New Jersey Car Accident Quadriplegia and Paraplegia Injury Lawyer

A serious New Jersey car accident could result in devastating and life-changing injuries to the driver and/or occupants of their vehicle; or worse, death. One of the most serious and drastic life-changing injuries is a spinal cord injury, which can cause paralysis. Spinal cord injury survivors often end up dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatment for the rest of their lives, and may also require round-the-clock care.

Spinal cord injuries are typically classified in two ways: by the location of the injury and by the severity of the injury overall.

Physicians divide the spine into five different regions to determine which area is affected and arrive at a diagnosis:

• Cervical
• Thoracic
• Lumbar
• Sacral
• Coccygeal

Depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury sustained in a car accident, damage to the spinal cord can cause short-term or permanent damage, such as:

• Heart rate irregularities
• Blood pressure issues
• Chronic pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
• Loss of sensation
• Bladder issues
• Bowel irregularities
• Digestive issues
• Loss of sexual function
• Muscle spasms
• Localized paralysis

Generalized paralysis includes:

• Monoplegia affecting one limb
• Hemiplegia affecting one side of the body
• Paraplegia or paralysis of the lower body

Quadriplegia, also referred to as tetraplegia, affects all four limbs and the torso due to damage to the neck (cervical spine). It may also affect a patient’s ability to breathe, requiring the use of a ventilator. High quadriplegia typically involves the C1 to C4 vertebrae. It can also involve the C5 to C8 vertebrae.

Paralysis can be permanent or temporary and can be either spastic or flaccid paralysis. Spastic paralysis tightens the muscles, making them hard and prone to uncontrolled spasming. Flacid paralysis shrinks the muscles, making them weak and flabby.

Once the spinal cord has been injured, quadriplegia is not reversible and it requires extensive permanent medical care, and the cost of care is very expensive. For a patient pursuing adequate compensation for their injuries due to another person’s negligence, it is critical to discuss their case with a highly experienced New Jersey personal injury and car accident attorney at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm. Find out your legal rights, what you may expect while pursuing compensation and what the possible outcome of your lawsuit may be.

Trauma to the spinal cord after a car crashes has life-altering consequences. The emotional and physical effects and the mounting medical bills make it essential for car accident survivors to seek financial compensation.

To learn more about how we can help you bring a claim after a New Jersey car accident, give us a call at (973) 920-7900 to request a free and confidential consultation. There is no risk in calling, because we never charge a fee unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries. We have offices conveniently located in Denville and Morristown.