Causes of Paralysis in Victorville

Paralysis can be a terrifying condition. Whether the paralysis is the result of a progressive illness, which gradually strips you of your ability to move or feel sensations, or the result of an accident that leads to an abrupt loss of movement or feeling, it can be overwhelming. Paralysis can lead to more than an inability to support yourself—it can lead to complete dependence on others.

If you are struggling with paralysis, you may wonder if any legal remedies can help you get compensation for your condition. The answer is complex. Many things can be responsible for paralysis, but not all of them are linked to negligence or strict liability. However, when the causes of paralysis in Victorville are linked to someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to our knowledgeable team of attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group to learn more about your potential legal rights and options.

What Is Paralysis?

Paralysis is the loss of movement or sensation in part or all of the body. It can affect one or both sides and may be partial or complete. Partial paralysis involves some loss of movement and sensation, while complete paralysis results in a total loss of movement, often with a loss of sensation.

While being unable to move may seem like enough of a symptom, paralysis can lead to additional complications. People often suffer from depression and anxiety. Secondary substance abuse issues are common in people with paralysis. Additional physical complications can include:

• Breathing difficulties
• Swallowing and speech problems
• Blood clots
• Loss of sexual function

Diagnosing paralysis is relatively easy. Patients can self-report loss of movement, and doctors can test to see if the person has sensations and test the muscle function. Doctors may also use imaging studies to verify the diagnosis and to try to pin down the cause of paralysis in a Victorville patient.

Potential Causes of Paralysis

Several things can lead to paralysis, including:

• Strokes
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken necks
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Genetic differences

The cause can help determine a person’s long-term prognosis and whether healing is possible, so healthcare workers need to understand why someone is experiencing those symptoms.

Strokes are responsible for about one-third of all cases of paralysis. However, paralysis from stroke is often incomplete and does not impact the entire body. For example, weakness on one side of the body is common. While most strokes are due to underlying biological causes, negligence can lead to strokes as well. For example, strokes are not uncommon secondary injuries after a person has experienced substantial physical trauma.

Spinal cord injuries—including broken necks—are the second most common cause of paralysis. There are multiple potential causes of spinal cord injuries, and this category is the one where negligence is most likely. Some examples of accidents that could rise to liability for a spinal cord injury include:

•       Car accidents
•       Motorcycle accidents
•       Sports injuries
•       Falls
•       Violence

When paralysis is the result of a spinal cord injury, recovery may be less likely. If the injury severs the spinal cord, modern medicine cannot currently cure that injury.

Like spinal cord injuries, severe head injuries—often known as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—can lead to paralysis. Any damage to the brain can interfere with the nerve pathways from the body to the brain. In these instances, there may be a cure—or at least a partial cure—for the loss of movement. Over time, the brain may reroute and create new neural pathways, which might facilitate movement.

Conditions like Bell’s palsy, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), birth defects, Guillain-Barre syndrome, acute flaccid myelitis, and certain types of leukemia can also lead to paralysis in Victorville. Generally, these conditions are organic and have no direct cause. However, financial recovery may be possible if the conditions are due to someone’s negligence.

Talk to a Victorville Attorney About the Common Causes of Paralysis

Not every victim of paralysis can get compensation to help them with their injuries. However, some people may be eligible, even if you do not see a clear connection between the paralysis and an act of negligence. To learn more, consult an attorney who knows the causes of paralysis in Victorville.