Paralysis could change an individual’s life by impacting their ability to work, enjoy hobbies, or even live in their home without adaptations or personal care.
You may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit if your paralysis resulted from an accident that resulted from another person or entity’s negligent or reckless actions.
If you or a loved one suffered harm in this circumstance, a Lafayette paralysis injury lawyer could advocate for your right to receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
You may be able to collect various types of damages, so retaining a Lafayette catastrophic injury attorney to help you establish and communicate the full extent of your injuries may be beneficial in a paralysis injury case.
Different Forms of Paralysis
Paralysis is the inability of an individual to feel or use one or more of their limbs because of damage caused to the nerves in their body. Paralysis is often a permanent condition classified by the regions of the body it affects. According to Healthline, the different forms of paralysis include:
- Monoplegia, where only one of the individual’s limbs is paralyzed
- Paraplegia, where both of the individual’s legs are paralyzed
- Hemiplegia, where one side of the individual’s body is paralyzed
- Tetraplegia or quadriplegia, where all of the individual’s arms and legs are paralyzed
More localized paralysis may involve the individual’s inability to use body parts such as their hand or a part of their face. Depending on the injury, the individual may also lose the ability to breathe properly or control their bladder without medical assistance.
All types and forms of paralysis may be compensable in a paralysis injury claim. A Lafayette paralysis lawyer can determine if a plaintiff’s paralysis injury fits into one of these classifications.
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The Purpose of Paralysis Legal Cases
Any form of paralysis could severely impact various aspects of an injured individual’s life. As such, they may be entitled to recover various types of compensation.
Damages in any personal injury lawsuit are intended to compensate the victim for their injuries to make that individual “whole” again. This means they should be returned to the financial and mental state they were in before the accident, as much as possible.
When a spinal cord injury or other nerve damage and paralysis occurs, it is obviously impossible to return a victim to their previous physical health. However, the law allows victims to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer located in Lafayette to help them seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages they’ve been burdened with.
Seeking Compensation in Paralysis Cases
Compensation might be determined based upon many factors, including:
- The severity of the paralysis and whether the injury is permanent
- The impact of the paralysis on the individual’s ability to work and earn a living
- The impact of the paralysis upon the individual’s ability to enjoy life
- Whether any modifications must be made to the individual’s home or vehicle to accommodate their injury
- Whether the individual requires continuous or future medical care
- The impact of the paralysis on the individual’s family life
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Recoverable Damages for Iberia Parish Paralysis Injuries
An injury victim is entitled to compensation, or damages, for the losses they suffered. Common damages awarded in paralysis injury cases include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages have a tangible financial value, as they encompass any money you have spent because of the accident and your injuries. Examples of economic damages include:
- Current and future lost earnings
- Current and future medical expenses
- Medications
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Ongoing care and support costs
- Any modifications that are required for the victim’s home
- Property damages, such as a totaled vehicle
While calculating economic damages is typically easier than calculating non-economic damages, it is still a detailed process.
For example, quantifying a victim’s lost wages and reduced earning capacity can require a complex analysis of their past salary, future earning potential, and capacity for alternative work.
Calculating future medical expenses also requires expert assistance from the victim’s medical team to learn more about their prognosis, potential ongoing care needs, and the costs of these needs.
Non-Economic Damages
These losses are intangible and may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium, service, and society
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
Additionally, the victim’s family members may be able to recover compensation in some cases. For example, a spouse may file a claim for losing the victim’s help around the house and other important aspects of their relationship.
These damages do not have a financial value. However, our lawyers know how to use insurance industry standards and common calculations used by the court to determine a fair settlement value.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, punitive damages may be available to punish the party responsible for causing the paralysis.
Some of these damages are easier to calculate than others, and an Iberia Parish paralysis injury attorney may call upon experts to help assess a fair value. Your personal injury attorney can explain how they will work to help you recover any or all of these damages following a paralysis injury.
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Iberia Parish Paralysis Injury Lawyers
As injury lawyers in Iberia Parish, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers helps victims of negligence seek and recover compensation. Most commonly, we negotiate out-of-court settlements with insurance companies representing the at-fault parties in these cases.
However, we have extensive trial experience and can sue and take our argument in front of a jury if necessary.
Statute of Limitations
Injury victims have a one-year statute of limitations, or prescription, from the date of the injury in which to file a lawsuit, per CC Art. 3492. If the injured person was a victim of a violent crime, the deadline extends to two years, per CC Art. 3493.10.
Depending on the situation, other time limit exceptions may apply. Your Iberia Parish paralysis injury lawyer can help you determine the specific deadlines that apply to your case.
Requirements for a Paralysis Lawsuit
If another person’s negligence leads to an injury, that person should repair any damage they caused. To determine if a person acted negligently, the court considers if the actor owed a duty of care to the victim, if the actor breached that duty, and if that breach caused the victim’s injury.
For example, a doctor may be considered negligent if they failed to act in the manner other reasonable doctors would, and their action or inaction caused a victim to become paralyzed. Likewise, a motorist may be deemed negligent if their distracted driving led to a collision that caused another driver’s injuries.
How an Attorney Can Help with Your Paralysis Case
Our team of attorneys understands how a catastrophic injury affects the victim and every member of their family. We gather evidence of our clients’ damages, calculate the cost of their future medical treatment and support, and value their intangible losses. This is how we determine how much a claim or lawsuit may be worth following a paralysis injury.
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Let a Lafayette Paralysis Injury Attorney Help
If you or a loved one was paralyzed because of an accident that someone else’s negligent or reckless actions caused, a Lafayette paralysis injury lawyer could help you understand the types and amount of compensation that may be available. We represent clients hurt in many different types of incidents, including:
- Bicycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Defective devices
- Product liability
- Premises liability
- Maritime injuries
Navigating the legal system can be complicated, so a paralysis attorney in Lafayette may be able to help you understand all of your available options and engage in negotiations to pursue a favorable financial award for your injuries.
We provide complimentary consultations to those hurt by another party’s actions. We may be able to represent you or your loved one in a paralysis injury case.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers works based on contingency fees. We do not ask any client to pay upfront fees, a retainer, or hourly charges. Our contracts only ask for a percentage of the settlement or jury award we recover.
This means if you do not win, we do not get paid. This makes it possible for anyone to afford our services and representation regardless of their current financial situation.
Speak to a Representative from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for Free Today
If you or a family member lives with paralysis or other catastrophic injuries after a personal injury accident in Lafayette, we are here to help. A team member from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will review your case and explain your legal rights for free.
Call (337) 777-7777 today to receive a free, no-obligation consultation.
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