Tetraplegia & Paraplegia Compensation Claims Lawyers.

When a person is involved in an accident that leads to paralysis, their life is undoubtedly changed forever. Even in the less serious cases where the paralysis is partial or temporary, the person often still has to take extended time off work, or give up their job altogether. This obviously has a huge financial impact on the individual and their family. In addition to this, it is likely that their home will need to be adapted, or they may need to move into more suitable accommodation depending on the extent of their condition.

As well as the physical implications of being paralysed, the individual may also suffer adverse psychological effects after their accident as they adapt to their sudden loss of independence. Some people can find it extremely dehumanising to become reliant on other people for even the simplest of daily tasks, and they may find themselves feeling depressed or suffering with flashbacks from the accident.

Whilst there is no cure for paralysis, many individuals find that rehabilitation therapy makes a big difference to their quality of life. With compensation, and the guidance of our empathic personal injury solicitors you could access care and support including:

• Physical therapy, for example neuro-physiotherapy
• Ongoing pain management
• Occupational therapy to provide aids and equipment which foster independent living
• Speech and language therapy if your communication was affected by your injury
• Rehabilitation nurses to help with bodily function issues such as bowel or bladder dysfunction
• Access to mental health services to aid with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder etc which may have developed after the accident

Making a claim for compensation after a paralysis injury can help to provide financial security to the individual and their family, as well as helping to pay for medical treatment and therapies, and the necessary home and vehicle adaptations to improve their quality of life. Pursuing legal action against the individual or organisation responsible for the accident can also help to ensure that measures are put into place to prevent the same thing happening again in the future.

We understand that an accident that leads to injuries of this nature will have a huge financial impact.  We will try to arrange interim payments throughout your case, ensuring you don’t face financial hardship whilst awaiting your final compensation award. We also offer our services on a no win no fee basis which means you won’t be charged for an unsuccessful claim, and there are no fees to pay upfront. Our people are here to become your team, and we can work together to achieve the best possible outcome.

Paralysis of any kind will lead to a number of issues for the individual, however there are certain types of paralysis that may allow for a more independent outlook than others. The different types of paralysis that can occur include the following:

• Monoplegia – This type typically affects only one limb, usually an arm, and is most often the result of a neurological illness or brain damage specifically affecting the part of the brain that controls movement.
• Hemiplegia – This refers to paralysis which affects both the arm and leg on one side of the body, typically occurring as the result of a stroke. In some cases hemiplegic paralysis may be temporary.
• Paraplegia – This is the term used to describe paralysis which occurs below the waist, affecting the legs, hips, pelvis, and bodily functions including bowel and bladder. It typically occurs as a result of a lower back spinal cord injury. The injury that leads to paraplegic paralysis may be incomplete, and the individual may still feel some sensation in their legs, although movement is not possible.
• Triplegia – This is where the paralysis occurs in one arm and both legs, and it is most often seen in individuals with cerebral palsy.
• Quadriplegia – Also known as tetraplegia, this type of paralysis affects everything below the neck, including both arms, both legs, torso, and bodily functions. The most severe form of paralysis, it occurs due to a spinal cord injury in the neck. Due to the injury occurring so high up on the spinal cord, the signals are unable to travel to the majority of the body.

If you have suffered any type of paralysis after being involved in an accident which was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for paralysis compensation. Please speak to our friendly and professional personal injury solicitors who will be happy to help you begin your claim.

Paralysis can occur for many reasons, including stroke, or a head injury, but some of the most common accidents which give rise to a paralysis compensation claim include:

• Road traffic accidents
• Accidents at work
• Accidents at school
• Accidents in a public place
• Violent crimes i.e. assault
• Sports injuries
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Falling from height
• Agricultural accidents
• Horse riding accidents
• Birth injuries
• Accidents on holiday
• Industrial accidents
• Medical negligence
• Military accidents

Being injured in any type of accident could potentially result in an injury that affects the brain, spinal cord, or nerves, or it could cause a stroke, or even a tumour on the brain or spine, all of which will ultimately lead to some degree of paralysis.

If you have been involved in any of the accidents listed, or any other accident which wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The specialist team at Lanyon Bowdler are waiting to speak to you and assess your eligibility to claim.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, your employer has a duty of care to ensure you are able to carry out your role safely within the workplace. If your employer breaches their duty of care, and this results in an accident occurring, in which you sustain an injury that leads to paralysis, you are entitled to take legal action against them.

A breach in their duty of care could be something such as failing to provide you with adequate training, failing to provide appropriate personal protective equipment, or failing to carry out routine maintenance on equipment. There are also specific rules which your employer must adhere to if employees are required to work from height.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you have reasonable grounds for making a claim against your employer, please get in touch and our team of personal injury solicitors will be happy to discuss your situation and offer advice on how best to proceed.