A catastrophic injury that causes paralysis is life-altering. Your world will change completely, and it will take time and money to adapt to your new reality.
When another party’s conduct contributed to your injury, you can bring a legal claim for financial compensation or damages. A skilled Savannah paralysis injury lawyer at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers can help you pursue your case. Our attorneys have over two decades of combined experience and are dedicated to securing what you need to thrive despite your injury.
How Do Paralyzing Injuries Occur?
The U.S. National Institutes of Health reports that most paralysis, including quadriplegia and paraplegia, results from one of four circumstances: stroke, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy, a birth injury.
When paralysis is the result of a medical condition, our Savannah attorneys can investigate to determine whether your health care provider might bear some responsibility. If so, we could consider bringing a medical malpractice claim against them.
Falls are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in older adults, and vehicle accidents are the most common for younger people. Sports injuries and violence can also injure the spinal cord and lead to paralysis. Any of these incidents can often be attributed to negligence, and the responsible party may be held accountable.
Identifying and Proving Negligence
Negligence is a failure to use reasonable care to prevent harm to others. When someone’s negligent conduct causes someone else to suffer an injury, the negligent party is financially liable to the injured party. The evidence necessary to prove negligence depends on the circumstances.
For example, in most vehicle accident cases, you must show that a driver was not using appropriate caution. But when an accident involves a commercial truck, the driver and the transportation company are held to a higher standard. Similarly, the standard for liability for a fall depends on where the fall happened and the relationship between you and the property owner. If poor medical treatment or judgment could be the cause of your paralysis, you could hold the medical profession responsible if they failed to meet the prevailing standard of care.
The issue of whether your injuries were caused by another party’s negligence is often the main point of contention in personal injury claims. Our Savannah attorneys have the experience and skill to identify negligent conduct and hold the negligent parties responsible for your paralysis.
Understanding Damages in a Paralysis Case
Damages in a paralysis injury case can be substantial. They may include:
- Medical care, past and future
- Rehabilitation services
- Household help, like cleaning and lawn care
- Home renovations to accommodate your injury
- Lost income
If your paralysis limits your ability to work, a Savannah attorney may engage an expert to determine the value of your lost earning capacity, which you can claim as damages.
You are also entitled to damages for your pain and suffering. These damages encompass physical pain, disability, emotional distress, and other subjective impacts of the injury. The severity of your paralysis and the extent of its impact on your daily activities influence the amount of your pain and suffering damages.
Your damages will be discounted if you were partially to blame for the situation that caused your paralysis. The Official Code of Georgia §51-12-33 requires a judge to allocate fault between parties, and the court will reduce your damages by a percentage proportional to your degree of responsibility. Most cases settle before a trial, but your potential fault will be a factor in settlement negotiations.
Work With a Savannah Attorney to Pursue Compensation for a Paralysis Injury
Facing paralysis requires determination and focus. Engage a skilled lawyer from Bowen Painter to manage your compensation claim while you adapt to your circumstances. Contact our Savannah paralysis injury lawyers today to learn more.
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