Paralysis is one of the most life-altering injuries a person can sustain and is relatively common in the context of a serious pedestrian accident. In circumstances where a vehicle strikes someone who is walking, the force of the collision can easily cause severe damage to the spinal cord that results in a permanent loss of movement and sensation. For the victim and their family, the aftermath can touch every part of daily life for the foreseeable future, if not forever.
If you or a loved one were paralyzed in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver in Tennessee, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Read on for more information about how these cases work and what you should know going forward. Our knowledgable pedestrian accident attorney in Nashville can help with your claim.
How Pedestrian Accidents Cause Paralysis
Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is damaged badly enough to disrupt the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body. In a pedestrian accident, this can happen when the victim is thrown to the ground, struck at high speed, or run over by the vehicle.
The location of the spinal cord injury determines what type of paralysis results:
- Paraplegia involves the loss of movement and feeling in the lower half of the body. This typically results from damage to the thoracic or lumbar regions of the spine.
- Quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia) affects all four limbs as well as the torso. This results from damage to the cervical spine in the neck area and is generally the more severe of the two.
- Incomplete paralysis means some function or sensation remains below the site of the injury. Recovery may be possible in certain cases, but it is never guaranteed.
- Complete paralysis means there is no function or sensation below the injury site. This type of paralysis is typically permanent.
The recovery process with these injuries usually involves extensive surgery and significant lifestyle adjustments that may or may not improve with time.
The Long-Term Impact of Paralysis
Living with paralysis goes far beyond the injury itself. The financial, physical, and emotional costs are enormous and extend over the course of the victim’s entire lifetime. Some of the ongoing challenges include:
- The need for a wheelchair and other renovations to accommodate mobility limitations
- Around-the-clock personal care assistance for those with quadriplegia
- Chronic secondary health issues such as pressure sores and muscle atrophy
- Mental health challenges including depression and adjustment disorders
- The inability to return to the same line of work, or in many cases, to work at all
Studies have estimated that the lifetime cost of living with a spinal cord injury can reach into the millions of dollars. Making sure these future costs are fully accounted for in your legal claim is important with this reality in mind.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Woodard Injury Law for Help
Paralysis from a pedestrian accident demands a legal response that matches the severity of what happened. Woodard Injury Law has 19 years of experience and has recovered millions of dollars for our clients to date, giving us a track record of success you can depend on.
Call us today at (615) 640-3648 to schedule a free consultation and learn about your legal rights and options going forward.