Can I Sue for Semi-Paralysis After a Car Accident in Houston?

According to an NCBI report, roughly 5.4 million Americans live with some level of paralysis. Car accidents are a key contributor to this type of injury. Whether the paralysis is partial or full, the consequences are usually lifelong, debilitating, and costly. However, the question remains: can you seek compensation for semi-paralysis from a negligent motorist?

Here we discuss everything you need to know about partial and full paralysis, including your legal options if the injury was the result of a car accident.

The Basics of Half-Body Paralysis

Semi-paralysis is sometimes referred to as hemiplegia of hemiparesis. While these types of paralysis can be caused by a tumor, stroke, or disease, trauma suffered from a vehicle accident is actually a major cause of these types of paralysis. If you sustained a brain injury in an accident, then you are at a higher risk of developing paralysis.

The prognosis of a paralysis patient predicts a loss of control on the half or side of the body that the paralysis has impacted. This happens because the part of the brain responsible for muscle movement and control fails or is unable to function as it should due to the trauma. In other instances, a victim’s paralysis could go all the way to their torso.

After an accident, you may not feel any signs of paralysis for days or even weeks. With time, however, you may find that your motor skills are no longer what they used to be, and tremors could start developing in the body. Another symptom of partial paralysis is temporary or permanent numbness.

What’s Expected from Half-Body Paralysis?

Full or temporally paralysis will change your life in different ways. First, you’ll require physical rehabilitation and spend a lot on medical bills. Further, a semi-paralysis victim may also face trouble speaking and, in other cases, their muscles may start to atrophy. Chronic pain is also associated with paralysis, as are mood swings, depression, and even PSTD, all of which are common in accident victims. Finally, a semi-paralysis patient could start having seizures or notice their muscles moving without their control.

Coping with Paralysis

Even when partial paralysis lasts for a short time, it can be both physically and mentally debilitating. We suggest that you meet with a health professional and consider joining a support group for people living in a similar situation. Surgery could also help you deal with the likes of spinal cord damage, muscle contractions, and so on.

You’ll need medication as well, particularly right after the accident. Medications common in paralysis situations include antibiotics because of the injuries you sustained, as well as for the sake of lowering the risks of infection. Your doctor may choose to give you muscle relaxants as well to deal with the pain associated with muscular degeneration.

Finally, you may have to be put on blood thinners. These will reduce your likelihood of having a stroke and will cut down potential blockages in your bloodstream and heart. In short, full or partial paralysis will add many medications to your everyday routine.

Suing for Paralysis – Your Legal Options

It is important to consider the financial consequences of paralysis, especially if you need to pay a full-time caretaker and for when your medical/rehabilitation costs are high.

One thing to keep in mind is that not only can you get support from your health insurer, but you can also seek compensation from the person who led to your accident via a personal injury suit. You may seek settlement for:

Medical therapy and rehabilitation bills
Doctor’s appointments, medication, and costs of transport to health facilities
Medical equipment costs such as a wheelchair or crutches
Time off work and lost income
Pain and suffering
Loss of company or consortium
Loss of enjoyment of life

Whether you choose to seek a settlement from the negligent party’s insurer or in a court of law, you’ll need a competent lawyer by your side. The lawyer working on your case will be tasked with collecting relevant evidence, determining fault, proving the negligence of the defendant, and pursuing your claim for the maximum settlement allowed by law. In most cases, you need to file a claim within two years of the accident, but this time frame may be more or less depending on the nature of your injuries and the by-laws and policies of insurance companies involved in the claim.

Work with Us – Your Local Houston Car Accident Experts

Your insurer and that of the at-fault party are in the business of maximizing profits and will do all they can to discredit you and your claim. Filing a suit by your own is not only daunting in and of itself, but the chances of success for a self-filed claim are minimal.

Regardless of the complexity of your claim, our team of legal experts has the experience and resources you need to successfully file and pursue a paralysis claim on your behalf. Call us today at 713-677-2179 for a free case evaluation and to learn about your legal options.