Mark Roman | February 18, 2025 | Personal Injury
Accidents can result in all manner of harm, including catastrophic injuries like hemiplegia. Hemiplegia is not a condition but a symptom of serious spinal cord and brain injuries that result in paralysis.
If you suffered losses because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, it may be possible to file a claim and receive compensation. Learn more about hemiplegia and the legal options available to you.
What does hemiplegia mean?
When professionals define hemiplegia, the simplest option is to see it as one-sided paralysis. The patient’s muscles can be completely limp or spastic, meaning they contract uncontrollably. The higher the injury occurs on the spine, the more severe the outcome is.
Some of the most common symptoms of hemiplegia include:
- Loss of balance
- Muscle stiffness on one side of the body
- Tingling on the affected side
- Trouble walking
- Trouble holding or grasping objects
- Loss of fine motor skills
- Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or speaking
- Loss of the ability to stand
Hemiplegia and hemiparesis are sometimes confused, but they are not the same issue. Hemiplegia refers to complete paralysis of the affected side of the body, while hemiparesis typically refers to only weakness on that side.
Most Common Causes of Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia can be the result of diseases or trauma. Car accidents are often a cause, especially those involving high speeds or commercial trucks, but motorcycle and bicycle accidents can also result in these life-altering injuries. Hitting your back, neck, or head with significant force could shatter vertebrae, sever nerves, or cause damage to the brain.
Slip and fall accidents could also be a cause of hemiplegia. Falling from heights or hitting your head against objects when you fall can result in these serious injuries. Those who work in construction sites, warehouses, or anywhere else where they come into contact with heavy machinery can suffer struck-by accidents that could lead to hemiplegia, as well.
Filing a Claim After an Accident That Caused Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia will leave you with rapidly mounting medical bills and the inability to work. You will not be able to live your life as you used to, which could lead to the development of depression. If you’ve suffered all of these consequences because of another party’s conduct, you have a way to recover compensation: you can file a personal injury claim.
To file a claim, you will have to demonstrate that negligence took place. That requires that you show the other party owed you a responsibility that they failed to uphold. For example, if a truck driver was speeding and didn’t stop in time to avoid a collision, they breached their duty to drive safely and lawfully. You then have to show that the breach resulted in your injuries.
None of this is simple to do, especially if you’re struggling with hemiplegia. By hiring personal injury lawyers with experience in these kinds of claims, you have a better chance of getting fair compensation.
Getting Legal Assistance After an Accident
Experiencing a wound like hemiplegia can be devastating. If it was the result of someone else’s conduct, hiring a lawyer and filing a claim is an important step. Do this as fast as you can so that you don’t miss the statute of limitations, which could bar you from recovering losses.
By hiring experienced representation, you may be able to receive the financial assistance you need to pay medical bills, deal with your loss of earning potential, and compensate you for your suffering.
Contact the Clearwater Personal Injury Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Clearwater. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500
