Paraplegia vs. Quadriplegia: Legal & Medical Differences Explained

Few medical conditions are as difficult to live with as paralysis. When you cannot move part or all of your body, everyday tasks can become much harder. It may affect your ability to care for yourself, help others, work, or stay active and involved in daily life.

Sadly, paralysis is sometimes caused by someone else’s carelessness. For example, a serious car crash caused by a negligent driver can lead to a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis.

Spinal cord injuries can vary from mild to very serious. In the most severe cases, they can cause paralysis. This may include paraplegia, which affects the lower body, or quadriplegia, which affects both the arms and legs.

If you or someone you love suffered a spinal injury in an accident, the Tennessee spinal cord injury lawyers at the Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you seek compensation. Contact our offices today to schedule your consultation.

How are quadriplegia and paraplegia different?

There are many kinds of paralysis, including total paralysis, partial paralysis, paralysis that only affects one part of the body, and paralysis that affects larger parts of the body. The types that are most like paraplegia and quadriplegia are:

• Partial paralysis: You may still have some feeling and limited movement in the affected muscles.
• Complete paralysis: You have no movement in the affected muscles and may also have no feeling in those areas.

To that end, paraplegia refers to partial or complete paralysis affecting both legs and, depending on the injury level, parts of the lower torso. Quadriplegia means partial or complete paralysis that affects both arms, both legs, and the torso.

A serious injury, like a car accident, or a medical condition (stroke, cancer, or an infection), can cause either of these things to happen.

Paraplegia and commonly associated issues

People with paraplegia can usually still move and control their upper bodies, like their arms. Because of this, a lot of people can live on their own to some extent. Some may be able to walk with help from braces or crutches, while others use wheelchairs for mobility.

Paraplegia can also lead to other health problems, like chronic pain, high blood pressure, sexual health issues, weight gain, and more. It can be hard to stay active, and using your arms and upper body a lot can cause strain or damage to your wrists and shoulders over time.

People with paraplegia often need homes that are easier for them to get around in. They might also need help and support to stay active and live a healthy life every day.

Quadriplegia and commonly associated issues

As challenging as paraplegia is, quadriplegia is even more so. Most of the time, people who can’t move their arms or legs need help from family members or professional caregivers every day. Quadriplegia can also make it hard to talk, eat, or breathe, which can make daily life a lot harder.

Quadriplegia can make it hard to move around, which can cause muscle weakness and bone loss. Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, can happen when you sit or lie down for a long time. These can lead to serious infections.

People with quadriplegia need a lot of help and support to stay as healthy as possible. It’s also important to find ways to keep their minds busy and their spirits high.

Recoverable damages in a Tennessee spinal cord injury case

A spinal cord injury can cause both personal and financial problems that could last for the rest of your life. You may be able to get compensation to help with those losses. Injured people can get money for their lost wages, medical bills, future medical care, rehabilitation costs, and the fact that they can’t work as much.

Damages may also include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, but Tennessee law generally caps non-economic damages at $750,000, or $1,000,000 in catastrophic injury cases, including certain severe spinal cord injuries. In serious cases, damages may cover the cost of long-term care, modifications to the home, mobility aids, and personal assistance services needed to help someone live comfortably after a serious spine injury.

What is the prognosis for paraplegia and quadriplegia?

There is no cure for paralysis, but there are treatments that may help you move or feel better over time. These include rehabilitation therapy, medication, and surgery. People with paraplegia or quadriplegia can still work toward a healthy and meaningful life. It may take time, effort, and support from family, friends, caregivers, and others facing similar challenges, but living well is still possible.

If someone else’s carelessness caused a spinal cord injury, the person who was hurt may be able to get compensation for it. This money can help cover things like medical bills, rehab, home or lifestyle changes, and other needs that come up after the accident. You might also be able to get money for the mental and emotional problems that come with a serious injury.

Even though compensation can’t change what happened, it can help people heal and make life easier in the future. Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers wants anyone whose spine was injured in a negligence-based accident to talk to a personal injury lawyer to find out what their legal options are.

Tennessee personal injury statute of limitations

In Tennessee, there is a strict deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. In most cases, you have one year from the date of the injury to file your claim. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation entirely, even if your injuries are serious.

Because spinal cord injuries often require ongoing medical treatment and investigation, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and make sure important evidence is preserved.

Talk to a Tennessee spinal cord injury lawyer

For many people who suffer a serious spinal cord injury, the hardest part is coming to terms with what happened. At the same time, dealing with the legal process after an accident can also be difficult and stressful.

Spinal cord injuries often come with very high costs. The people or companies responsible for the accident may try to avoid paying full compensation. A Tennessee spinal cord injury lawyer can stand up for you and work to recover fair compensation for your losses.

At Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers, our goal is to help make things right after a serious accident. While we cannot change what happened, our lawyers will work to help injured victims and their families recover the compensation they need to move forward. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.