Quadriplegia Injuries in San Diego Accidents

By admin

Quadriplegia (now becoming more commonly known in medical jargon as “tetraplegia,” tetra meaning four in Greek, plegia coming from the Greek word for paralysis) is the most serious of all the spinal cord injuries and one of the most devastating injuries a person can sustain. Quadriplegia results from the fracture, dislocation, or compression of one or more of the seven cervical vertebrae that make up the top of the spine, causing severance of, compression of, or tears to the spinal cord itself.

The exact extent of a victim’s injury depends on how high up on the cervical vertebrae the fracture is. If the break is at the first (top), second, or third cervical vertebrae (“C-1,” “C-2,” or “C-3”), the injured victim will lose the ability to breathe on his or her own and will have to rely on artificial respiration to survive for the rest of his or her life. A person with a spinal cord injury at or above the C-3 level usually has no control over or feeling in any of his or her four limbs.

If the break is to the C-4 through C-6 vertebrae, in addition to being able to breathe without artificial help, the victim generally has varying degrees of use of his or her shoulders, biceps, and wrist, but no hand function. A fracture at the lowest of the cervical vertebrae (C-7) generally means that the injured victim will have some use of his or her arms, hands, and fingers, and trunk. Injury to the spinal cord at or below the C-7 level generally gives the injured victim functional independence akin to a paraplegic.

The damages in terms of financial costs for treating a quadriplegic are extensive, running into the millions of dollars. There are tremendous “economic damages,” including medical expenses, rehabilitation and physical therapy costs, the cost of around-the-clock caregivers, lost wages due the inability to return to a career or job, the loss of earning potential, the costs of education and retraining if the quadriplegic victim is able to do some work, modifying the house to accommodate a wheelchair, purchasing a special van or other vehicle to transport the quadriplegic, etc. Damages for so-called “non-economic damages” such as pain and suffering and “loss of enjoyment of life” are substantial.

The life span of a person who has been rendered quadriplegic is often shortened due to an impaired immunity system that leaves the quadriplegic victim more susceptible to infections and diseases. For instance, pneumonia is a leading cause of death among quadriplegic persons. Infections from bedsores (“decubitus ulcers”) are common in quadriplegics, explaining why it is so important that the quadriplegic victim be carefully monitored by his or her caregiver and turned frequently to prevent the development of bedsores. Untreated bedsores can result in deadly infections.

Besides the serious physical injuries, a person who suddenly and unexpectedly gets into an accident or otherwise is harmed by another person’s careless conduct that causes him or her to become a quadriplegic, the mental and emotional side of the injury must also be considered. The victim may go into despair and grieve for the life lost. The victim may become depressed, withdrawn, hopeless, even suicidal. The mental health aspects of becoming a quadriplegic are serious and require appropriate psychotherapy and even psychoactive medications.

Slaughter & Slaughter  has experience in diligently representing clients who have been rendered quadriplegic due to the careless conduct (“negligence”) of another person, a company, or a defective product. We understand the physical, financial, and emotional toll quadriplegia takes on the injured victim and his or her family. We will work hard on your behalf to get you the maximum recovery possible to help you to adjust to your new living requirements.