Quadriplegia

Quadriplegia is the inability to move the limbs or torso due to traumatic injury to the areas of the spinal cord located in the neck. These areas correspond to cervical vertebrae C1 through C8, which start at the top of the neck and continue down to the base of the neck. The spinal cord consists of the nerves that surround the bones and disks that comprise the spine. The spinal cord transmits messages from the brain throughout the body, and damage to this area results in major or total restriction in sensation and movement. The affected areas of paralysis are based on where the trauma occurred. Damage to areas nearest to the highest vertebrae (C1) or nerves result in total paralysis of the arms, body and legs. By contrast, damage to lower vertebrae or nerves may allow for some movement or sensation in the shoulders, triceps, wrists and/or hands, but the trunk, pelvis and legs remain paralyzed.

Motor vehicle accidents, falls from heights (e.g., on a construction site), gunshot wounds and sporting accidents are the most common causes of damage to the spinal cord that lead to quadriplegia. Although we understand that no value can be placed on a person’s ability to move and to engage in all former professional and recreational activities, our skilled quadriplegia recovery lawyers are prepared to maximize a quadriplegic’s financial recovery so he or she can live the most comfortable, enjoyable life possible. The seasoned Massachusetts personal injury attorneys at the Boston and Cambridge law firm of Altman & Altman, LLP, will aggressively pursue financial relief by seeking payment of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and (potentially) workers’ compensation.

Immediate treatment following a brain or spinal cord injury is crucial. As mentioned, impaired function in the arms, torso and bodily systems result from spinal cord injury, along with numbness, limited sensation, or burning pain. Treatment for quadriplegia is usually individualized to each person, depending on need and severity of injuries. However, medical, nursing, and psychological care—as well as the need for lifelong medication and medical devices—will likely be required. Such care can be incredibly costly.

Besides paralysis, a person who has experienced quadriplegia also typically cannot breathe, digest food, or excrete bodily waste without ongoing assistance. Muscle spasms, severe pain, infertility, sexual inability, and a reduced lifespan are also common consequences of a quadriplegia diagnosis. Finally, people who become quadriplegic are more likely to experience pressure sores, osteoporosis and fractures, frozen joints, spasticity, respiratory complications and infections, deep vein thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

If or a loved one have been paralyzed in an accident that occurred in Massachusetts, we can help. The Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Altman & Altman, LLP, located in Boston and Cambridge, have over four decades of experience and have produced significant recoveries for thousands of personal injury clients. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with an experienced quadriplegia injury attorney at Altman & Altman, LLP, call 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll free) or contact us online. Our phones are answered around the clock, 7 days a week, and we promptly respond to all emails. If your injury makes transportation to our office difficult, we are willing and able to travel to meet you. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis: we charge no fee unless you recover.