Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Serving Memphis and Beyond
Paralysis occurs when the way that messages are passed back and forth between someone’s brain and muscles becomes damaged. Paralysis is a serious and life-altering injury. The paralysis may be complete or partial, and it may affect one part of the body or the whole body. When paralysis affects both legs, it is called paraplegia, while paralysis of both arms and legs is known as quadriplegia. Sometimes paralysis is a result of force being exerted on the body, such as a spinal cord injury. If you suffer paralysis due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct, the Memphis spinal cord injury attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to help you recover damages. With more than 30 attorneys and 100 staff members, our firm is the largest personal injury firm based in Tennessee.
Protecting Your Rights After an Accident Causing Paralysis
If you suffer paralysis because of someone else’s conduct, you may be able to recover damages. However, what you will need to prove and the damages that you may recover can vary, depending on the circumstances under which you were hurt.
For example, if you suffer paralysis as a result of a drunk truck driver, you will likely need to establish the truck driver’s negligence or negligence per se. To prove negligence, you must show that the truck driver failed to use reasonable care, and as a result you were harmed. If the truck driver is convicted of drunk driving in criminal court, you are likely to be able to establish negligence per se. You may also be able to sue the trucking company for negligent hiring or vicarious (indirect) liability.
If you suffered paralysis because a doctor failed to diagnose an impending stroke, even if you had described signs that the doctor should have investigated, you may be able to establish a medical malpractice case. In a medical malpractice case, you will need to prove that your health care provider failed to meet the standards and practices accepted by the local medical community. The accepted standards and practices may vary depending on the age and gender of the patient, as well as other factors. For example, when faced with a young person complaining of certain symptoms, a doctor may need to do something different from what they would do when faced with an elderly person complaining of the same symptoms.
The damages award in a case involving paralysis may be significant. It is important to retain an attorney who takes the time to understand all of the ways in which your life has changed or is likely to change as a result of paralysis. For example, someone who suffers complete paralysis may need to change their house to accommodate a wheelchair, may need lifelong aid, and may suffer from depression and emotional distress while trying to adapt to a new disability. You may recover both economic and noneconomic compensatory damages in personal injury lawsuits. When a defendant’s actions are exceptionally egregious and result in paralysis, it may be appropriate to pursue punitive damages under the law.
Retain a Memphis Lawyer Following a Devastating Accident
Your life may be permanently altered by paralysis. Victims who experience paralysis as a result of accidents caused by others should contact the Memphis attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. Our firm consists of more than 30 experienced attorneys with strong credentials and over 100 staff members. We serve people who suffer from spinal cord injuries in Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Call our office toll-free at 800-LAW-4004 or complete our online form for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney or assistance with another type of personal injury claim.
