El Centro Quadriplegia Injury Lawyer
Quadriplegia can drastically alter the lives of the injured and their loved ones. This kind of paralysis can leave victims and families stuck with significant medical care expenses.
This injury can also limit a quadriplegic’s future career opportunities and ability to attain employment. However, victims and families impacted by quadriplegia injuries caused by negligence or a lack of care have legal options to recover damages for monetary losses and psychological harm. If you or a loved one were injured in this way, contact an El Centro quadriplegia injury lawyer at Walter Clark Legal Group as soon as possible.
Quadriplegia Can Severely Limit a Person’s Quality of Life
Quadriplegia is a type of spinal cord injury that limits a person’s ability to move their upper and lower extremities. The injury commonly results in paralysis from the neck down. Medical experts also refer to quadriplegia as tetraplegia.
There are different classifications for the injury, including partial or complete quadriplegia. Partial or incomplete quadriplegics may retain some limited sensory or motor function in their body. Complete quadriplegics have a total loss of sensory or muscle control.
Further, quadriplegia injuries are classified as flaccid or spastic. Flaccid quadriplegia describes when someone has a total loss of muscle function and control, making the area limp. Spastic quadriplegia victims can experience uncontrollable muscle movements.
While victims can sometimes recover from quadriplegia in limited cases, the injury often results in permanent paralysis. This can drastically impact a person’s ability to experience and enjoy life.
Quadriplegia can even lead to death in some cases, especially when the injury impacts a person’s breathing ability. Further, the injury can make it more difficult to recover from other medical conditions, such as pneumonia.
When Negligence Causes Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia can result from various causes, including:
- Car crashes
- Medical malpractice
- Autoimmune diseases
- A fall, such as a slip and fall
- Congenital spinal cord conditions
- Violent attacks, including assault and battery or with a weapon
Many of the common causes of quadriplegia injuries are considered accidents. However, accidents do not just happen. The incident that led to a quadriplegia injury is often the result of negligent behavior by another person.
When someone experiences a quadriplegia injury due to negligence, California Civil Code § 1714 holds the responsible party liable. In general, negligence consists of willful or unintentional actions that demonstrate a failure to use reasonable care or skill.
The at-fault party will depend on what caused the injury. If the quadriplegia was due to a surgical mistake or another type of medical malpractice, the injured person could have a legal claim against the responsible doctor or medical facility.
If a negligent motorist causes an accident by reckless actions on the road—such as speeding or drunk driving—this can also give rise to a lawsuit. A well-practiced lawyer in El Centro could help assess the responsible party for a quadriplegia injury.
Survival Actions and Wrongful Death Lawsuits
When a quadriplegia injury causes death, the decedent’s estate or surviving family can potentially still take legal action. State law allows these parties to bring a survival action or a wrongful death claim.
While these claims have some similarities, they also have certain differences. Survival actions allow the decedent’s estate to recover compensation for losses or damages suffered by the deceased before their death, according to Cal. Civ. Pro. Code § 377.34
Only the administrator of a decedent’s estate or their success in interest can pursue a survival action. Survival actions allow the decedent to recover compensation for damages suffered due to their injuries or death, such as medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and funeral expenses.
In contrast to the decedent’s estate, a wrongful death action under Cal. Civ. Pro. Code § 377.60 allows the decedent’s surviving relatives to sue for damages. A seasoned attorney in El Centro could help a decedent’s family decide which is the right type of claim when quadriplegia injuries lead to death.
Call an El Centro Attorney Immediately About Quadriplegia Injuries
An El Centro quadriplegia injury lawyer understands the devastating emotional and financial toll of this type of paralysis. Do not hesitate to speak with one of our compassionate legal professionals at Walter Clark Legal Group about filing a lawsuit.
Our firm is focused on building relationships with our clients. When we cannot handle a particular type of claim, we can help a client retain a trusted co-counsel. Call today to learn more.
