Paralysis Injury

Paralysis happens when you lose strength or control over a particular muscle or group of muscles in the body. Paralysis normally occurs as a result of problems with the nerves rather than the muscle. Nerve cells are important because they signal to the muscles when it’s time to move. 

If you suffer a paralyzing injury due to the negligence of another party, then you could be entitled to compensation. Paralysis injury attorneys can assist you in getting compensation for immediate and future medical bills as well as your other damages. So, contact the catastrophic injury attorneys Mike Agruss Law today!

Types of Paralysis

There are different types and varying degrees of paralysis. Paralysis doesn’t have to affect the entire body at once; it can be:

• Partial, which is when you still have some control of your muscles (paresis).
• Complete, which is when you can’t move your muscles at all.
• Permanent, when your muscle control never comes back.
• Temporary, when some or all muscle control returns after a brief period.
• Flaccid, when the muscles get soft, flabby, and start to shrink.
• Spastic, when the muscles are tight and hard and spasm often. 

Paralysis can occur anywhere in the body. It is localized when it affects only one part of the body and generalized when it affects a wider area of the body. Localized paralysis affects the face, hands, feet, or vocal cords. 

Generalized paralysis, however, is broken down depending on how much of the body gets paralyzed, for example:

• Monoplegia affects one limb such as one arm or one leg only
• Hemiplegia affects one side of the body
• Diplegia affects the same area on both sides of the body, such as both arms 
• Paraplegia affects both legs and other core muscle groups
• Quadriplegia affects both arms and legs and could affect the entire area from the neck. Quadriplegia can affect major organ functions as well, such as the functions of the heart, lungs, and other organs 

Common Paralysis Injuries

A study called the Paralysis Population Survey found that nearly 6 million Americans are living with some form of paralysis. If any part of the nerve to muscle relay systems, such as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, or junction between the nerve and the muscle, is damaged, paralysis results because those signals are not transferred. 

There are many ways the relay system can be damaged; a person can be born with paralysis due to a birth defect, such as spina bifida, which occurs when the brain, spinal cord, and/or the covering that protects them do not form the right way. 

Generally, people get paralysis due to an accident or a medical condition that affects the way their muscles and nerves function. Here are some of the most common causes of paralysis:

• Head injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Toxins/poisons
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral palsy
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)

​​When you or a loved one has been paralyzed due to the negligence of another, Mike Agruss Law will fight to ensure that your ongoing needs are protected. We want to make your paralysis injury case as easy as possible. One of our skillful and compassionate personal injury attorneys are available for you right now.

Paralysis Injury Symptoms

Paralysis symptoms will vary based on the cause. A person born paralyzed due to a birth defect or paralyzed suddenly due to a stroke or spinal cord injury can be partially or totally unable to move the affected body parts. 

A person who becomes paralyzed due to a medical condition might lose muscle control progressively. A person who becomes paralyzed in an accident might feel tingling or numbing sensations or muscle cramps before losing control of their muscles. They may just lose all feeling in the immediate aftermath of the accident. 

Many body functions can be affected by paralysis. Some of the problems that occur with paralysis include:

• Behavior and mood changes
• Blood clotting in the limbs
• Changes in organ function, glands, and other tissues
• Changes to muscles, joints, and bones
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Problems with blood flow, breathing, and heart rate
• Sexual health issues
• Skin injuries and pressure sores
• Speech impediments

Rehabilitation is typically recommended to address problems that can occur as a consequence of the paralysis, but these costs can get expensive. That’s why if you’ve been injured because of the negligence of another, they can be held responsible for your paralysis injuries that resulted from their actions.  

At Mike Agruss Law, we are prepared to fight cases related to spinal cord trauma and paralytic injury. Paralysis injury cases require extensive research, preparation, and care. We will investigate the particulars of your claim and provide you with expert guidance for your medical care.  We also can offer strategic options for claims and litigation that may win you the compensation you deserve.