What Is Hemiplegia?
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Brain Injuries
Spinal cord damage is among the worst injuries you can sustain in any type of accident. These types of injuries can leave you battling both long-term health issues and mobility problems, potentially impacting all aspects of your life.
One of the most serious consequences of spinal cord injuries is hemiplegia. This condition can leave you unable to move part or all of your body. But how do medical professionals generally define hemiplegia, and how does it occur?
Hemiplegia refers to a type of paralysis that only impacts one side of your body. It’s a condition that typically occurs as a result of an injury to the spinal cord, but it can also happen because of a severe brain injury.
Symptoms of Hemiplegia
If you have hemiplegia, you may not be able to control or move the muscles in the impacted areas, often leading to muscles that are completely limp or ones that can’t stop contracting. Hemiplegia can impact either the right or left side of your body, including your face, but may not be as severe in all areas on the affected side.
You may experience a number of symptoms, including muscle weakness, poor fine motor skills, and balance problems. If the condition is the result of a brain injury, you might also encounter additional symptoms, such as behavior changes, memory problems, and speech issues.
Common Accidents That Can Result In Hemiplegia In Florida
Hemiplegia can be congenital, meaning you can be born with it, and it can also develop as a complication from brain tumors and strokes. In Florida, some of the most common causes, however, are accidents.
Car accidents, especially those that occur at high speeds or involve large vehicles like commercial trucks, can lead to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Rollover accidents are some of the worst. Motorcycle and pedestrian accidents are also a common cause of these injuries because the victims can be thrown across the road, hitting their heads or backs.
Falls are another common cause of these injuries. Simply slipping on a patch of ice can cause you to land hard on your back, potentially breaking your spine and damaging the vital nerves in the area.
In some instances, babies can suffer hemiplegia because of medical malpractice. If too much force is used during labor and birth, for example, damage could occur to the spinal cord. Additionally, if the baby suffers brain damage because of lack of oxygen, it can lead to everything from cerebral palsy to strokes. That makes hemiplegia much more likely to occur.
Can You File a Claim After Suffering Hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia is a condition that can require ongoing medical care and could prevent you from working or living your life as you used to. In Florida, if the injury occurred because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against them to recover losses.
To do so, you must establish that the other party owed you a duty of care that they breached and that the hemiplegia was the direct result. This process can be complicated, so you will want to ensure you hire an attorney to represent your interests and help you navigate the legal landscape.
Navigating the Future After a Catastrophic Injury
Suffering a catastrophic injury such as hemiplegia can be devastating. Fortunately, Florida law allows victims to file claims to pursue compensation from at-fault parties. This compensation can cover your medical bills and other costs associated with your injury.
The best way to find out whether you have a viable case and how much it could potentially be worth is to speak to a skilled personal injury attorney.
Contact the Pinellas County Brain Injury Law Firm Of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help
For more information, please contact the Clearwater and St. Petersburg brain injury law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Pinellas County and its surrounding areas:
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 796-8282
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 349-1728
