Of all the possible catastrophic personal injuries people face, being left with quadriplegia is one of the most devastating outcomes. When a negligent person or entity causes an accident that leaves you or a loved one without the function of all four limbs, you will need an experienced quadriplegia injury lawyer on your side to help you pursue appropriate medical treatment and seek compensation for your losses.
What is a Quadriplegia Injury?
A quadriplegia injury is the loss of function to one’s arms and legs due to a catastrophic injury impacting the cervical spinal cord. Having a total loss of one’s torso, lower extremities, and arms is very extreme. It also comes with significant medical bills due to the extensive care one required in a quadriplegic state. Many quadriplegia victims require special medical devices, 24-hour care, and nursing assistants.
They all help the chair-bound person perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, getting dressed, and eating. The financial, physical, and psychological pain is lifelong. When you work with a quadriplegia injury lawyer at Jacoby and Meyers, our attorneys and team members will guide you through the legal process while building your case to pursue compensation for present and future losses.
How does a Quadriplegia Injury Happen?
Located in the upper portion of the spinal cord, segment levels C1 to C8 reside between the base of the head and the middle of the shoulder blades. When trauma to these spinal segments results in severe stretching or total severance, one loses control of their limbs. This happens because the connection of the brain to the rest of the body is disrupted. Thus, signals from the brain cannot properly reach other body parts, eliminating one’s ability to move.
According to available data, many of these catastrophes result from car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Studies also show that car accidents account for roughly 40 percent of quadriplegia injuries. However, these injuries can and do happen from a wide variety of accidents.
Some common causes for these accidents, as seen by our quadriplegia injury lawyers, include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Scooter accidents
- Sports injuries
- Falls
- Violent assaults
- Construction accidents
- Workplace injuries
- Industrial accidents
- Product malfunctions
- Airplane crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Leisure activity accidents (bungee jumping, skiing, etc)
- Incidents involving DUI
If the staircase in your apartment building’s courtyard is not stable, and you fall onto a concrete surface with spinal cord damage, leaving you without the function of your limbs, the property owner would be considered negligent. If a manufacturer releases motorcycle brakes with a defect and your injury stems from an accident caused by an inability to slow down or stop, that company may be liable. Be sure to work with a quadriplegia injury lawyer from Jacoby and Meyers to review your case and discuss pursuing compensation for your injuries and medical needs.
Why Should a Victim Call a Quadriplegia Lawyer?
Insurance companies have adjusters and their own attorneys who evaluate claims and may attempt to limit settlement amounts and coverage of medical expenses. A quadriplegia injury lawyer can help navigate the legal process and advocate on your behalf in pursuing compensation
In addition, quadriplegia injury lawyers can evaluate the long-term impact of the injury on the victim and family. For example, if a person later dies due to complications related to quadriplegia, the family may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim depending on the circumstances. In 2007, Darryl Floyd Stingley, an NFL wide receiver, suffered an on-field spinal cord injury that left him in a quadriplegic state. He later died from heart disease and pneumonia complications associated with quadriplegia.
In cases like this, the future can be uncertain. Doctors can provide estimates, but outcomes vary. A quadriplegia injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for medical care and related losses and provide guidance if circumstances change.
Car Accidents and Quadriplegia Injury Lawyer Near Me
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Car Accidents and Quadriplegia Injury in Los Angeles
Quadriplegia is a life-changing injury that can result from a car accident in Los Angeles. A high spinal cord injury from a crash can paralyze both arms and legs, leaving victims with a severe loss of mobility and independence.
These spinal injuries arise when violent crashes fracture, crush, or twist the cervical spine. Once the spinal cord is damaged at this level, the brain can no longer properly communicate with the body, causing a loss of movement after a collision. Even with intensive medical care, many victims of severe paralysis from a car accident face permanent impairment.
Victims who sustained quadriplegia often depend on 24-hour care, specialized wheelchairs, and home modifications. Families may face long-term medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and emotional strain while adjusting to a new reality.
If you or your loved one is living with severe paralysis from a crash, the Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers at Jacoby and Meyers can help you understand your legal options, including pursuing compensation for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lifelong support.
How A Personal Injury Lawyer Seeks Client Compensation for Quadriplegia
A quadriplegia injury lawyer at Jacoby and Meyers understands that compensation for a lifelong injury of this nature involves more than a simple claim for medical expenses. The physical, emotional, psychological, and financial burdens experienced by quadriplegia injury victims and their families can be significant. When building a case, a personal injury lawyer specializing in quadriplegia cases will explore these factors and may consult expert witnesses to document the extent of the damages.
Victims of catastrophic accidents due to another’s negligence may seek compensation for various losses associated with their injury. Examples of damages that may be pursued include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Emotional distress
- Psychological damages
- Pain and suffering
- Current and future lost wages
- Medical and adaptive equipment expenses
- Personal care and attendant costs
If you or a loved one has suffered the loss of both arms and legs due to another person’s carelessness, call a quadriplegia injury lawyer at Jacoby and Meyers today for a free consultation to discuss your situation and legal options.
Michael Akiva is Managing Partner of Pre-Litigation of Jacoby & Meyers. Having started his career as an attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP, a prestigious, global corporate law firm, Michael quickly realized that representing big corporations was not for him. After leaving the firm, Michael dedicated himself to fighting for the rights of the injured. Education J.D. UCLA School of Law, Editor, UCLA Law Review B.S., Finance, University of Southern California, Magna cum laude