Quadriplegia After an 18 Wheeler Wreck Explained by our New Mexico Trucking Accident Lawyers
Understanding Quadriplegia from an 18 Wheeler Wreck: New Mexico Trucking Accident Lawyers Explain
Spinal cord injuries are a common injury following truck accidents. The National Spinal Cord Injuries Statistics Center provides that motor vehicle accidents cause over 38% of all spinal cord injuries. Quadriplegic injuries are the most common with over 58% of all spinal cord injuries resulting in some form of quadriplegia. These are catastrophic, life changing injuries and can be difficult to understand for some victims. The ability of a person to function after having a spinal cord injury depends on how much damage was done to the spinal cord, along with other medical injuries that may have been sustained during the accident. Quadriplegia after an 18 wheeler wreck is a serious problem that could be caused by the negligence of another person.
Here at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C., our experienced New Mexico trucking accident lawyers know that quadriplegia after an 18 wheeler wreck can result in serious personal injuries or the wrongful death of an innocent person. Quadriplegia is a very serious type of personal injury which is catastrophic and permanently disabling. If you or a loved one has suffered a quadriplegic type injury, ask our law firm how we can recover compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future earnings, medical bills, and other damages due to this type of serious injury.
What is Quadriplegia?
Spinal cord injuries can be classified according to the level of impairment they cause. Paraplegia results when the injury to the spinal cord only affects the legs, causing paralysis and sensory loss. This occurs when the injury to the spinal cord is at the level of the trunk or below (thoracic or lumbar).
Quadriplegia results when injury to the spinal cord results in paralysis of the arms and legs and is caused by injury to the spinal cord in the neck region (cervical). Depending on the level of injury on the neck, there may be some function of the arms. If the level of injury is close to the base of the brain, the person’s injuries will be severe and they will usually require a ventilator to breathe.
New Mexico trucking accidents are most likely to cause quadriplegia after an 18 wheeler wreck because of the heavy force and weight in an impact. This means there is significant momentum in an impact which can result in catastrophic personal injuries or wrongful death. Damaging the spinal cord is one such type of serious injury.
Life with Quadriplegia
While any spinal cord injury is devastating, injuries resulting in quadriplegia are especially devastating. These people have no use of their legs or trunk and only limited use of their arms and hands. As such, these people are wheelchair bound and usually require a power wheelchair as they are unable to propel themselves. These wheelchairs run into the tens of thousands of dollars and can be difficult to navigate around the home, thus requiring expensive home modifications.
Sensation loss is usually complete from the neck down, with some sensation in the arms possible based on the level of injury. These people will need assistance with basic activities such as feeding, dressing, going to the bathroom, and bathing. Physical and occupational therapy will be vitally important to improve the person’s ability to function given their deficits and decrease their dependence on caregivers for some basic tasks. Due to being wheelchair bound, these people often develop secondary issues such as osteoporosis, pressure sores, and obesity. These factors along with the complications related to the spinal cord injury may result in a decreased life expectancy.
Ask Our New Mexico Trucking Accident Lawyers for Help if Quadriplegia After an 18 Wheeler Wreck Affects You or Your Family
If you or a loved one suffered quadriplegia after an 18 wheeler wreck, ask our New Mexico trucking accident lawyers for help today. We have handled many paralysis and spinal cord injury cases before and have devoted our practice to representing those seriously injured in trucking accidents throughout New Mexico. Call to schedule your FREE appointment with our lawyers at the Caruso Law Offices, P.C. by dialing (505) 883-5000.
We handle causes throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Roswell, Cuervo, Rio Rancho, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Albuquerque where our office is located, and anywhere else throughout New Mexico. Please call to schedule for FREE appointment by dialing (505) 883-5000 or contact us through our website’s easy to use and convenient contact box available here.
