Few types of injuries are more universally life-altering and devastating than those resulting in permanent paralysis. Any loss of motor function and sensation has the potential to prematurely end your working life, lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and possibly even keep you from caring for your own daily needs.
Seeking fair financial recovery with the aid of a skilled catastrophic injury attorney could be key to stabilizing your finances and preserving your future prospects after a debilitating injury like this. Once retained, an Altus paralysis injury lawyer could help you understand the options available to you and work tenaciously to secure maximum compensation for your damages.
Types of Paralysis
While certain types of injuries, such as incomplete spinal cord damage, may allow paralyzed individuals some chance of recovery through prompt medical treatment and physical therapy, most paralyzing injuries are permanent in nature. As a seasoned Altus paralysis accident attorney knows all too well, complete spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain damage, and certain types of nerve damage may result in any of the following forms of lifelong paralysis:
- Monoplegia – paralysis in a single limb
- Hemiplegia – paralysis on one side of the body but not the other
- Paraplegia – complete paralysis below the waist
- Quadriplegia – complete paralysis below the neck
The value of personal injury claims depends on the severity of injuries and losses you sustained. Thus, permanent paralysis tends to justify a greater financial recovery. In addition to short-term losses like emergency medical bills and personal property damage, a paralyzed person usually has grounds to recover for numerous long-term losses as well. This can include lost earning capacity, physical and emotional pain, lost enjoyment of personal hobbies, and loss of consortium.
How State Law Could Prevent Financial Recovery
In 2019, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the cap on non-economic damages that was once enshrined in state law, so there is currently no limit on the amount of compensation a person suffering from paralysis can demand from the party responsible for their condition. However, there are still other laws that could impact how this type of litigation plays out, all of which a paralysis injury lawyer in Altus could explain further during a private consultation.
Oklahoma Statutes § 23-13 establishes a system that prevents plaintiffs from recovering any compensation at all if they bear more than 50 percent of the total blame for their own injuries. This law also allows courts to reduce damage awards based on the proportion of fault that the plaintiff is assigned. Furthermore, even though the full value of harm that a paralysis will cause may not become clear for years after it occurs, OK Stat. § 12-95 still sets a two-year filing deadline for most cases. The deadline begins to run starting on the day of the accident, so it is important to secure legal help as soon as possible.
Talk to an Altus Paralysis Injury Attorney About Your Legal Options
Pursuing a case for damages certainly won’t be able to reverse a life-changing injury but retaining effective legal counsel early on can help properly preserve your claim for the harms and losses caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, including money to pay off medical bills, supplement any income you are missing out on, or accommodations meant to make your life easier.
An Altus paralysis injury lawyer can work on your behalf to secure the best possible outcome to your claim. We accept cases from all over Southwest Oklahoma so call today to receive a free consultation.