No one is prepared for the trauma of a catastrophic spinal cord injury and the possibility of becoming paralyzed. If you or a loved one are struggling with all the adverse effects of paralysis, holding the liable party accountable may be your best option to recover the compensation you need to cover expenses and deal with this new reality.
An experienced NYC paralysis lawyer at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. can help you explore your legal options and advocate for total financial recovery. Get started with a free consultation to learn more. Call (212) 490-5700 today or contact us online.
What Does a Paralysis Injury Look Like?
Many circumstances could cause paralysis injuries. But generally, paralysis involves the temporary or permanent inability to use certain limbs or parts of the body. Depending on where the spine has been injured, you could experience a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury.
A complete spinal cord injury means a portion of the spinal cord has suffered permanent damage. An incomplete spinal cord injury means there is partial damage. Although the injury is not as significant as a complete injury, you might experience some lost function.
Common Accidents That Cause Paralysis
Some examples of accidents known for causing paralysis injuries in NYC include:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Assault
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Work-related accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Product defects or malfunctions
- Construction site accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Medical malpractice
You can also suffer paralysis from a stroke, seizure, or traumatic brain damage. It can all feel overwhelming, but a paralysis lawyer in NYC can help assess your situation, identify the cause of your paralysis injury, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
All Paralysis Injuries Are Not the Same
A paralysis injury is as unique as the victims involved. The portion of the spine that has been injured will determine the severity of your paralysis injuries and which limbs will be affected. Even if you are dealing with partial paralysis, you may still have the right to compensation for your damages.
This is particularly true if another person or entity’s negligence is responsible for causing the accident that injured you. You can rely on your NYC paralysis attorney to scrutinize your case details to ensure we seek maximum restitution to protect you financially for years.
Types of New York Paralysis Injuries
Our NYC injury lawyers have encountered all manner of devastating spinal injuries and cases involving paralysis. In our decades of fighting for the rights of injury victims, particularly in the construction industry and after car accidents, we’ve learned that paralysis can take multiple forms. These include:
- Tetraplegia
- Paraplegia
- Hemiplegia
- Monoplegia
With the proper medical care and circumstances, you might be able to regain some functionality, even if you have been completely paralyzed. You will need to discuss your prognosis with your healthcare provider to prepare for the future and know how much compensation is available in your paralysis claim.
Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)
Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, occurs when there is severe damage to the neck or cervical spinal cord. Tetraplegia means all limbs will be permanently paralyzed.
Individuals with quadriplegia will have no movement or feeling below their injury and often require around-the-clock medical attention and care to complete daily living activities.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is caused by damage to the spine’s thoracic region, the area just below the neck to the upper back. This paralysis affects your legs and can impact some of your arms’ functionality.
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia means only one side of your body is affected by your paralysis injuries. For many individuals, it begins with the sensation of a limb falling asleep, also commonly known as a “pins and needles feeling.” This feeling progresses to debilitating muscle weakness or complete paralysis of the affected side of the body.
Monoplegia
Monoplegia affects only one area of the body. While you may still control other body parts, you may not have functionality in the area affected by your monoplegia spinal cord injury. You might suffer paralysis in your right leg or left arm. This could be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of your injuries and the specific circumstances of your case.
Spinal Injuries
What Should I Do After a Paralysis Injury?
When someone’s negligence caused your or a loved one’s paralysis, your next steps are crucial. It’s common to battle depression, and often difficult to cope with such immense pain and loss.
However, you can build a powerful case against the liable party by getting the medical attention you need and obtaining recommended treatments. For example, some of the top treatment options for paralysis include:
- Participating in support groups for your emotional health
- Working with trauma specialists
- Ongoing physical and occupational therapy to regain as much function as possible
- Surgical intervention to improve functionality
- Mental health counseling
As soon as possible, make sure you hire a paralysis lawyer in NYC who can help you handle the legal details of your case. This way, you can devote time and energy to recuperating and rebuilding your life.
Compensation After a Paralysis Injury
After becoming paralyzed due to another’s negligence, you can recover compensation for your losses. For instance, if you are involved in a work accident, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits according to the New York Workers Compensation Impairment Guidelines.
However, workers’ comp benefits are unlikely to cover your damages fully. If this is the case or your injuries stem from another type of negligence, you may need to consider a third-party liability claim, where you can seek compensation for every loss, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Losses
Examples of financially-based or economic losses you could recover and your paralysis claim include:
- Costs of adapting living quarters
- Costs of purchasing adaptive equipment
- Ongoing occupational and physical therapy costs
- Costs of daily living assistance
- Reduced earning capacity and loss of income
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses do not have fixed financial values. It can be more difficult to quantify them, but since they impact victims’ lives, it is essential to recover restitution for these damages accordingly. Examples include:
- Your physical pain and suffering
- Compensation for family members who have had to change their lives to take care of you
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of companionship, love, support, protection, and advice
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement and skin scarring
Call a New York Paralysis Injury Lawyer
Your paralysis injuries may permanently alter the course of your life. Make sure you have access to the compensation that is rightfully yours. Bring the liable party to justice and get the most out of your claim when you contact an experienced NYC paralysis lawyer at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C.
Our firm proudly offers free consultations to injury victims across New York City and the state. Schedule yours by completing our online contact form or calling our office at (212) 490-5700.
CLIENT REVIEWS
05/01/2015
“I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome of my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike, HKD CLIENT
05/01/2015
“I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise, knowledge of the law, and more importantly – his ability…
5
Steven, HKD CLIENT
06/05/2019
I had the opportunity of having this amazing team of lawyers work on my case. When I first met with Jordan Hecht and Michael Kusz, I really liked their energy and the spunk that they had, it meant business and…
5
Anonymous, HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome to my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike W., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise and knowledge of the law and more importantly his ability…
5
Steven B., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I have worked with countless attorneys over the years and Jon Damashek stands out among them. I have seen first hand him advocate for his clients vigorously. He fights for the rights of the seriously injured, does not back down…
5
Wendy B., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I know all three named partners at this firm and highly recommend them. They are very professional and tireless advocates for their clients. If you need a personal injury attorney, you cannot do better than Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek.
5
Eric G., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
After meeting with Jon Damashek I knew immediately he was the right attorney for me. I had met with other attorneys in the past, but Jon’s experience, knowledge, and track record were most impressive. I highly recommend Jon Damashek and…
5
Ryan G., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
After meeting a half dozen lawyers at different firms, I decided to go to Hecht, Kleeger and Damashek. As soon as I met Jon Damashek, I knew I had to look no further. Mr. Damashek made me feel at ease…
5
Michael R., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I retained Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek for a serious personal injury case. They were very professional and managed to obtain a settlement for me that far exceeded my expectations. I would strongly recommend this firm for anyone’s legal needs.
5
Peter M., HKD CLIENT