One type of catastrophic injury you can suffer in an accident is hemiplegia. This condition can leave part of your body paralyzed, impacting your quality of life and ability to work for the long term.
Fortunately, if the accident that caused the injury was the result of another party’s negligence in Georgia, you may be able to file a claim and receive compensation. Here is what you should know about hemiplegia and its legal implications.
Understanding Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia is paralysis that only affects one side of your body. It can result in weakness, loss of muscle control, and muscle stiffness. The degree of the symptoms you suffer depends on the location and severity of the injury. Hemiplegia is typically non-progressive, which means that the paralysis won’t get worse once it develops.
Common causes of hemiplegia are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. If an accident impacts a brain hemisphere, the side of the body that is affected will be the opposite one. For example, if the right side of the brain is damaged, you can experience paralysis on the left side of your body. Not all areas of the impacted side may be affected to the same degree, either.
Treatment Options For Hemiplegia
The severity of the symptoms and the cause of the hemiplegia will generally dictate the care you receive. In most cases, you will need to undergo a combination of treatments, often beginning with physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy helps people with hemiplegia rebuild their strength, balance, and coordination. If you suffer from spastic hemiplegia, which causes uncontrollable muscle spasms, your physiotherapist can stretch tight muscles during these sessions, too.
You might also require assistive devices like walkers and canes to help you continue building up your strength and stability. In some instances, you may need to make adjustments to your home to accommodate the physical issues you’re experiencing.
Another important therapy option that helps with hemiplegia is modified constraint-induced movement therapy. This therapy teaches your weaker side to compensate for the loss of function it has suffered and helps improve strength and mobility.
Often, hemiplegia is not curable, though it can be treatable. With significant therapy, you could regain some function in the affected side of your body.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After Suffering Hemiplegia
If the accident that resulted in hemiplegia occurred because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you may have the option of filing a personal injury claim to receive compensation. To accomplish this, you’ll need to prove that the other party is liable, which isn’t a simple process — especially if you’re dealing with serious health issues.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer gives you the opportunity to focus on healing without worrying about the legal process of filing a claim. Your Atlanta attorney can investigate the accident and start gathering evidence showing that the other party owed you a duty of care that they breached, resulting in your losses.
Vitally, your lawyer can also negotiate with insurance companies to achieve a settlement that offers fair compensation, such as to cover past and future medical expenses. This can be a contentious process, and you don’t want to attempt it without representation because insurers might do everything possible to keep from paying you a fair settlement.
If they refuse to cooperate with the process, your lawyer can take the matter to court. There, they can present your case in front of a judge and advocate for the award you deserve.
Receiving the Legal Guidance You Need To Protect Your Future
After suffering a serious injury to your brain or spine that results in hemiplegia in Georgia, it’s critical to hire a trusted personal injury lawyer and file a claim against the liable party as soon as possible. With an experienced attorney on your side, you can pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
Contact the Atlanta Catastrophic Injuries Law Firm of Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you or a close one have suffered from medical malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia, please call Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers at (770) 390-7550 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation today.
We proudly serve in Fulton County.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
2 Ravinia Dr NE Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346