It doesn’t matter how it happened: one minute you were able to move your legs, and the next minute you weren’t. You lie in bed, hoping, waiting for the use of your limbs, knowing deep down that it may not happen at all. Your family is caring and supportive, but it’s impossible not to feel hopeless.While nobody can know how you feel, it’s important to know that you’re not alone—even if you feel that way. There are people out there who can help you get your life back, and hold those responsible accountable for your injury.
Types of Injuries That Can Cause Paralysis
We’ve seen these injuries before. For example, all of the following can cause a paralysis accident in Virginia:
- Car and truck accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of serious back injuries in Virginia, often resulting in both temporary and permanent paralysis.
- Pedestrian accidents. Without the protection of a car, a pedestrian will often suffer serious bodily trauma.
- Violent acts, including gang violence, gunshots, domestic abuse and sports injuries, can all cause spinal cord injury.
- Slips and falls. Any trauma to the back or neck can cause paralysis, and a slip-and-fall accident could easily injure the spine.
- Work accidents, including objects falling onto workers or heavy machinery accidents, could cost an employee the use of his arms or legs.
- Medical malpractice. If a botched surgery severed your spinal cord or improper treatment cost you the loss of your mobility, we can help.
These injuries often result in a loss of autonomy, such as impaired mobility, bladder control problems, breathing difficulties and sexual dysfunction. In addition to experience pain and suffering, paralysis victims in Fairfax require lifelong treatment, costing multiple thousands of dollars per year.
Yearly Medical Costs Following Paralysis
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the costs of living with a spinal cord injury can be catastrophic. Here are a few different forms of paralysis and their average yearly costs:
- High Tetraplegia (C1-C4): $985,774 in the first year; $171,183 each subsequent year
- Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8): $712,308 in the first year; $105,013 each subsequent year
- Paraplegia: $480,431 in the first year; $63,643 each subsequent year
- Incomplete motor function (at any level): $321,720 in the first year;$39,077 each subsequent year
As trusted Fairfax paralysis injury attorneys, we don’t believe that victims should have to shoulder the costs of a serious spinal cord injury alone. If someone was responsible for causing an injury that will affect you for the rest of your life, then they are also accountable for your loss of income, medical bills, and any financial obligations you will incur as a result.
Virginia Paralysis Injury Lawyer
For more information on your Virginia paralysis injury lawsuit, contact Shevlin Smith today at 703-721-4233for a free consultation on your case. If a doctor caused your injury, click the link above and we’ll rush you a FREE copy of our book, Do I Have A Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.