RP Crawford Solicitors Limited: Paralysis Injury Claims
Reclaim Your Independence: Compassionate Representation for Paralysis Injury clients
What types of injuries do we specialise in?
Paralysis injuries encompass a variety of conditions where muscle function is compromised in a specific part of the body, leading to a loss of sensation, movement, and other bodily functions. Typically, these conditions arise from damage to the nerves and spinal cord rather than issues with the muscles themselves.
Different types of paralysis include:
- Monoplegia: Paralysis affecting one limb.
- Hemiplegia: Paralysis impacting the arm and leg on one side of the body.
- Paraplegia: Paralysis affecting both legs, and sometimes the pelvis.
- Tetraplegia (or quadriplegia): Paralysis involving both arms and legs.
Our solicitors possess extensive experience in handling cases involving all forms of paralysis. We understand the challenges you and your family face during such trying times and are committed to providing clear and supportive guidance to help navigate this difficult journey.
What sets RP Crawford Solicitors Limited Apart?
We understand that injuries resulting in paralysis will have profound and far-reaching effects on both the individual who suffers from it and their family members. Beyond the physical challenges, paralysis can impact emotional your well-being, relationships, and everyday activities. Clients can experience feelings of frustration, depression, and a sense of loss as they adjust to life with limited mobility.
For families, caring for a loved one with paralysis often involves significant adjustments and sacrifices. They may take on caregiving responsibilities, manage medical appointments, and provide emotional support, all while grappling with their own feelings of grief and uncertainty about the future.
In terms of home alterations, accommodations are often necessary to ensure the safety and accessibility of the living environment. This may include installing ramps or stairlifts, widening doorways, modifying bathrooms to be wheelchair accessible, and rearranging furniture to create more open spaces for manoeuvrability.
Future care requirements for paralysis victims can vary depending on the severity and extent of their condition. Ongoing medical care, rehabilitation therapies, and assistance with activities of daily living may be needed. This could involve hiring home health aides, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals to provide support and assistance with day-to-day tasks.
Ultimately, navigating life with paralysis requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of the individual and their family. At RP Crawford Solicitors Limited, we understand the challenges faced by paralysis victims and their loved ones, and we are committed to providing compassionate support and guidance throughout the legal process.
How Paralysis Injuries Can Occur:
Serious injuries can stem from various incidents, including:
- Head injuries: Frequently occurring in motor accidents, falls, or because of blows to the head.
- Spinal cord injuries: Occasionally due to misdiagnosed medical conditions, sporting mishaps, trauma i.e. motor accidents, or surgical errors.
- Strokes
- Clinical negligence: Arising from surgical mistakes, delayed diagnoses, or misdiagnoses.
Regardless of the cause, our team is here to help you navigate the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.
Claims Process for Paralysis Injuries:
- Consulting with a Solicitor: It is imperative that you instruct a sufficiently specialised personal injury claims solicitor, particularly those involving paralysis injuries. A solicitor can provide expert legal advice and guide you through the complex claims process, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way.
- Initial Consultation: During the initial consultation we will take as long as is required. We know how difficult these discussions can be but it is important that we are fully appraised of your history and the extent of your injuries so we can properly advise you on the potential legal options available to you. Generally, we can quite quickly assess the viability of your claim and explain the next steps in the process.
- Gathering Evidence: We will work with you to gather relevant evidence. This may include medical records, accident reports, witness statements, expert opinions, and documentation of the impact of the injury on your life and livelihood.
- Assessment of Damages: We will assess the damages resulting from your injury, which may include compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, and future care needs. This assessment will be critical for determining the value of your claim.
- Negotiation with Insurers: It will take time to collate all the Expert reports required. Once received we will engage in negotiations with the responsible party’s insurance company or legal representatives to seek a fair settlement for your paralysis injury claim. This process may involve multiple rounds of negotiation to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Litigation, if Necessary: If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, we may advise you to pursue litigation through the Court although most cases resolve outside of a Court setting.
- Resolution: Once a settlement is reached or a court decision is made, we will assist you in finalising the details and ensuring that you receive the compensation you’re entitled to for your paralysis injury. This may include arranging for structured settlements or setting up trusts to manage ongoing care needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Paralysis injuries can result from various accidents, including motor vehicle collisions, falls, sports injuries, medical negligence, and workplace accidents.
Symptoms of paralysis injuries vary depending on the location and severity of the injury but may include loss of sensation, muscle weakness or paralysis, changes in bowel or bladder control, and difficulty breathing.
If your paralysis injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim. This can help cover medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and other related damages.
In Northern Ireland, the time limit for issuing Court Proceedings on a personal injury claim, including paralysis injuries, is generally three years from the date of the accident or the date you became aware of your injury. It’s crucial to seek legal advice promptly to ensure compliance with the time limit.
Evidence supporting a serious injury claim may include medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene, expert opinions, and documentation of your injury’s impact on your daily life.
The amount of compensation for a paralysis injury claim varies depending on factors such as the severity of the injury, its long-term effects, the extent of financial losses incurred, and the level of negligence involved. A solicitor can provide an estimate based on your specific circumstances.
Yes, interim payments may be sought to cover immediate expenses, including home modifications, while your paralysis injury claim is ongoing. Your solicitor can negotiate with the responsible party’s insurance company to secure these payments.
In the short term we can negotiate an interim payment from the insurance company to alleviate financial stresses as we prepare your case. You may be entitled to compensation for lost income and future loss of earning capacity as part of your personal injury claim. We ascertain your care needs and your earning capacity. Once we receive this information, we instruct forensic accountants to provide a future loss of earnings report which we will use to calculate your earning potential up until retirement age.
Most paralysis injury claims are resolved through negotiation with the insurance company, resulting in a settlement without the need for litigation. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, your solicitor may advise pursuing court action to seek the compensation you deserve.
Reach Out and Let Us Help You.
Your Serious Injury Claim Specialists
Liam McDonald
Lucy Kelly
Gemma McCashin
Amber Looney