What is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia is a spinal cord or brain injury defined by an inability to voluntarily move the lower parts of your body. Generally, the areas impaired by this central nervous system injury include the legs, feet, and toes; the abdomen may be affected as well, depending on the location and the severity of the injury.
Paraplegia is also described as being “complete” or “incomplete.” Incomplete paralysis differs among affected individuals, and the extent of reduced mobility depends on the severity of the damage to the person’s spinal cord and nerves. As such, some individuals with incomplete paralysis may have feeling in their lower extremities, but no movement.
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On the other hand, complete paralysis means there is no motor or sensory function and, generally, the injury is permanent.
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How G. Gray Law Can Help Your Missouri Paraplegia Claim
Every year, there are about 5,160 new cases of paraplegia. According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, as well as Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of paraplegia include automobile accidents (about 40 percent), workplace accidents, sporting and recreation accidents, slips and falls (25 percent), and disease.
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If you were paralyzed in a workplace accident, you may be eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits. In these cases, you do not need to prove fault, but you should adhere to all filing requirements of your employer, the company’s insurance provider, and any other included individuals or organizations.
If the injury was caused due to the negligence of another individual (including auto accidents, slips and falls, premises liability, product defects, and more), you can pursue a personal injury lawsuit to hold the negligent party(s) accountable for their actions or inaction. In these cases, you’ll need to prove some of the following elements:
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The defendant of your lawsuit had a responsibility to ensure your safety.
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The defendant didn’t meet an obligation by taking reasonable care
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The defendant was irresponsible and negligent, which led to your injury
Paraplegia
Being injured in an accident that led to a spinal injury and paraplegia can be an excruciatingly difficult experience. Not only will paraplegia affect your ability to move, but it also entails substantial expenses, both for the initial injury and physical therapy as well as for medical equipment and home accessibility upgrades
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When paraplegia or another spinal injury was caused by the negligence of another person or while you were on-duty at your job, you should never have to bear the full weight of these expenses alone. You have your life to focus on, not hundreds of thousands in medical bills combined with lost wages and earning capacity.