One of the most serious types of cases for any West Virginia personal injury attorney to deal with is any that have to do with quadriplegia. A part of the problem in approaching these cases is that many people do not understand what a quadriplegic injury is or how serious it can be. With that in mind, here’s a brief overview of the condition, and how it can impact a personal injury case.

Put simply, a quadriplegic person is someone who has lost all sensory and motor function in their limbs and torso. There are other conditions that are similar, but they typically don’t involve complete loss of control in a person’s limbs and are thus referred to as just paraplegia.

In broad terms, the condition is usually the result of severe damage to the brain or spinal cord. In fact, the severity of paralysis can be somewhat determined based on the specific area of the spinal cord that has been damaged. Paralysis is typically the result of damage to the cervical vertebrae and is at its least dangerous when an injury occurs to the bottom rung of vertebrae just before they form into the thoracic curve.

Although most quadriplegics lack any motor function in their fingers, there are many cases of quadriplegics in which they can still move their arms without issue after damage to this area. For injuries that occur closer to the brain, and higher up on the cervical curve, the damage can become so severe that a patient requires a ventilator just to breathe properly.

In addition to causing paralysis, the condition can also lead to the development of many other conditions. Most people tend to think of the paralysis as being a problem in and of itself, without also considering the other issues that can also arise, such as loss of bladder and bowel control, development of pressure sores, and random blood clots.

Taking care of someone with quadriplegia can be a serious financial burden, which is why it is highly recommended to seek out a West Virginia personal injury attorney to help you with your case. No one should have to deal with quadriplegia on their own, especially if it was the result of another person’s negligent actions.

If you have a concern about your legal rights, remedies, and obligations contact the experienced lawyers of the Law Office of Freeman & Chiartas.