Paralysis occurs when the brain gets cut off from communicating with parts of the body, usually due to damage to the central nervous system. When the brain is cut off from a body part, this leads to a loss of feeling and mobility. These debilitating injuries often occur in accidents caused by other people’s reckless or careless behavior.
Having an experienced attorney by your side is crucial to protecting your rights after suffering this catastrophic injury. A Philadelphia paralysis injury lawyer can work to hold the negligent person accountable for the harm you should’ve never suffered. From beginning to end of your lawsuit or settlement negotiations, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will fight like hell for the compensation you deserve.
How Negligence Can Lead to Paralysis
The most common cause of paralysis is damage to the spinal cord, which functions as the main pathway for nervous system signals. Paralysis can also occur due to traumatic brain damage that keeps the brain from working properly, a severe burn that destroys nerve endings under the burn site, or a deep cut or piercing injury that severs the nerves at the injury site.
When someone else’s “negligence” leads to a paralyzing injury, they may be liable to pay for the negative effects of their actions. Proving “negligence” involves establishing the following:
- They had a duty to act responsibly around the injured person
- They failed to fulfill their “duty of care” and instead acted carelessly, recklessly, or unlawfully
- They directly caused an accident through their misconduct
- The paralyzing injury was caused directly by that accident
Help from a seasoned Philadelphia attorney is crucial to establishing someone else’s negligence and proving fault for your paralysis injury.
Obtaining Compensation for a Paralyzing Accident
Since paralysis is almost always permanent, any lawsuit or settlement proposal built around this type of injury should demand compensation for both short-term and long-term losses. This may include:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional trauma and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Lost working ability or work wages
- All past and future medical bills for injury-related care, including for things like physical therapy and wheelchairs
- Other expenses for things like home or car modifications and in-home assistance
Importantly, Pennsylvania law gives most people just two years after initially getting hurt to start a lawsuit against the negligent party. Waiting longer than two years after a paralyzing injury to contact a lawyer and begin the litigation process will almost always lead to your case being thrown out of court. After seeking medical attention, contacting a Philadelphia paralysis attorney at our firm should be a priority.
Contact a Philadelphia Paralysis Injury Attorney Today
No matter how it happens, a paralyzing injury is a traumatic and life-changing experience. If you got hurt because another person acted irresponsibly around you, they should pay for all the harm your injury has already caused you and is likely to cause you in the future.
A Philadelphia paralysis injury lawyer can discuss your rights and filing options during a free, no-obligation consultation. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we know how to fight for your best interests. Managing Partner Rich Godshall has 18 years of experience winning multi-million-dollar catastrophic injury cases. In one case, our firm reached a $10,000,000 settlement for a client who sustained severe injuries from a truck crash. Call us today to get started on your case.