Quadriplegia: Major Neck Injuries Will Change Your Life Forever
Here at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC we know that accident victims and their loved ones need to have skilled legal representation on their side. Major injuries and serious accidents have repercussions that can last a lifetime, particularly when they involve neck and spinal cord damage. People from throughout the greater Salt Lake City area come to our firm because they know our spinal cord injury lawyers will fight diligently for the rights of the injured and their loved ones.
Previously on this blog we looked at paraplegia and how these injuries have long-term effects on people's lives. Today we want to focus on quadriplegia, an even more serious form of spinal cord injury.
Defining Quadriplegia
Also known as tetraplegia, quadriplegia refers to the significant loss of sensation and movement in the body and the limbs. In many cases, this means the total loss of control and movement of the body below the neck. This is the result of serious spinal cord injuries in the cervical region of the spine (i.e., the upper vertebrae that comprise the neck).
Causes of Quadriplegia
Some of the common causes of quadriplegia that we see at our firm and on the news include:
- Auto accidents
- Bike accidents
- Sports accidents
- Assaults
- Major falls
- Workplace injuries
- Medical mistakes
Different Degrees of Quadriplegia
There are different levels of quadriplegia based on the part of the neck affected by the injury. The most severe quadriplegia injuries are classified as C1-C3, which refers to the highest cervical vertebrae. When these topmost vertebrae are injured, the injury victim will lose control of all limbs and the rest of their body. C1-C3 spinal injury victims will also lose the ability to breath on their own, which means that they will need a ventilator for the rest of their lives.
C4 injury victims may also require a ventilator depending on their nature of their injury. Sometimes C4-C7 spinal injury victims will have limited use of their upper body, though this varies.
A Victim's Life Will Never Be the Same
Regardless the classification of the spinal injury, quadriplegics will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives. This wheelchair may be operated by a hand control if the patient had limited hand movement, though it is more likely that the wheelchair will be operated by breath. Your career plans will more than likely change simply given your total or near-total lack of mobility.
It's not uncommon for the victims of such serious spinal injuries to suffer from depression as they come to terms with the new realities of their life.
Constant Assistance Will Be Necessary
Simple tasks such as preparing meals and basic hygiene will require assistance. If you require a ventilator to breathe, it may be necessary to be medically monitored at all times in case of a ventilator malfunction or other issue that needs to be immediately adddressed. Not only will your life never be the same, but the lives of your family and friends will also change given the gravity of the injury and its impact.
Why Legal Assistance Is Crucial for These Kinds of Injuries
Our ultimate goal is to restore dignity and a sense of normalcy to your life and the lives of your loved ones, helping you all move forward with the new realities you face.
We will help you receive just compensation for medical bills, the cost of ongoing medical care, the future wages lost due to permanent disability, and the pain and suffering associated with such a serious accident. Punitive damages will also be sought in order punish the negligent party for causing such an immensely tragic accident to occur in the first place.
Speak with Our Personal Injury Attorneys About Your Case
If you or someone that you care about has been seriously injured and has had their life changed by this catastrophic incident, it is of the utmost importance that you contact our personal injury law firm today. We at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC will be able to help you during this time of legal need.
