Paralysis is among the most serious injuries a person can experience, often affecting mobility, independence, employment, and daily life. When another party’s negligence causes or contributes to a paralysis injury, Illinois law may allow the injured person, and in some circumstances their family, to seek compensation for the losses that result.
Duncan Law Group represents people with paralysis injuries throughout Cook County and Illinois. Our team investigates the circumstances of the injury, identifies potentially responsible parties, and works to pursue compensation supported by the evidence in each case.
Types of Paralysis We Handle
Paralysis cases require a firm that understands both the severity of the injury and the long-term needs of the victim, from immediate medical care through a lifetime of adjustment and support. Our firm has the resources and experience needed to investigate what happened, identify every responsible party, and pursue full compensation on behalf of Chicago area families.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia generally affects the legs and lower portion of the body and often results from injury to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord. It may occur after a vehicle collision, fall, medical error, unsafe property incident, or other traumatic event.
A person with paraplegia may need ongoing rehabilitation, mobility equipment, home or vehicle modifications, personal assistance, and specialized medical care. When another person or company caused the injury, Duncan Law Group can investigate the incident, document the long-term losses, and pursue compensation designed to address both present and future needs.
Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
Quadriplegia, also called tetraplegia, may affect trunk control, breathing, and other bodily functions. This condition generally results from a cervical spinal cord injury, meaning an injury to the neck region of the spine.
Because quadriplegia can require extensive medical treatment and lifelong care, these claims often involve substantial economic and personal losses. Duncan Law Group works to build cases that account for emergency treatment, future medical expenses, in-home care, lost earning capacity, assistive technology, and the profound effect the injury has on the individual and their family.
Hemiplegia, Monoplegia, and Diplegia
Other forms of paralysis can affect different parts of the body and vary widely in severity. Hemiplegia affects one side of the body, monoplegia affects one limb, and diplegia affects corresponding body parts on both sides of the body, such as both legs or both arms.
Even when paralysis does not affect all four limbs, it can interfere with work, mobility, self-care, and a person’s ability to participate in the activities they once enjoyed. A careful legal claim should reflect the specific functional limitations involved, the care a person may need in the future, and the ways the injury has altered their independence and quality of life.
Complete vs. Incomplete Paralysis
Paralysis may also be classified as complete or incomplete based on the loss of movement and sensation below the site of a spinal cord injury. Complete paralysis generally means there is no motor function or sensation below the injury, while incomplete paralysis means some movement, feeling, or nerve function remains.
This distinction can influence a person’s rehabilitation plan, anticipated medical needs, prognosis, and the level of support they may require over time. However, every paralysis injury is different, and an injured person’s legal claim should be based on the evidence in their case, their medical outlook, and the real-life consequences they and their family now face.
Common Causes of Paralysis Injuries in Chicago
Paralysis can result from damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nerves after a sudden traumatic event or a medical complication. When another party’s negligence caused or contributed to the injury, Duncan Law Group can investigate the circumstances and pursue available compensation for the losses involved.
Auto and Commercial Truck Accidents
Car and commercial truck accidents remain among the leading causes of paralysis injuries in the Chicago area, often resulting from high-speed collisions, rollovers, or crashes involving large commercial vehicles.
Workplace and Construction Accidents
Workplace and construction accidents, including falls from height, equipment failures, and being struck by heavy machinery, are a significant cause of paralysis injuries among Chicago-area workers.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice, including surgical errors, birth injuries, and delayed diagnosis or treatment of a spinal condition, can result in preventable paralysis for patients who trusted their medical providers with their care.
Falls and Premises Liability
Falls, whether on a dangerous property, at a construction site, or in another unsafe environment, are another common cause of paralysis injuries, particularly falls from significant height.
The Lifelong Cost of Living With Paralysis
Paralysis can involve far more than initial emergency treatment. Depending on the injury, a person may need continuing medical care, rehabilitation, assistive technology, accessibility modifications, and help with daily activities for months, years, or the rest of their life.
A thorough paralysis injury claim should account for both current losses and reasonably anticipated future needs. That may include medical expenses, reduced earning ability, in-home assistance, and the effect the injury has on independence and quality of life.
Damages Available in a Chicago Paralysis Claim
A paralysis injury can create extraordinary financial and personal losses that continue for years or a lifetime. Depending on the circumstances of the case, Duncan Law Group may pursue compensation for immediate and future losses related to the injury. The firm handles catastrophic injury claims involving life-altering harm, including spinal cord damage.
Depending on the facts of the case and the losses supported by the evidence, a paralysis injury claim may seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and specialized treatment
- Assistive devices, including wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and adaptive technology
- Home and vehicle modifications needed to improve accessibility and independence
- Lost wages for time missed from work during treatment and recovery
- Reduced earning capacity when the injury limits or prevents a return to the same type of work
- Long-term personal care, in-home assistance, and other support services
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and the psychological impact of a life-changing injury
- Loss of enjoyment of life and the inability to participate in activities, hobbies, or relationships as before
The value of a paralysis claim depends on the nature and severity of the injury, its expected long-term effects, available insurance coverage, and the evidence showing how negligence caused the harm. Duncan Law Group can work with medical professionals, life-care planners, and other experts to document the full scope of the losses rather than focusing only on bills already incurred.
Wrongful Death Claims When Paralysis Proves Fatal
In some cases, complications from a severe paralysis injury, including infections, respiratory complications, blood clots, or other medical issues, can ultimately prove fatal. If the evidence shows another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default caused the death, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate may be able to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin.
A wrongful death claim can seek damages for the family’s grief, sorrow, and mental suffering, as well as the loss of the deceased person’s companionship, guidance, and financial support. Depending on the circumstances, the estate may also pursue a survival action for damages the person could have recovered for their injury before death, such as medical bills, lost income, and conscious pain and suffering.
Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, a wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Different deadlines or exceptions may apply in certain cases, including claims involving public entities, so families should seek legal guidance promptly.
Why Trust Duncan Law Group With Your Paralysis Case
Duncan Law Group brings more than 100 years of combined legal experience and a record of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients. The firm has secured substantial recoveries in serious injury matters, including:
- A $15 million medical malpractice recovery
- A $12 million motor vehicle accident recovery
- A $2 million trucking accident claim
Paralysis claims demand a thorough investigation and a clear understanding of the care, income loss, and daily support an injured person may need over time. Duncan Law Group prepares serious injury cases for the possibility of trial and works with qualified experts to document the losses at issue.
Speak With Our Chicago Paralysis Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one sustained paralysis after an accident or medical error, contact Duncan Law Group for a free consultation. Call (312) 202-3283 to discuss the circumstances of the injury and learn whether you may have a claim.
Chicago Paralysis FAQs
How long do I have to file a paralysis lawsuit in Illinois?
Most Illinois paralysis injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date the claim accrues, often the injury date. However, different deadlines may apply, including a one-year deadline for certain claims against local government entities and special rules for medical malpractice claims or injuries involving minors.
Because missing the applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, it is important to speak with Duncan Law Group as soon as possible. Call (312) 202-3283 for a free case review.
What is my paralysis case worth?
The value of a paralysis case depends on the severity and expected duration of the injury, available insurance coverage, evidence of liability, medical expenses, lost income and earning capacity, and the overall effect on quality of life.
Who can be held liable for a paralysis injury?
Liability can extend to a negligent driver, an employer, a property owner, a medical provider, or another party, depending on the specific facts of how the paralysis injury occurred.
Do I have a claim if my paralysis was caused by a medical error?
Potentially, yes. If a medical provider's negligence, such as a surgical error, a delayed diagnosis, or improper treatment, caused or contributed to your paralysis, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Determining whether a valid claim exists requires a careful review of your medical records and the care you received.
Can I file a claim if a loved one died from a paralysis-related injury?
Potentially. If a paralysis injury or related complications resulted in death, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate may be able to bring a wrongful death claim for the benefit of surviving family members.
