Becoming paralyzed in an accident changes your entire life. It changes your ability to take care of yourself, which impacts every relationship in your life. Partners, children, and friends may have to step into caregiver roles. If you were a breadwinner, your family’s financial future is impacted. In addition to lost income and immediate medical expenses, you can expect additional medical costs each year.

Struggling to adjust to these changes is common. Most people who experience total or partial paralysis also experience depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. It is critical to treat your mental health, as well as your physical health, which comes with a price tag. It is only fair that the person who caused your injuries pay for them. The catastrophic injury attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC can help. When you schedule a free consultation with a Torrington paralysis injury lawyer, we can review your case, discuss your legal options, and build a strong claim seeking comprehensive compensation for all your injury-related losses.

Understanding Paralysis

When you suffer a disruption of nerve signals to your muscles, making you unable to move part of your body voluntarily, you have paralysis. Paralysis can be partial—meaning it causes severe muscle weakness and diminished movement—or complete, which occurs when you cannot move a specific part of the body. It can help to think of paralysis as a spectrum since it can occur in degrees and also affect different parts of the body.

Types of paralysis include:

  • Monoplegia: Paralysis affecting one area, like one arm or leg;
  • Hemiplegia: Paralysis affecting one arm and one leg on the same side of the body;
  • Paraplegia: Paralysis affecting both legs and often the hips and organs in the lower abdomen; and
  • Quadriplegia: Paralysis affecting both arms and legs and often muscles in the trunk, the internal organs, or both.

Understanding the type and degree of paralysis is essential for assessing both your medical prognosis and your potential recovery. While some people can partially or fully recover from paralysis, outcomes can vary significantly. In cases where the spine is severed, a full recovery is impossible. It is crucial to work with an experienced attorney who can accurately predict the lifelong costs associated with care. Our Torrington attorneys will ensure we understand all aspects of your paralysis injury and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Causes of Paralysis

Any injury can potentially lead to paralysis. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Knowing the facts of the case are essential when establishing fault. Did someone else’s behavior lead to your injury? Was that behavior reckless or negligent? If so, they may be liable for your economic and non-economic damages. Even if you share responsibility for the accident, you may still be entitled to recovery. Connecticut is a modified comparative negligence state. As long as you are not greater than 50 percent liable for your injuries, you may be able to recover from the other party or parties responsible.

The determination of negligence will depend on the nature of your case—a driver has a different duty than a property owner—but the same principles apply. One of the primary jobs of our Torrington lawyers is investigating the event that led to your paralysis, identifying potentially liable parties, and bringing claims against those parties.

A Torrington Paralysis Injury Attorney Can Help You Move Forward

Paralysis can be debilitating, not just for the injured person but also for families and loved ones. Holding someone accountable for your injuries and getting financial compensation will not change the nature or extent of your injuries. However, compensation can do a lot to improve your situation.

Do not wait to contact a Torrington paralysis injury lawyer. All legal paperwork must be served on the liable parties and filed in court before the statute of limitations expires. Let us help you seek the justice you deserve while you focus on your physical recovery and adjusting to a new way of life with your injury. Call D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC today for a free in-person or remote consultation.