Understanding Paraplegia from Oregon Trucking Accidents: Our Portland Trucking Accident Lawyers Share Important Details
Any motor vehicle accident could result in serious personal injuries. But collisions with large commercial vehicles like big rigs, logging trucks, semi tractor trailers, 18 wheelers, and other box trucks are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries. One of the most serious personal injuries is paraplegia. This is caused by damage to the spinal cord which results in debilitating disability to the lower extremities. Our Portland trucking accident lawyers know that paraplegia injuries from 18 wheeler wrecks are serious personal injury cases that rely heavily on the law and medicine to prove the case.
What is Paraplegia?
Paraplegia is an injury to the spinal cord which affects the lower extremities. This includes the legs and part of the torso. According to government research, approximately 40% of all spinal cord injuries are paraplegia. The location of the injury determines where the paraplegia begins, the severity, and the level of sensation, movement, and other function.
There are two general types of paraplegia. The first is an incomplete paraplegia injury. This is when the spinal cord is damaged but still intact. Some messages may still be able to be sent between the lower extremities and the brain by way of the spinal cord. These messages may be muted, meaning they are weaker, less fine motor, or inaccurate. With some physical therapy and occupational therapy, some individuals are able to retain additional function.
The second type of paraplegia is a complete paraplegia injury. This is when the spinal cord is damaged to a great extent and it is completely severed. This means that messages between the lower extremities and the brain are cut off and there is no communication. It is very rare for any surgery or therapy to return function or sensation.
Oregon Trucking Accidents Causing Paralysis Injuries
Impacts from large commercial trucks disperse a lot of force and momentum. This force can easily twist steel and crush the hard, protective vertebrae that we have around our spinal cord. As a result, paraplegia injuries are more common in Oregon trucking accidents than in other auto accidents.
Some of the most common ways that paraplegia injuries are caused by trucking accidents and big rigs crashes include the following:
- Rear end collisions;
- High speed crashes;
- T-bone crashes;
- Rollover crashes;
- Jackknife crashes;
- Head on collisions;
- Sideswipe crashes;
- Improper merging into highways;
- Unsecured cargo; and
- Many other types of crashes.
Ask Our Portland Trucking Accident Lawyers for Help if You Suffer from Paraplegia from a Big Rig Wreck
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of a trucking accident or collision contact the Oregon Truck Accident Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Trucking accident cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
