Few injuries transform a life as completely and often irreversibly as paralysis. When a car accident leaves you or a loved one paralyzed, you are facing not just immediate medical crises but decades of adaptations, expenses, and losses. The legal implications of paralysis cases differ dramatically from typical injury claims because the stakes—both financial and personal—are exponentially higher. A Kansas City car accident lawyer can help you navigate this complex process and fight for the full compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Car Accidents Are the Leading Cause of Spinal Cord Injuries
When your spine is compressed, fractured, or penetrated during a car accident, the delicate nerve pathways that control movement and sensation can be damaged or severed entirely. Even seemingly moderate collisions can result in spinal cord injuries if your body is twisted or thrown in certain ways.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 308,620 people live with spinal cord injuries in the United States. Vehicle crashes have accounted for 37.3% of spinal cord injury cases since 2015, followed by falls (32%) and acts of violence (15.5%). This means car accidents remain the single leading cause of these life-altering injuries, affecting thousands of families each year.
Your Immediate and Long-Term Damages After Paralysis
Paralysis following a car accident creates both immediate financial losses and long-term economic burdens that can last a lifetime. According to the NSCISC, the average yearly expenses of a spinal cord injury can range from $460,224 to $1,410,163 for the first year and $55,900 to $244,879 for each subsequent year, depending on the severity of the injury.
These costs may include:
- Medical Expenses: Your initial hospitalization, emergency surgery, and intensive care represent just the beginning. You will face ongoing costs for rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home modifications, medications, and specialized care.
- Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Paralysis often makes returning to your previous occupation impossible. You are entitled to compensation not just for wages you’ve already lost, but for the decades of future earnings you’ll never receive.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and emotional trauma of a spinal cord injury can be severe. Activities you once took for granted—playing with your children, pursuing hobbies, maintaining independence—may be permanently altered or eliminated.
- Caregiver and Attendant Costs: Many paralysis victims require around-the-clock assistance with daily activities. Whether you hire professional caregivers or rely on family members, these services represent a major ongoing expense.
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Get Legal Representation After an Accident
Reach Out to a Kansas City Car Accident Attorney
Recovering the Compensation You Deserve in Kansas City
After a car accident causes paralysis, you have the right to pursue compensation for your spinal injury from the at-fault driver and their insurance company. However, insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts on catastrophic injury claims. The medical costs alone can reach into the millions over a lifetime, and the final settlement can be substantial.
In these high-stakes cases, having a trusted Kansas City lawyer for injury victims who understands the full scope of paralysis-related damages is essential to securing compensation that truly reflects what you will need for the rest of your life. A car accident attorney will consult with medical experts and life care planners to document your current and future needs, calculate the true lifetime cost of your injury, and negotiate aggressively to counter inadequate settlement offers.
At Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe, we know what’s at stake in paralysis injury claims. We will fight to secure compensation that provides financial stability and access to the best possible care moving forward. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 to start your claim with a Kansas City car accident attorney.