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Were you or a loved one paralyzed as a result of a San Diego car accident? Are you concerned about how you will be able to support yourself and your family after the collision? Are you wondering whether there is anything you can do to hold the driver responsible for your condition accountable for their actions? If this describes what you are going through, you need a lawyer who has the knowledge, skill, and dedication necessary to advance your interests at every stage of the process. You need an attorney who will not back down in the face of large and powerful insurance companies. You need a law firm with a reputation for excellence and a track record to support it.
We are The Levinson Law Group, a small team of San Diego car accident lawyers who care deeply about our clients. Unlike many other local law firms, we only handle car accident cases. This narrow focus gives us unparalleled experience handling even the most complex and challenging cases. If you have been paralyzed in a San Diego car accident, The Levinson Law Group can help.
Causes of Paralysis Accidents in San Diego, CA
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCSIC), over 296,000 people suffer from the long-term effects of spinal cord damage. In the context of a car accident, paralysis most often occurs due to damage to the central nervous system. Car accidents are the single leading cause of spinal cord injury, with more than 38 percent of all spinal cord injuries stemming from motor vehicle accidents.
The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. So, if you became paralyzed after a San Diego car accident, your paralysis was almost certainly the result of brain damage or damage to the spinal column or spinal cord. Most cases of trauma-induced paralysis involve injury to the spinal cord.
The central nervous system is responsible for sending nerve impulses throughout the body. The brain receives information from throughout the body and sends signals through the spinal cord to control movement. When either the brain or the spinal suffers damage, the effectiveness of the central nervous system becomes compromised, potentially leading to paralysis.
Types of Paralysis
Accident-related paralysis is most often caused by physical injury to the spinal cord. When the spinal cord suffers serious damage, the portion of the spinal cord below the area of injury loses function. Thus, the higher up the damage occurs, the more severe the long-term effects of the injury.
There are several types of paralysis:
- Monoplegia: Paralysis affecting one limb
- Hemiplegia: Paralysis affecting one side of the body
- Diplegia: Paralysis affecting two limbs on the same side of the body
- Paraplegia: Paralysis affecting both legs or the lower part of the body
- Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia): Paralysis affecting both the arms and legs or, in some cases, the body from the neck down.
At The Levinson Law Group, we have decades of experience working with accident victims suffering from all types of paralysis. With our help, you can hold the negligent driver who caused your injuries accountable.
The Lifetime Cost of Paralysis
Any lifelong medical condition is going to result in significant expenses. And paralysis is no exception. According to the most recent data from NSCSIC, those who experience tetraplegia can expect to incur medical costs of around $800,000 to $1.1 million in the first year of treatment. After that, the annual cost of treatment ranges from about $123,000 to $202,000. For an accident victim who became paralyzed at 25, this equates to a lifetime cost between $3.7 to $5.1 million.
Those who experience paraplegia can expect to incur astronomical medical, as well. On average, the first year of treatment will cost approximately $567,000 and each subsequent year $75,000. This results in a lifetime cost of over $2.5 million, assuming the person became paralyzed at 25.
At The Levinson Law Group, we believe that you should not bear these costs, and we will do everything we can to make sure that is not the case. You have been through enough; it is not right that you suffer financial hardship due to another’s negligence.
Seeking Compensation After a Paralysis Car Accident in San Diego California
After an accident, those who become paralyzed can bring a civil lawsuit against the at-fault parties seeking compensation for their injuries. While every case is different, and the amount of damages awarded depends on the nature of the accident and the severity of your injuries, courts generally award the following types of damages in these cases:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Decrease in earning capacity
- Disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
In cases involving severe long-term injuries such as paralysis, identifying the full extent of your past and future damages is critical. Thus, it is imperative that you work with a law firm with specific experience handling this particular type of claim.
Contact a Paralysis Accident Lawyer at The Levinson Law Group
If you or a loved one suffered paralysis as a result of a San Diego car accident, reach out to The Levinson Law Group for immediate assistance. Our founding attorney, Gordon Levinson, spent years working as an insurance defense attorney. There, he learned how insurance companies approach and defend against these claims. Now, Attorney Levinson puts this knowledge to use on behalf of accident victims, helping them move on with their lives after suffering debilitating injuries. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, give us a call at 619-436-5000 today. You can also reach us through our online contact form. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.
