Paralysis in Truck Accidents

One of the most serious, life-altering injuries someone can suffer is paralysis, whereby he or she loses function in part of the body. Unfortunately, truck accidents are a common source of such injuries for those involved, and many of these collisions occur because of a driver’s negligent acts. If you or a loved one have suffered paralysis in a truck accident, we may be able to help you explore your legal options. Paralysis means that victims must adjust to a new lifestyle, often affecting the way they can work. This also means a significant impact on finances. Miami truck accident lawyer Robert Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to helping victims pursue the compensation they may be entitled to from those responsible for their harm. Our firm represents clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as throughout South Florida. If you have questions about your legal options after being paralyzed in a collision involving a truck, please contact our office to set up a free consultation about your potential claims.

Paralysis can affect different areas of the body, and can be caused by different kinds of truck accidents. Blunt trauma occurs when a victim hits a stationary object, usually after being ejected from their vehicle. Severed nerves, as well as crushing injuries, can also lead to paralysis. A paralyzing injury can either be localized, whereby a single limb is affected, or global, whereby a generalized weakness occurs in the entire body. It can lead to either paraplegia or quadriplegia, which are spinal cord injuries that either result in loss of function from the waist or neck down.

A paralyzing injury arising out of a collision with a truck is often caused by a driver’s negligence. Negligence refers to when one party breaches his or her duty of reasonable care owed to another, causing injury and resulting in damages. When negligence is occurs, it gives rise to legal liability. Truck drivers owe others on the road a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent driver would if presented with the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a truck driver fails to take his or her required rest breaks and continues on the road overly fatigued, causing an accident whereby a victim is paralyzed, that driver could be found negligent.

Trucking companies are liable for the negligent acts of employees who are acting within the scope of their employment during a crash. These companies can also be directly liable for negligence if they do not follow proper guidelines regarding hiring and retaining drivers, as well as ensuring the safety of their trucks. In truck accident cases, with more parties involved who have a vested interest in the outcome of any litigation, spoliation of evidence is a danger. Spoliation occurs when one party intentionally loses, destroys, or alters evidence in an attempt to thwart legal proceedings. Courts take this kind of misconduct seriously and can issue significant sanctions against an offending party. As such, it is important for victim-plaintiffs to consult a knowledgeable attorney to assist them in these claims so that such actions can be identified and addressed properly.

Victims who suffer paralysis in truck accidents often need significant financial assistance to deal with the ongoing impact of their injury. Assessing compensation in these cases may require the compilation of a life care plan in order to properly predict the amount of damages a victim may require. These damages can include past and future medical costs, including rehabilitation and long-term care, loss of income, diminished earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering.

If you have suffered a paralyzing injury, you not only face an uphill physical battle, but an emotional one as well. Truck crash attorney Robert Dixon can help fight the legal battle on your behalf. The Law Offices of Robert Dixon offers committed and compassionate legal representation for truck accident victims throughout South Florida. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to the negligence of another, please call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. We serve clients in areas including Miami, and West Palm Beach.