Paraplegia: Elk & Elk’s medical malpractice attorneys understand

Facing paralysis is no easy task. Our Ohio injury lawyers are here to help.

An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 American s are affected by spinal cord injuries, leaving them with a lifetime of impaired motor function of varying levels, to paraplegia to quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia), requiring the use of a wheelchair or other mobility device.

For anyone, learning you will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life has got to be a stinging blow, but to learn you’ve been afflicted with a spinal cord injury because of a healthcare provider’s negligence seems even more catastrophic. Here you went in to be treated for an ailment and came out of the operating room more damaged than before the procedure.

When a tragedy like this strikes, you need an experienced, competent legal team to ensure you rights and your well-being are protected for the rest of your life. According to a 2008 study published by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the estimated life cost of paraplegia for a 25-year-old exceeds $1 million, and that’s without considering pain and suffering, lost wages and a diminished quality of life.

When doctors make mistakes, you can bet they have access to the best legal defense teams money can buy. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have the same kind of high-caliber legal counsel yourself, making sure the healthcare provider’s insurance company treats you fairly and ensures the viability of you and your family for the rest of your lives.

At Elk & Elk, we employ the best lawyers, paralegals, doctors, nurses, accountants and experts available. We work on a no-fee-unless-you-win basis and we spare no expense to see to it that you and your family are treated fairly and are able to get your lives back on track as quickly and seamlessly as the situation allows.

If you or someone you know has been paralyzed due to a botched medical procedure, take the time to let Elk & Elk show you the difference a top-notch medical malpractice team can make for you. Just call us at 1-800-ELK-OHIO to discuss your case, or fill out our free, no-obligation case evaluation form by clicking here.

Paraplegia Facts

• Spinal cord injury symptoms depend on two factors:
• The location of the injury. In general, injuries that are higher in your spinal cord produce more paralysis. For example, a spinal cord injury at the neck level may cause paralysis in both arms and legs and make it impossible to breathe without a respirator, while a lower injury may affect only your legs and lower parts of your body.
• The severity of the injury. Spinal cord injuries are classified as partial or complete, depending on how much of the cord width is damaged.
• In a partial spinal cord injury, which may also be called an incomplete injury, the spinal cord is able to convey some messages to or from your brain. So people with partial spinal cord injury retain some sensation and possibly some motor function below the affected area.
• A complete spinal cord injury is defined by total or near-total loss of motor function and sensation below the area of injury. However, even in a complete injury, the spinal cord is almost never completely cut in half. Doctors use the term "complete" to describe a large amount of damage to the spinal cord. It's a key distinction because many people with partial spinal cord injuries are able to experience significant recovery, while those with complete injuries are not. (Source: Paralinks Wheelchair Nation)
• One of the best ways to regain control of your life is to educate yourself about your injury and your options for reclaiming an independent life. A wide range of driving equipment and vehicle modifications is available today. The same is true of home modification products. Ramps, wider doors, special sinks, grab bars and easy-to-turn doorknobs make it possible for you to assert your autonomy. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
• SCI primarily affects young adults. From 1973 to 1979, the average age at injury was 28.7 years, and most injuries occurred between the ages of 16 and 30. However, as the median age of the general population of the United States has increased by approximately 8 years since the mid-1970’s, the average age at injury has also steadily increased over time. Since 2005, the average age at injury is 39.5 years. Moreover, the percentage of persons older than 60 years of age at injury has increased from 4.7% prior to 1980 to 11.5% among injuries occurring since 2000. Other possible reasons for the observed trend toward older age at injury might include changes in either referral patterns to model systems, the locations of model systems, survival rates of older persons at the scene of the accident, or age-specific incidence rates. (Source: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center)