Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries that can result in paraplegia. A paraplegic accident can cause life-altering disabilities that significantly impact the injured victim and their family.
At The Crash Team, our Sugar Land paraplegic accident lawyers have the experience, skills, and resources to handle complex personal injury claims. We fight diligently for the rights of injured parties in Sugar Land, Texas. We’re seasoned trial lawyers and aggressive negotiators who seek the best possible outcome for every client we represent.
Call us at 832-800-8000 to schedule a free consultation with our Sugar Land paraplegic accident attorneys. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case.
How The Crash Team Can Help You With a Paraplegic Accident Claim in Sugar Land, Texas
The effects of a paraplegic accident include physical, emotional, and financial harm. Depending on the victim’s work and lifestyle before the accident, paraplegia can substantially impact their quality of life.
At The Crash Team, our Sugar Land personal injury attorneys understand the devastating consequences of paraplegic accidents.
When you hire our top-rated lawyers, you can trust that we will:
- Complete a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to your paraplegic accident
- Gather evidence supporting your claim, including working with vocational experts, medical specialists, financial professionals, and other expert witnesses
- File insurance claims and handle all matters with the insurance company
- Develop defenses to allegations of shared fault that could lower the value of your claim
- Document and analyze your damages to assess how much your case is worth
- Aggressively negotiate settlements that compensate you for your damages
- Take your lawsuit to trial and fiercely argue the merits of your case to a jury if a settlement is not possible
Our Sugar Land personal injury lawyers are dedicated to obtaining justice for injured victims and their families. We have a successful track record and high ratings, and we put our clients’ needs first.
If you or someone close to you has sustained a spinal cord injury in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call us to arrange for a free case evaluation with an experienced Sugar Land paraplegic accident attorney.
What Is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs. In some situations, it can impact your lower body and your arms. The condition is a common result of injuries to the spinal cord and nervous system. However, paraplegia can also be caused by diseases and medical conditions.
Complete paraplegia is a total loss of function, including movement and sensation. The affected area of the body may also result in the loss of control of automatic functions, such as the loss of bladder and bowel control. Incomplete paraplegia results in partial loss of movement and sensation.
The location of the injury on the spinal cord impacts the severity of the paralysis. For example, an injury to the thoracic spine (upper back) causes complete paraplegia.
You are completely paralyzed from the hips down. The paralysis includes the abdominal muscles, causing loss of bowel and bladder function. An injury to the lower back also causes complete paraplegia but does not impact chest muscles.
A spinal cord injury to the lumbar spine (lower back) can result in complete or incomplete paraplegia, depending on the location of the injury. You may need a wheelchair or be able to walk with braces or a walker. The area of the injury also determines whether you lose control of your bladder and bowels.
Common Causes of Paraplegic Accidents in Sugar Land, TX
The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are serious falls and motor vehicle accidents.
However, paraplegia can result from numerous types of paraplegic accidents, including but not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Falls from heights
- Commercial truck accidents
- Assaults and acts of violence (i.e., intentional torts)
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Workplace and industrial accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Nursing home abuse
- Construction accidents
- Sports injuries and premises liability accidents
- Product liability claims
Negligence is a common factor in paraplegic accidents. If another party causes your injuries, you may recover compensation for your losses by suing the party for damages. However, you have the burden of proving the other party caused your injuries before you can recover any money for your claim.
What Is My Paraplegic Accident Case Worth?
Paraplegia can be a very costly injury because it can impact a person’s ability to live and work independently. Depending on the severity of a spinal cord injury, someone could require assistance breathing. In other cases, they may need assistance with daily activities.
The following can impact what your case may be worth:
- The severity of your injury
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Insurance policy limits
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
- The medical treatment you require
Our attorneys at The Crash Team work with numerous experts, including economists, life care planners, physical therapists, and medical professionals, to determine the level of care you may need. Examples of paraplegia care could include:
Medical Equipment and Modifications to Homes & Vehicles
The cost of medical equipment, including wheelchairs, special beds, lifts, and other specialized devices and equipment. A person may require modification to their home to allow them to move through the home in a wheelchair or perform personal care. In some instances, vehicles may need to be modified to transport a person with paraplegia.
Long-Term Personal and Nursing Care
Private nursing and personal care at home or in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The level of care required depends on how the paraplegia impacts the person’s ability to perform activities of daily living. The more severe the paraplegia, the more personal and nursing care a person may require.
Vocational Retraining
Vocational retraining may be required to assist a person with paraplegia to adapt to the restrictions of their impairment. A person may be able to return to work after occupational and physical therapy. Other individuals may be able to receive training for another type of work.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Sugar Land Paraplegic Accident?
Paraplegic injury compensation can include economic damages for your financial losses.
Examples of economic damages for a paraplegic accident claim include:
- The cost of past and future medical treatment, including rehabilitative therapies
- Out-of-pocket expenses, including personal care, household services, and medical equipment
- The cost of past and future loss of income, including employment benefits, diminished earning capacity and lost wages
A paraplegic accident also results in non-economic damages.
Non-economic damages compensate the accident victim for their pain and suffering, including:
- Impairments and disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Decreased quality of life
Texas law also allows for punitive damages in personal injury lawsuits. A jury must determine that a defendant acted with fraud, gross negligence, or malice. If so, it can award punitive damages to punish the defendant for this conduct. Punitive damages are paid to the plaintiff in addition to compensatory damages.
Can I Recover Damages After a Paraplegic Accident if I’m Partially to Blame?
Texas has adopted a modified comparative negligence standard. If an injured party is more than 50% at fault for their injuries, they are barred from receiving damages. That means if a jury determines you are 55% to blame for your car accident, you cannot recover any money from the other driver.
However, if you are less than 51% to blame, you can recover damages, but the court will reduce your damages by your level of blame. Therefore, if the jury determines you are 35% to blame for your car accident, the judge decreases the damages award by 35 percent.
Insurance companies aggressively try to reduce the amount they pay for damages, especially in catastrophic injury cases like paraplegic accidents. It is essential to be cautious when speaking with an insurance adjuster or other insurance representative. Your statements could be intentionally misinterpreted to allege fault.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Paraplegic Accident Claims in Texas?
The Texas statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits, including cases involving paraplegic accidents, is typically two years. However, deadlines vary based on the type of case and the factors involved in the case. Filing a lawsuit after the statute expires could result in the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Many personal injury cases have a two-year statute of limitations. However, there are exceptions. For instance, the deadline to file a workers’ compensation claim is one year from the injury date. The deadline to file a claim against a governmental body requires you to file a notice of claim within six months.
The best way to avoid missing a deadline is to seek prompt legal advice. We encourage you to contact our office to speak with an attorney about your case as soon as possible.
Contact Our Sugar Land Paraplegic Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Paraplegic accident claims are complex personal injury cases. The damages are generally substantial and may need to cover a lifetime of care. Call The Crash Team to request a free case review with one of our Sugar Land paraplegic accident lawyers.