The emotional and mental toll of sudden paralysis can have profound repercussions for the victim and those around them. Long-term physical pain must also be acknowledged for the effects it can have on accident victims.
In some cases, the court may award additional punitive damages if extreme negligence or willful misconduct caused the accident. Punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party for the egregious actions and deter similar future behavior.
Take Control of Your Life After Paralysis
Paralysis after a car accident is devastating, but you do not have to face your altered reality alone. California law provides avenues for recovering damages and future financial support for those harmed by another’s negligence. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that resulted in paralysis, contact HHJ Trial Attorneys.
Our expert attorneys can provide legal support and representation, allowing you to focus on recovery and adjusting to your new normal. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation, where we can discuss a tailored strategy to help you obtain the compensation and justice you deserve.
