What Causes Paralysis?

Paralysis, which is the loss of control over muscles in a part of your body, is often the result of a spinal cord injury. But a trauma, stroke, degenerative disease, difficult birth, or medical negligence could lead to a form of paralysis. The injury or disease prevents the nerves in that part of the body from communicating with the brain, which causes a lack of sensation, movement, and strength.

Forms of Paralysis

There are different forms of paralysis:

  • Partial paralysis means you retain some control or sensation
  • Complete paralysis means you can’t move or feel anything in that area of your body
  • Quadriplegia means the paralysis impacts both arms, torso, and legs
  • Paraplegia affects both legs and sometimes parts of your torso

You also can experience paralysis on one side of your body, in one arm, or on one side of your face. Every person’s experience is unique.

How Common is Paralysis?

According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, almost 1 in 50 people live with paralysis. That’s about 5.4 million people in the U.S. It’s difficult to know how many of these individuals are paralyzed because of a surgical error or another medical mistake.

Paralysis due to medical malpractice may occur during surgeries near the brain or spinal cord. A surgeon could partially damage or completely sever a nerve, harming communication between that area of the body and the brain. It might arise due to a diagnostic error, like a doctor failing to diagnose meningitis, a brain tumor, a stroke, or another disease.

It’s also a risk during birth. Carelessness or excessive use of force during childbirth can cause an infant nerve damage, leading to temporary or permanent paralysis in an area of his or her body.

Settlements for Paralysis

Our paralysis attorneys in Lancaster have years of experience working with individuals who suffered devastating consequences due to medical malpractice. We’ve seen doctors make catastrophic mistakes and have fought to obtain significant financial recoveries. We want to help you move forward.

As a paralysis law firm, we work closely with highly respected medical experts, including those who can testify regarding surgical mistakes and paralysis. We will prove what the surgeon did wrong and how you’re now suffering the consequences.

Do You Have a Paralysis Injury Case?

To evaluate your claim, we determine whether the surgeon deviated from the standard of care during your diagnosis and treatment. During complex brain and spinal surgeries, nerve damage is a known risk. To win compensation, we have to differentiate between a potential consequence of your surgery and a surgeon’s carelessness.

Contact a Pennsylvania Paralysis Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered paralysis because of medical malpractice, call a paralysis injury attorney for help. We have years of experience representing people with paralysis in Lancaster County and across Pennsylvania to recover compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

Call Atlee Hall today at (717) 393-9596 or use our online contact form to reach out for a free consultation.