Quadriplegia and Paraplegia
Quadriplegia is a form of paralysis that usually involves injury to the spinal cord at the cervical or neck level. Persons with quadriplegia have sustained injuries to one of the eight cervical segments of the spinal cord. Depending on where it is located on the backbone, the spinal cord injury affects movement and sensation in both the arms and the legs, often leading to complete loss of function. In addition, quadriplegia usually includes loss of controlled functions of the bladder and bowels. Those with paraplegia have sustained injury in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord. Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs and lower parts of the body. In paraplegia, usually only the area below the abdomen is affected. Quadriplegia and paraplegia are both serious conditions that cause enormous life-style changes, incur huge financial costs, and require some degree of permanent care.
About 200,000 Americans are confined to wheelchairs because of spinal cord injury. Each year, more than 10,000 new serious spinal cord injuries occur, with two-thirds of the victims being under the age of 30. There are many causes of quadriplegia and paraplegia injuries. All too frequently, these accidents stem from the preventable negligence or reckless actions of another person or third party. Many of these injuries occur during everyday life and are due to three main factors--workplace injury, auto accidents, and sporting accidents. Workplace and auto injuries tend to occur more in older populations, while sport and athletic injuries occur in younger populations.
When a quadriplegia injury or paraplegia injury occurs, a thorough investigation and evaluation of the cause(s)--conducted by a personal injury attorney with direct experience handling spinal cord injuries and accidents--is always the best way to proceed. Once the cause and severity of the injury is established and liability is determined, a quadriplegia injury lawyer or paraplegia injury attorney can help the victim reach an informed decision about whether or not to pursue a lawsuit or other legal option.
The skilled personal injury lawyers and spinal cord injury attorneys at Schwartz Zweben LLP and its affiliate law firms have represented numerous quadriplegia injury and paraplegia injury cases to successful conclusions. They understand the complexities of investigating, litigating, negotiating, and resolving spinal cord injury claims and are experts at presenting quadriplegia and paraplegia cases to insurance adjusters and juries. Our resources include a top-notch team of professional investigators and experts who can analyze the evidence and help our quadriplegia injury attorneys and paraplegia injury lawyers obtain swift justice and maximum cash awards for injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and all other related costs and expenses.
If you or someone in your family sustained a spinal cord injury and are confined to a wheelchair, contact the law offices of Schwartz Zweben LLP. A spinal cord injury lawyer specializing in paralysis cases can offer you a free, confidential evaluation of your case and advise you of your rights.
Airplane Crashes
Amputation Injuries
Amusement Park Accidents
Asbestos & Mesothelioma
ATV Accidents
Back Injuries
Bicycle Accidents
Boating Accidents
Brain Injury & Brain Damage
Burn Injuries
Bus Accidents
Car Accidents
Catastrophic Injuries
