Personal Injury Claims for Paralysis
7March2022
Paralysis causes the loss of muscle function in part of the body because of a disruption of the messages between the brain and muscles. Paraplegia refers to the loss of control of the muscles in the trunk, leg, and pelvic areas whereas quadriplegia refers to the paralysis of all four limbs. When someone becomes paralyzed, their entire lives are affected, including their ability to earn a living and care for themselves or their family. Personal injury claims for paralysis may be an option for those who were injured as a result of the negligence of another.
According to a study released in 2013 by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, approximately 1.7 percent of the U.S. population, or 5,357,970 people, are living with some form of paralysis. The study defined paralysis “…as a central nervous system disorder resulting in difficulty or inability to move the upper or lower extremities.”
If you or a loved one is suffering from paralysis because of the negligence of another, it is important to take appropriate legal action to protect your rights. Contact a Seattle paralysis lawyer today – there is a statute of limitations on personal injury claims.
What are the leading causes of paralysis?
There are three main causes of paralysis:
- Stroke (33.7 percent)
- Spinal cord injury (27.3 percent)
- Multiple scleroris (18.6 percent)
Personal injury claims for paralysis
When someone suffers from sudden paralysis, they are likely to be facing expensive medical bills for surgery and treatment and many other losses and expenses. For most people, a personal injury settlement is the only way to pay these current and future medical bills and other damages such as pain and suffering and lost wages.
Our injury lawyers handle many types of paralysis injury cases, including:
- Medical malpractice claims for paralysis
- Accident claims for paralysis
- Personal injury claims for paralysis
- Personal injury claims for quadriplegia
- Personal injury claims for paralysis of limbs
It is critical to understand the value of your paralysis injury claim before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company. Unlike insurance companies whose incentive is to offer you a lowball settlement before you even know what all your medical expenses will be, paralysis injury lawyers will provide a full and fair assessment of the value of your claim. There are many factors to consider, including pain and suffering, medical bills, home remodeling expenses, the cost of a wheelchair compatible vehicle, long-term care, and lost wages.
Your attorney will determine the value of your claim by gathering as much information as possible about your case, starting with the type and extent of your injuries and how you came to be injured (to determine fault). They will build a winning case by gathering all relevant information such as medical treatment history, witness statements, photographs, and surveillance footage if it is available. They may retain expert witnesses, if needed.
Once the paralysis attorney has a full picture of the scope of your injuries and losses they will typically create and send a demand letter to the insurer of the liable party. The purpose of the letter is to request a settlement offer. The injury lawyer knows that the initial offer will rarely be the final offer, but rather, the start of settlement negotiations. If your attorney is unable to secure a fair settlement offer during negotiations, they will begin the litigation process and represent you at your trial.
The Seattle Personal Injury Attorneys You Want on Your Side
The personal injury attorneys at Tinker Law Firm have been winning birth injury, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases for individuals and their loved ones in Seattle and across Washington State since 1974. We seek justice for injury victims who have been harmed by preventable medical errors, and the negligent or abusive actions of another. Our clients pay no fees or expenses to file a personal injury claim; our firm advances out-of-pocket expenses and is only reimbursed when we recover a settlement on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims in Washington State have a statute of limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time from the date of the injury.
Call us now at 206-842-1000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled and experienced injury attorneys.