Paraplegia vs. Quadriplegia: Legal and Medical Differences Explained

Serious spinal cord injuries are a major cause of both paraplegia and quadriplegia. They are types of paralysis but have major differences, notably relating to which parts of the body lose movement and function. Paraplegia affects the lower half of the body, often the legs and parts of the torso. Meanwhile, quadriplegia affects all four limbs and often more of the body below the neck. The medical needs associated with these conditions are immense. Under Tennessee law, paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries may qualify as a “catastrophic injury,” which can significantly affect the amount and type of compensation available in a personal injury claim.

What paraplegia and quadriplegia mean medically

Spinal cord trauma is a major cause of paraplegia and quadriplegia, with other common causes including stroke, brain injury, tumor, and medical negligence.

• Paraplegia: People with paraplegia frequently keep full use of their arms and hands but lose some function and sensation in their torso and legs. Paraplegia, paralysis of the lower part of the body, may result from damage to the mid to lower back in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral areas of the spinal cord.
• Quadriplegia: Quadriplegia is also called tetraplegia. It means paralysis of all four limbs and most of the torso. The medical demands tend to be higher for people with quadriplegia compared with those who have paraplegia. Quadriplegia often stems from injuries in the neck area. Depending on how severe a person’s quadriplegia is, they may have little to no control of their breathing, bladder, and bowels, and may not be able to independently eat or get dressed.

Both paraplegia and quadriplegia can be incomplete or complete. With an incomplete injury, some sensation or movement remains below the site of the injury. With a complete injury, there is none.

People with either condition are especially vulnerable to chronic pain, muscle spasticity, pressure sores, urinary tract infections, and other secondary health issues. The mental and emotional toll of paraplegia and quadriplegia, both on the people who have these conditions and their loved ones, is profound.

The effect of paraplegia and quadriplegia on a person’s daily life

To some extent, rehabilitation and therapy help many people with paraplegia and quadriplegia, but these conditions are very serious. They change a person’s life in many ways. If you have either condition, your degree of independence may depend on the type of paralysis and how severe it is.

• Paraplegia: Since people usually have full arm and hand function, they may be able to feed themselves and even drive a vehicle with adaptations. Wheelchairs give them more independence, but home modifications may be necessary to get the most out of the wheelchairs.
• Quadriplegia: Caregiving around the clock may be necessary since people with quadriplegia have limited or no use of arms, hands, and legs. Ventilators or other types of medical equipment may become part of a person’s life.

The causes of paraplegia and quadriplegia in accidents

High-impact or traumatic accidents can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. Common causes include:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
• Medical malpractice or surgical errors
• Falls from heights
• Sports accidents
• Assaults, violence, or gunshot wounds

The type of accident and how the force affects the spinal cord typically determine where on the spinal cord the injury is and whether a person has paraplegia or quadriplegia.

What paraplegia and quadriplegia mean legally

Tennessee law recognizes spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia as catastrophic injuries for purposes of non-economic damage caps. This matters in lawsuits due to damage calculations and compensation caps. Generally, Tennessee personal injury cases have a $750,000 cap on non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. However, if an injury is catastrophic, the cap increases to $1,000,000.

Compensation elements for paraplegia, quadriplegia, and severe paralysis

You can seek economic and non-economic damages. Common types include:

• Medical costs for hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and long-term care, among other costs
• Lost income and lost future earning capacity
• Modifications to your home and vehicle to make them more accessible (wheelchair ramps and adapted transportation, for instance)
• Pain and suffering for physical and emotional pain and distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life since people are no longer able to do activities they used to enjoy

Calculating these costs, even quantifiable ones such as medical bills, is not straightforward. For example, figuring out lifelong medical needs can be tricky.

Spinal cord injury attorneys often work with medical and economic experts such as life care planners, neurological doctors, pain management specialists, psychiatrists, independent medical examiners, and vocational rehabilitation experts to develop a complete, accurate picture of the medical needs of a person who has paraplegia or quadriplegia.

Settling a lawsuit too quickly can mean the settlement does not cover the full, future costs of the injury. Spinal cord injuries are tremendously expensive, and a quick settlement may not account for long-term care, equipment replacement, and home and vehicle modifications, both in the short and long term. Likewise, a quick settlement may not fully account for pain and suffering and future medical complications such as pressure sores or breathing issues that develop from paraplegia or quadriplegia.

How talking to a personal injury lawyer as early as possible can help

The medical and legal complexities with paraplegia or quadriplegia are enormous. Unfortunately, insurance companies probably do not have your best interests in mind. They want to settle quickly before you get a full understanding of your needs. A spinal cord lawyer should have experience with catastrophic injuries and can advocate for your interests, for example:

• Making sure your injuries meet the Tennessee standard for catastrophic injuries
• Estimating your lifetime costs and losses as accurately as possible
• Getting evidence such as medical records and accident reports to support the claim

If you or a loved one has paraplegia or quadriplegia, you deserve as much help and compensation as possible. At Wagner Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers, we have experience quantifying these injuries to cover lifelong care, special equipment, pain and suffering, and more. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.