Houston Maritime Paralysis Lawyers

Everybody knows maritime work — from commercial fishing to offshore oil drilling — is fraught with hazardous conditions. Workers are continually exposed to dangers, including harsh weather, slippery walking surfaces, toxic chemicals, flammable materials, heavy freight, and other perils. A single misstep, mechanical failure, or fall could result in life-altering on-the-job injuries, including paralysis.

Any maritime accident can be a harrowing experience, but ending up paralyzed can change a person’s life forever. People living with paralysis must adjust to a life without the control or use of parts of their body, and even the simplest tasks become either difficult or impossible. You may be unable to work, require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation, or be forced to modify your home to accommodate your new circumstances.

The Houston maritime paralysis lawyers at Johnson Garcia understand what you have endured. After suffering a maritime paralysis injury, the process of building and submitting a claim for damages can be complicated and frustrating.

Our Houston-based legal team has over 35 years of experience dealing with the complexities that come with maritime injury claims. In the process, we have helped maritime injury victims successfully recover the maximum possible compensation they need to cope with their changed lives. We want to help you. Fill out our free case review consultation form or call 832-844-6700 to speak to one of our representatives.

Types of Paralysis in Maritime Accidents

In simple terms, paralysis is a catastrophic injury involving the partial or complete loss of muscle function in certain body parts, including the legs, one side of the body, or all four limbs. The injury can be temporary or permanent and can sometimes come and go. Recent data suggests that roughly 5.4 million Americans live with paralysis, with spinal cord injury being the second leading cause of paralysis.

The different types of paralysis can be broken down into:

Types of Paralysis as Defined by Limbs Affected

The types of paralysis listed below are defined based on the body parts affected and are known as general forms of paralysis.

• Monoplegia: Affects one limb.
• Hemiplegia: Affects one side of the body.
• Diplegia: Affects the same parts on both sides, such as both legs.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis from the waist down.
• Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia): Paralysis of all limbs, and in some cases, affects everything from the neck down.

Types of Paralysis as Defined by the Site off the Spinal Cord Injury

The types of paralysis listed below are defined based on the spinal cord region that received damage.

• Sacral spinal cord: Damage to vertebrae from S1 to S5 of the spine — the bottom of the spinal cord.
• Lumbar spinal cord: Damage to the vertebrae from L1 to L5 of the spine — the lower section of the spinal cord.
• Thoracic spinal cord: Trauma to the spinal areas T1 to T12 — the spinal cord’s lower and upper middle sections.
• Cervical spinal cord: Trauma to the spinal regions C1 to C8 — the upper spinal cord section.

Types of Paralysis as Defined by the Amount of Sensation Preserved

Paralysis can further be broken down into the types listed below based on the degree of paralysis.

• Partial or incomplete paralysis: Retains some motor control of the affected muscles.
• Complete paralysis: Complete inability to control affected muscle groups.
• Localized paralysis: Loss of motor control parts only, such as the face or hands.
• Generalized paralysis: Widespread paralysis in the body.
• Temporary paralysis: Some or all motor control may return in affected muscle groups.
• Permanent paralysis: The loss of motor control in the affected areas is permanent.
• Spastic paralysis: Affected muscle groups become weak, “flabby,” and difficult to control.
• Flaccid paralysis: Control is lost in affected muscles, and they become tense, tight, and stiff.

Common Causes of Houston Maritime Paralysis Injury

There are various ways maritime paralysis can occur — typically after a spinal cord injury — but the bulk of these catastrophic injuries result from someone else’s negligence. Our Houston maritime injury lawyers are well-equipped to handle such injury cases. Being paralyzed can be a shattering experience that is sometimes unrealistic to bear without help. That’s why Johnson Garcia is here — to help.

Common causes of maritime paralysis include:

• Falls caused by wet or slippery decks, walkways, stairs, and other surfaces
• Collisions and explosions at sea
• Accidents involving massive machines, such as cranes or other heavy equipment used on ships and offshore platforms
• Improper lifting procedures and operation of machinery
• Inadequate training or safety measures on board vessels
• Lack of equipment maintenance
• Equipment malfunction
• Extreme weather conditions that exacerbate other hazards

While the maritime industry is an inherently dangerous workplace, if you are paralyzed because your employer, the owner of the vessel, or another third party was negligent, there are admiralty laws in place, such as the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), that can protect you.

Secondary Complications After Paralysis in a Maritime Accident

Different forms of paralysis can result in secondary complications beyond the initial trauma. That’s because the spinal cord is a part of the central nervous system — the system that controls personality, intelligence, speech, emotions, motor functions, and the ability to feel — and when it is injured, and there’s a disruption in the normal operation of the central nervous system, victims may suffer from complications including:

• Chronic pain
• Spasms
• Bladder and urinary tract infections
• Respiratory problems
• Limb deformity
• Locked joints
• Irregular bowel movement
• Blood clots
• Blood pressure fluctuations
• Osteoporosis
• Inability to regulate body temperature
• Depression

Contact a Maritime Injury Law Firm Helping Clients After Paralysis in Maritime Accidents in Houston

Maritime paralysis cases are some of the most tragic personal injury cases. These types of injuries could mean loss of mobility, your ability to work, intense family struggles, and mental health issues. Regardless of the degree of paralysis, adjusting to life after being paralyzed entails more than just physical and emotional adaptations — the financial burdens can be unbearable.

Suffering because of another’s negligence is unacceptable. At Johnson Garcia, we can help you secure the justice and maximum possible compensation you deserve. Our Houston maritime paralysis lawyers are committed to providing the compassionate legal guidance and aggressive advocacy you need during these unsettling times. We are tenacious in the face of adversity. If the other side plays hardball, we are always prepared to go to trial to fight for your rights.

Fill out our contact form today or call 832-844-6700 for a free case evaluation. Our Houston maritime paralysis lawyers will guide you every step of the way.