Why contact a paralysis attorney?
When you have been seriously injured through little or no fault of your own, contacting a California paralysis lawyer from the Salamati Firm helps start the healing process. We can get to the bottom of what happened, examine any legal issues of liability, and determine if you have a case for compensation.
Approximately 5.4 million people, or 1.7% of the U.S. population, is living with paralysis. Three-quarters of the injured are under age 65. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that the leading causes of paralysis were stroke and spinal cord injury.
Many of the leading causes of spinal cord injury can be traced back to another person’s negligence or misconduct:
- Auto accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Gunshot wounds
- Diving accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Falling objects
- Medical malpractice
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle crashes
- Personal injuries
Types of Paralysis Injury
Paralysis case law usually centers on victims of pedestrian, car, or motorcycle accidents who become paraplegics or quadriplegics following a serious collision. However, there are many different scenarios that may lead to paralysis injury.
From a malpractice vocal cord paralysis lawsuit, to a dog attack facial paralysis lawsuit, plaintiffs discover that what may seem like an unfortunate stroke of luck may, in fact, have underpinnings in missed diagnosis, medical malpractice, or some other type of liability. If you or a loved one has been paralyzed and aren’t sure if you’re entitled to compensation, it’s worth contacting a lawyer at the Salamati Firm for a free case review – especially given the exorbitant costs of paralysis injuries.
What Damages Can I Sue For in a Paralysis Lawsuit?
Paralysis settlements or jury awards provide money to cover:
- Tangible expenses – Ambulance rides, hospital stays, therapies, surgeries, medications, co-pays, assistive technologies, wheelchairs, lost time off work, reduced capacity to earn future money.
- Intangible expenses – Emotional pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment in life, loss of hobbies or skills. California caps this type of damage at $250,000 for medical malpractice claims.
In the worst cases, where paralysis leads to death, families can file a claim for their loss of companionship, loss of guidance, loss of income, cremation or burial costs, and funeral expenses.
What Is the Value of My Paralysis Injury Case?
While we cannot guarantee a particular amount, we can say that paralysis settlements and verdicts tend to be some of the highest due to the permanence of the disability and the loss of enjoyment in life this type of injury causes. It is not uncommon for a paralysis lawsuit to reach into the millions or even tens of millions of dollars.
Here are a few examples from the State of California:
- $4.5 Million – Medical Malpractice at USC Medical Center (Los Angeles)
- $4.85 Million – Cyclist Injured By Damaged Sidewalk (San Diego)
- $24 Million – LAPD Shoots Teen Playing With Toy Gun (Los Angeles)
- $26.8 Million – Medical Malpractice Resulting in Paralysis (Bakersfield)
- $56 Million – Vehicle Drives Into Caltrans Employee At Work (Eureka)
As you can see, the paralysis cases in other states lead to substantial settlements and jury awards as well:
- $1.9 Million – Misdiagnosis of Leukemia Leads to Paralysis (Maine)
- $4 Million – Unsafe Sledding Hill Paralysis (Iowa)
- $6 Million – Homeowner’s Falling Limb Causes Paralysis (Texas)
- $9.1 Million – Botched Bowel Perforation Surgery (Minnesota)
- $41 Million – High School Sends Students On Field Trip In Tick-Infested Forest (Connecticut)
- $87 Million – Banned Pesticide Fumes Paralyze Entire Family Vacationing in Caribbean (Delaware)
- $148 Million – Dance Student Paralyzed When O’Hare Airport Bus Shelter Collapses (Illinois)
The largest paralysis settlements and jury awards tend to be the ones where the case for liability is very clear. When a compelling case can be made for the victim’s suffering, we find juries respond generously.
Take, for instance, the Chicago bus shelter case. The victim was a 26-year-old dance student who had her whole life and career before her when a bus shelter collapsed upon her due to poor maintenance that included corroded brackets and missing bolts. Her spinal cord was severed, paralyzing her from the waist down.
When Should I File A Paralysis Lawsuit?
The clock starts ticking on crucial evidence right away, so the sooner you contact a paralysis attorney to look into your case, the better! The Salamati Firm can help investigate what really happened. We regularly connect clients with doctors or transportation, so they can seek the medical care that they need.
The State of California has a two year Statute of Limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit, so it is important to contact a paralysis lawyer right away. For medical malpractice claims, you may be granted up to three years from the initial surgery OR one year from the discovery of injury. Birth injury claims in California can be pursued as late as when the child turns 18.
Get a Paralysis Attorney Who Can Help!
The Salamati Firm has served California accident and malpractice victims since 1995 with passionate advocacy and compassion. We cannot undo the paralysis itself, but we can hold people accountable for their actions and provide some measure of relief from the mounting financial hardship that has come your way since that fateful day.
In cases involving motor vehicle collisions, premises liability, and more, our attorneys bring in medical experts, crash reconstructionists, insurance adjustors, private investigators, safety inspectors, and other valuable witnesses who will testify on your behalf to strengthen your claim for maximum compensation.
Contact us for a FREE no-obligation case review. Legal fees are never charged unless we take on the case AND WIN.
More information on paralysis injury settlements:
- ACL – CDC Research Finds Spinal Cord Injury Leading Cause of Paralysis, https://www.acl.gov/news-and-events/announcements/cdc-research-finds-spinal-cord-injury-leading-cause-paralysis-united
- SpinalCord.com – Top 10 Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries, https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/the-top-10-causes-of-spinal-cord-injuries
- Bangor Daily News – Misdiagnosis Leads to Paralysis, http://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/19/health/misdiagnosis-leads-to-paralysis-1-9-million-settlement-for-maine-girl/
- Dallas News – Greg Abbott Has Received $6M From Suit Over Accident That Disabled Him, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-politics/2013/08/02/greg-abbott-has-received-6-million-from-suit-over-accident-that-disabled-him
- Daily Mail – Terminix Offers $87M Settlement for Injured Delaware Family, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3718347/Terminix-offers-87M-settlement-injured-Delaware-family.html
- Chicago Tribune – O’Hare Trial, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-darden-ohare-trial-0824-20170823-story.html
- Courthouse News – Court Upholds $41M Award After Student Paralyzed By Tick Bite, https://www.courthousenews.com/court-upholds-41m-award-student-paralyzed-tick-bite/
- Star Tribune – Paralyzed MN Mechanic Awarded $9.1M in Malpractice Verdict, http://www.startribune.com/paralyzed-minnesota-mechanic-awarded-9-1-million-in-malpractice-verdict/333412061/
- LA Times – LAPD To Pay $24M Verdict To Teen Paralyzed, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/lapd-24-million-verdict-teen-paralyzed.html
- Verdict Search – Failure To Notify Surgeon Resulted in Paralysis, http://verdictsearch.com/verdict/suit-failure-to-notify-surgeon-of-signal-loss-resulted-in-paralysis/
- LA Times – Medical Settlement, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-county-medical-settlement-20150331-story.html
- San Diego Tribune, Bike Settlement, http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-bike-settlement-20170301-story.html
