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Paralysis is defined as complete loss of strength
in an affected limb or muscle group and can be the devastating
result of a motor vehicle accident. Seatbelts
and airbags can protect drivers and passengers against
severe nerve damage. However, seatbelts and airbags
are often defective and fail to protect passengers.
Additionally, defective vehicle design can often lead
to roof crushing during rollover accidents, increasing
the chance of severe nerve damage and paralysis.
The chain of nerve cells that runs from the brain through
the spinal cord out to the muscle is called the motor
pathway. Normal muscle function requires intact connections
all along this motor pathway. Damage at any point reduces
the brain's ability to control the muscle's movements.
This reduced efficiency causes weakness, also called
paresis. Complete loss of communication prevents any
willed movement at all. This lack of control is called
paralysis.
The types of paralysis are classified by region:
- Monoplegia, affecting only one limb
- Diplegia, affecting the same body region on both
sides of the body (both arms, for example, or both
sides of the face)
- Hemiplegia, affecting one side of the body
- Paraplegia, affecting both legs and the trunk
- Quadriplegia, affecting all four limbs and the trunk.
Paraplegia occurs after injury to the lower spinal
cord, and quadriplegia occurs after damage to the upper
spinal cord at the level of the shoulders or higher
(the nerves controlling the arms leave the spine at
that level). Both Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are devastating
conditions that affect hundreds of accident victims
each year. Many will never reach full recovery and will
require lifelong medical attention.
If you or a loved one is paralyzed
as the result of an automobile accident, you could be
entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact
our accident lawyers today for a free and confidential
case evaluation.
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