Douglas County Paralysis Injury Lawyer
There are few injuries more suddenly debilitating than post-accident paralysis. Motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle crashes, slip and falls, defective products, hazardous work environments, and medical mistakes all have the potential to cause injuries resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis.
If you were paralyzed in an accident that was caused by another entity’s carelessness or recklessness, a skilled catastrophic injury lawyer could be a crucial ally in your efforts to obtain compensation for your injuries. Speak with a Douglas County paralysis injury lawyer to better understand your legal rights moving forward.
Causes, Types, and Degrees of Paralysis
When paralysis results from an accident, it is usually the result of brain or spinal cord injuries that impede the relay of signals that the brain sends to the muscles. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent, and it may be partial or complete. Possible degrees of paralysis include:
- Monoplegia, which affects just one limb
- Diplegia, which affects both sides of the body, such as both arms
- Hemiplegia, which affects one side of the body, including an arm and leg
- Paraplegia, which affects both legs, and sometimes the torso
- Quadriplegia, which affects both arms and legs, and sometimes from the neck down, and can impact organ function, too
In addition to inhibiting physical movement, paralysis may also involve a variety of other symptoms, such as respiratory and heart rate problems, loss of bladder and bowel control, sexual dysfunction, blood clots, and pressure sores.
Recoverable Damages in Douglas County Paralysis Injury Lawsuits
Legally, negligence is the failure to exercise the sort of care that a reasonable and prudent person would have employed in the same circumstances. Recklessness, on the other hand, suggests someone engaged in wantonly risky behavior despite knowing the potential harm it could cause to others.
In both instances, plaintiffs in Douglas County paralysis injury lawsuits can recover compensatory damages – so long as they were less than 50 percent at fault in the accident, in accordance with Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-21,185.09.
Compensatory damages include both economic and non-economic losses and are not capped, but Nebraska Revised Statute § 44-285 limits medical malpractice recoveries to no more than $2.25 million. Unlike many other states, Nebraska does not permit punitive damages to punish the defendant. A paralysis injury lawyer in Douglas County could help an injured victim recover damages.
Consult with a Douglas County Paralysis Injury Attorney
Experiencing paralysis can change your and your family’s life forever. You may require permanent assistance with fundamental life functions, such as dressing yourself, preparing and eating food, using the restroom, and showering. You may also need to take months off work, or you may not be able to continue in your previous career at all. As the expenses pile up, a paralysis injury can feel financially overwhelming.
An attorney in Douglas County at Inkelaar Law skilled in injury law may be able to help. By reviewing your case, investigating the cause of your injury, speaking with witnesses, and preserving key evidence, a lawyer could work to recover damages on your behalf. Connect with a Douglas County paralysis injury lawyer today to begin the legal process.