Has someone you love suffered serious paralysis injury resulting from a car accident?

Rollover accidents can be very serious and often result in catastrophic injuries that will impact the injured person for years to come. Many of these injuries are often irreparable and produce lifelong disabilities. Some of these injuries include spinal injuries that can result in paraplegia, hemiplegia, or quadriplegia.

Covered in This Article

• Paralysis - Different Forms
• Long Term Care and Economic Changes
• Rollover Accidents Devastate Lives

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover accident and has suffered paralysis in some form as a result, your damages are more than likely extensive. If certain aspects of your vehicle failed or did not perform as designed in your rollover accident and you were injured as a result, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and the extensive care you will need going forward from the manufacturer of your vehicle. Our Texas attorneys at Grossman Law Offices can help you litigate your rollover claim and get the compensation you deserve.

Paralysis - Different Forms

If you have been involved in a rollover accident, you may be left with a disability that involves paralysis of some area of your body. Depending on the severity of the injury, different levels of paralysis can occur. The genesis of the paralysis you may be experiencing after a rollover accident is traumatic injury to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is the body's primary messaging system and exchanges information between the brain and the rest of your body. Damage to this messaging system from a traumatic injury results in the loss of sensation, or the inability to feel or move parts of your body. The degree of paralysis you will experience depends on the severity of the injury to the spinal cord.

The most severe form of paralysis from a spinal cord injury is quadriplegia. Quadriplegia is a permanent condition and the victim has little to no use of both the arms and legs, and the torso as well. The victim loses function and control of their limbs. Beyond the obvious lack of functionality in the limbs, a quadriplegic person will usually have very limited control of their torso as well. This also impacts the function and control of the organs in this region of the body. Quadriplegics may have difficulty controlling bowel and bladder functions, their breathing, sexual functions, and suffer with digestive problems as well. Additionally, due to the nature of their injuries quadriplegic people are more vulnerable to disease and infection as well. The care for a quadriplegic person is extensive and can often require around the clock attention. Further, the expense involved can be as much as $500,000 per year depending on the level of care required.

Paraplegia is the condition from a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis of the lower half of the body. People who suffer from paraplegia may have limited use of their legs, but typically reliance on a wheel chair is necessary for any degree of mobility. Like quadriplegics, paraplegics may have issues with internal functions as well. Issues with bladder and bowel functions and sexual problems are common. Paraplegics can also suffer from sores and infections from the lack of their mobility and the atrophy of the lower limbs. Rehabilitation is often extensive and emphasis is placed on increasing the strength and functionality of the arms and upper part of the body and increased independence through the use of a wheel chair. Though not as extensive as the care needed by a quadriplegic person, life time care is often needed and can be very expensive.

Hemiplegia is the paralysis or limited use of the limbs on one side of the body and is typically a permanent condition. The degree of paralysis of the limbs varies from individual to individual, but usually depends on the degree of trauma or injury to the spinal cord that has occurred. The limited mobility can increase the possibility of other medical problems down the road and hemiplegic people often need ongoing care. Persons with this condition usually have many years of physical and occupational therapy to help them regain function and independence by learning to do more with the other half of their body.

Long Term Care and Economic Changes

As discussed above, paralysis from a spinal cord injury sustained in a rollover accident can impact the body in different ways. All of these conditions will require some level of long term care, be it twenty four-hour around-the-clock care, extensive physical rehabilitation, or monthly doctor visits. For example, in the case of a quadriplegic person, an entire medical team experienced in caring for people with catastrophic injuries may need to be involved in their care. They will need medical specialists to help with the medical aspects of their condition, psychotherapists to help them deal with the emotional aspects of what has happened to them, rehabilitation specialists, and others. The extensive care required will be expensive and the party liable for the person's will need to be held accountable.

If you find yourself permanently injured after your rollover accident in Texas you will probably need many of the same kind of medical and long term specialists mentioned in the preceding paragraph. To convey to the jury the extent of your injuries and the care involved in the short term and what's needed going forward, certain expert witnesses will need to be involved. Expert witnesses will also be brought in to explain some of the practical concerns you face after the injury such as economic and vocational concerns. Each of these experts will paint the picture for the jury so they can fully appreciate what the rollover accident has done to you and how it has impacted every aspect of your life.

The Medical Examiner will be brought in to explain to the jury how your body functioned prior to the rollover accident and how it functions now that you have experienced some level of paralysis from the spinal cord injury. This expert is important because they will carefully explain to the jury the extent of your injuries and how these injuries impact every aspect of your life. A Life Care Planner will be brought on to discuss the long term care your injuries will require and the cost involved for that care on a yearly basis. The life care planner will convey the enormity of the medical expenses and how these expenses will likely increase as time progresses. A Vocational Expert will be brought in to discuss how your injuries have changed your ability to perform in your previous career and what if any occupations are available to you now. This expert will also explain to the jury the difference in your earning ability now that you can no longer perform in the career you may have been trained or educated to perform in. Finally an Economics Expert will be brought in to explain how the accident has affected you and your family financially.

Rollover Accidents Devastate Lives

The injuries sustained in a rollover accident can be serious and are often permanent. These injuries leave lasting effects on both the victim and their families. When a vehicle fails to perform or protect adequately in a rollover accident, the manufacturer of that vehicle may be responsible for the catastrophic injuries the victim has suffered. If this has happened to you or your loved one, fighting the insurance companies on your own will be a losing battle. You need a tough Texas attorney on your side that will fight for your rights and has the experience needed to be successful in these cases. Investigating the accident, understanding the mechanics involved, and securing the right expert witnesses are all areas our attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have experience in and we can put that experience to work for you. Contact us today at (855) 326-0000.