Areas of Practice
Simien & Simien, LLC is here to help you. We have documented and successful experience representing clients in large-scale class action and mass tort litigation. We have also been successful representing victims of serious injury and wrongful death resulting from industrial, vehicular and other life-threatening or debilitating accidents.
Spinal Cord and Paralysis Accidents
Accidents can cause devastating injuries, including paralysis and other serious spinal cord injuries. Some studies have estimated that over 50 percent of all paralysis injuries result from accidents involving 18 wheelers, commercial and other trucks, cars and motorcycles. Many of these accident-related spinal cord injuries result from severe impacts and/or when a vehicle rolls over and the roof caves in. When a rollover accident causes roof crush, the vehicle's passenger space is depleted, resulting in trauma and extreme stress on the spinal cord, which can result in paralysis.
Although automobile accidents are typically associated with the negligence of one or more drivers, they can often be the result of automobile defects, including tire detread accidents particularly on SUVs, and the failure of the vehicle manufacturer to make the vehicle crash-worthy (designed to withstand the effects of foreseeable accidents and events). Federal Safety Standards require that vehicles sold in the United States meet certain rollover standards and require the manufacturers to perform a series of roof crush tests to ensure that their vehicles can withstand the force of a vehicular rollover. If a vehicle is not crash-worthy, a victim who suffers injuries as a result of the lack of crash-worthiness, such as spinal cord injuries, may be entitled to monetary compensation, including medical expenses, life care cost, nursing costs, future lost income and wages and other forms of damages.
Permanent paralysis victims suffer lifelong impairment of their ability to perform common functions of mobility in their extremities due to the damage to their nervous systems. Proper handling of victims in such accidents, including proper placement and handling as well as early treatment, can mean the difference between temporary and permanent paralysis. Generally, the longer an affected person suffers from paralysis before the cause is properly addressed, the more likely it will be permanent. The most common first sign of possible paralysis is numbness or loss of motion or sensation in the limbs or extremities. At the onset of this or any other symptom of paralysis, it is vital that the victim not be moved or placed in activity that could aggravate the injury further. Although there are some promising developments involving stem cell treatments, current medical science has not found a cure for permanent paralysis.
The attorneys at Simien & Simien, LLC have represented clients with paralysis and other catastrophic injuries and losses. We have worked with these clients and are prepared to work with others to make their lives and those of their loved ones as comfortable as we possibly can. Contact Simien & Simien, LLC today.