When paralysis occurs as a result of an injury or accident, your life can feel like it’s been flipped upside down. Everything can change overnight, from your mobility and independence to your financial well-being and career prospects. When another party’s negligence (or fault) is partly to blame for your condition, you can be left feeling angry, frustrated, and seeking answers.
Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys can help you find answers. Our paralysis injury lawyers have won millions for families across Michigan, and we never charge unless we’re successful. We know the road ahead is difficult, but our attorneys will do everything they can to bring you peace of mind.
Areas We Serve
What to Know About Paralysis
According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 5.4 million Americans are currently living with some form of paralysis.
Paralysis is defined as the temporary or permanent inability to voluntarily move the muscles in one’s body. It occurs when an accident, injury, or other cause disrupts the nervous system’s signals to the muscles.
Paralysis comes in many forms. It can affect your entire body or just part of it, and it can be permanent or temporary. It’s not uncommon for paralysis to affect only one limb, one side of the body, or one “area” of the body, such as the legs or torso. In serious cases, both arms and legs can be paralyzed, and in the worst cases, complete paralysis of the body can occur.
How Negligence Can Cause Paralysis
Far too many paralysis cases are caused by preventable accidents, including:
- Medical Negligence: Minor surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, misdiagnoses, or chiropractic malpractice can lead to paralysis. Additionally, issues like cerebral palsy (a form of paralysis) can result from oxygen deprivation during the birth of a child.
- Automobile Accidents: Accidents that occur on the road are some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries that lead to paralysis. Negligence is a key factor involved in many of these cases. Overloaded trailers, fatigued truck drivers, distracted driving, impaired driving, and the failure to maintain a vehicle are often clear indicators of negligence, sometimes with horrifying consequences.
- Workplace Negligence: Some workplaces, by the nature of their industry, are more dangerous than others (e.g., construction), but this doesn’t excuse an employer from its duty of care toward its employees. Unsecured scaffolding, poor lockout/tagout procedures, and lack of machine guarding are all common causes of preventable on-site accidents that can have devastating effects.
- Negligent Maintenance of Spaces & Properties: When property owners and occupiers fail to provide safe environments for their visitors and guests, the result can be severe injuries. Paralysis can be caused by slip-and-fall accidents on wet floors, inadequate security in public spaces, or poorly maintained equipment.
FAQs
How Do I Start My Case?
If your accident or injury resulted in paralysis, the first step after seeking medical care is contacting an experienced paralysis injury lawyer. From there, your attorney can guide you through the legal process and help you explore your options. When you work with the qualified counsel at Giroux Pappas, you’ll never have to wade through the legal system alone. Here is how the process typically looks:
Initial Attorney Consultation: During your free, confidential consultation, you’ll share the details of your story with one of our attorneys, who will assess the strength and viability of your case. Plan to bring any documents related to the incident, including medical records, invoices, police reports, and witness testimonials.
Reviewing Medical Records & Initial Evidence: Should your attorney determine that you have a case, they will help you piece together the story that your medical records tell about your accident or injury. Your medical records and documentation often provide strong evidence for a legal case.
Filing a Legal Claim: Your attorney can initiate a lawsuit, starting with the Notice of Intent to File, to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Engage Expert Witnesses: Your attorney will contact medical experts who will review records and provide an opinion regarding your injuries and testify on your behalf about the medical negligence that has occurred.
Settlement or Trial: In some cases, your attorney can negotiate a favorable settlement without the need to go to trial. However, if you do need to go to trial, the attorneys at Giroux Pappas are experienced and ready to represent you.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
How long you have to file a lawsuit for your claim depends on a legal concept known as a “statute of limitations.” The statute of limitations in Michigan for personal injury cases is three years. For medical malpractice cases, the statute of limitations on claims is two years from the date of the act or omission that is the basis for the claim.
It’s critical to speak with a paralysis injury attorney as soon as possible about your case to ensure you meet the statute of limitations to file your case. Even if you believe you are outside the statute of limitations, we recommend speaking with an attorney. There are various exceptions to the deadlines imposed by statutes of limitations, and you may be able to take advantage of certain exceptions.
How Do I Prove Negligence?
If your injury or accident resulted in paralysis, it’s very possible that another party’s negligence is at least partially to blame. You should work with an experienced paralysis injury attorney to discover how you may recover compensation for your injuries. Your attorney will work with you to identify and establish the following elements needed to prove a responsible party’s negligence in your case:
- Duty of care that was owed by the party that was negligent.
- Breach of the duty of care by the negligent party.
- Causation that links the injury or accident to the negligent party.
- Documentation and evidence to support your claim.
You can learn more about proving negligence from Giroux Pappas’ legal resource.
What Types of Damages Could I Recover?
“Damages” are a concept that broadly refers to the compensation available to a victim in a personal injury or medical malpractice claim. The main types of damages available to victims in Michigan include “economic” and “non-economic” damages.
“Economic damages” refers to compensation awarded for losses that can be quantified in a dollar amount. Examples include medical expenses, lost income, wages and/or earnings, travel expenses, personal care costs, and more.
Comparatively, “non-economic damages” are meant to compensate victims for intangible losses, which may include compensation for mental and emotional anguish, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, disability or impairment, lost quality of life, emotional distress, depression, and more.
How Much Will It Cost to Work With a Paralysis Injury Lawyer?
It will cost you nothing. Giroux Pappas works on a contingency fee basis which means that we do not get paid unless we recover for you. This means that you won’t pay any legal fees out of pocket unless we win your case. The contingency fee percentage may vary, but your contract with us will state your pre-determined percentage. You can learn more about our fee arrangements here.
How Can Giroux Pappas Help Me?
At Giroux Pappas, we understand the gravity of paralysis cases and the profound impact they have on individuals and families. If you or a loved one has suffered paralysis due to someone else’s negligence, don’t hesitate to reach out. With the right legal team, you can secure the justice and compensation you deserve.