December 10, 2024 | Personal Injury
Some of the most serious injuries you can suffer in an accident are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Trauma to your spine or brain may result in catastrophic consequences, including hemiplegia, which is also known as partial paralysis.
If you’ve been in a car accident, a slip and fall incident, or any other event that resulted in hemiplegia, it’s important to know what your options are. Learn more about what this condition is and how it can occur.
Understanding Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia is paralysis that impacts only one side of the body. It leads to weakness, muscle stiffness, and issues with muscle control. Some people with hemiplegia may experience limp muscles, while others may have spasticity, which is when muscles contract uncontrollably.
Other symptoms include:
- Loss of balance
- Impaired coordination
- Muscle fatigue
- Inability to grasp objects
- Trouble walking
If the hemiplegia occurred as a result of a brain injury, there could also be symptoms such as behavioral changes, seizures, and confusion. The paralysis can affect one side of your face, as well as the arm and leg on that same side of your body. The degree of paralysis may not be as severe in all three of these areas.
What Can Cause Hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia occurs as a result of an issue present in your central nervous system, which is made up of two main parts: your spinal cord and your brain. Although strokes and aneurysms can cause hemiplegia, other common causes include traumatic injuries to your spine or brain.
Car accidents, slip and fall incidents, and assaults can all result in traumatic brain injuries that lead to permanent damage. They’re often a consequence of high-speed collisions, especially T-bones and head-on crashes.
If hemiplegia occurs because of a spinal cord injury, it’s called spinal hemiplegia or Brown-Sequard Syndrome. It presents with slightly different symptoms, including weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and a loss of sensation on the other side. Vehicular accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal hemiplegia.
Hemiplegia Treatment Options
The right treatment can depend on the exact cause of the condition and its severity, but it will usually involve rehabilitative sessions. Physical therapy can help those with hemiplegia develop better balance, build strength, and re-learn how to coordinate their movements. For those who have spastic hemiplegia, a physiotherapist can also help stretch out tight muscles.
Some people may also require assistive devices, like wheelchairs and walkers. These devices can help improve mobility and muscle control.
While you may be able to improve some of the symptoms of hemiplegia, it’s a permanent condition. That means you could always struggle to work or lead your life as you did pre-accident.
Your Legal Options After an Accident That Caused Hemiplegia
If the hemiplegia you’re suffering from is the result of an accident that someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim to receive compensation. Because hemiplegia is a permanent condition, you could receive significant damages to cover medical expenses and loss of earning potential.
Additionally, you could be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced, as well as for the inability to live your life the way you used to. To help yourself recover money for these losses, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Fighting For What You Deserve After Suffering Hemiplegia
After suffering a catastrophic injury like hemiplegia, you should contact experienced lawyers to represent you as you file a claim. With the right team by your side, you can receive fair compensation.
Contact a South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the personal injury law firm of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. We have five convenient locations in South Carolina: Columbia, Lexington, Orangeburg, and Blythewood.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbia, SC
1333 Main St #510,
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 573-0869
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Columbia, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.0036663,-81.0346429
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Lexington, SC
5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B,
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 721-4241
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Lexington, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.9981412,-81.2202483
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Orangeburg, SC
161 Elliott St SE Suite B,
Orangeburg, SC 29115
(803) 884-2053
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Orangeburg, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.4913915,-80.8608485
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Blythewood, SC
749-2 University Village Dr,
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 866-5190
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Blythewood, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.2165616,-80.9866654
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbiana Dr
380 Columbiana Dr
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 866-5522
Our firm is located near you. We have a secondary office in Columbia, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.0857948,-81.1613165
