California Paralysis Injury Attorneys Seek Compensation for Victims
Reputable lawyers serve clients in Sacramento, Rancho Cucamonga and statewide
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury, paralysis is generally permanent. Hope then lies in successfully making the transition to the new normal, but the ability to adapt to life with paralysis can depend greatly on obtaining sufficient compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. If the injury to you or a family member was due to someone’s negligent, reckless or deliberate act or omission, Mastagni Holstedt, APC in Sacramento and Rancho Cucamonga is prepared to help. For decades, our personal injury attorneys have helped paralysis victims obtain fair and adequate compensation, so they can take care of their financial and physical needs and maximize their potential for a fulfilling life.
Understanding the types of paralysis resulting from catastrophic injuries
A catastrophic injury is one that forever changes the life of the victim, such as loss of limb, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis. The last of these occurs when the spinal cord is prevented from transmitting signals from parts of the body to the brain and back again. With mild to moderate spinal trauma, paralysis can be temporary, although recovery is generally slow and rarely complete. In more severe cases, when the cord is broken, the body can be completely paralyzed below the trauma point. A victim whose neck is broken can suffer quadriplegia — the paralysis of arms and legs — while a victim whose trauma point is in the thoracic or lumbar region of the spine can suffer paraplegia, the paralysis of the legs.
Common causes of spinal cord injuries
Paralysis can result from trauma caused by such incidents as:
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slips and falls
- Sports injuries
- Violent assault
In these cases and others, an attorney can investigate whether the elements of a personal injury case exist. Most often someone was negligent in directly causing the injury or in putting another person in unreasonable danger.
However, disease can also cause paralysis. In such cases, there may be grounds for a malpractice lawsuit if the victim’s physician failed to diagnose the illness in time to prevent paralysis. For example, a physician may have failed to see the warning signs of a stroke that led the patient to suffer paralysis.
Damage awards for paraplegia and quadriplegia
A paralysis victim who proves negligence or other harmful behavior by another person can seek compensation for all losses suffered, which include:
- Lost earnings and lost future earnings
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Costs of home care
- Costs of remodeling a home and/or vehicle to accommodate the disability
- Physical pain
- Mental suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Paralysis that will last a lifetime deserves compensation that covers the full life of the victim. As your advocates, we strive to recover the maximum amount possible through negotiation, settlement or trial. We are determined to fight for the justice you deserve.
Contact a California paralysis injury attorney about your potential claim
If your loved one has been paralyzed due to some person’s negligent act or omission, Mastagni Holstedt, APC can help. Contact us online or call for a free consultation with one of our attorneys in Sacramento, Rancho Cucamonga or Pleasanton. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.