Hemiplegia is a form of paralysis that affects one side of the body. It can disrupt a person’s ability to move, speak, and live independently. This condition often shows up after a serious accident that caused injury to the brain or spinal cord.
What Causes Hemiplegia?
While strokes are a common cause of hemiplegia, other factors can also lead to it. Hemiplegia often results from any kind of damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle movements.
In a personal injury case, that damage might come from:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Sudden, severe accidents like car crashes, falls, or blunt force trauma
- Spinal Trauma: Damage to the spine, especially the upper segments, that disrupts the nerve signals between the brain and the body
- Brain Infections or Tumors: These can disrupt communication between the brain and muscles, sometimes permanently
- Cerebral Palsy: In children, hemiplegia may stem from brain damage that happens before or during birth
The side of the body affected depends on where the damage is located in the brain. If the injury is on the left side of the brain, the right side of the body is affected, and vice versa.
How Is Hemiplegia Diagnosed?
To diagnose hemiplegia, doctors often begin with a hands-on exam and follow it up with brain scans. Imaging shows where the damage is and helps rule out other issues—like infections or multiple sclerosis—that often look similar to hemiplegia.
Once diagnosed, a doctor often shifts to trying to manage symptoms and getting back as much function as possible. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy could all be part of the treatment plan. While treatment may help, the effects of hemiplegia often linger for years. In severe cases, hemiplegia may be permanent.
The Impact of Hemiplegia on Injury Victims
To live with hemiplegia means a person has to adapt to a new normal, impacting nearly every aspect of their existence. Normally effortless tasks—like buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces—become incredibly challenging.
Other issues can include:
- Mood swings, memory issues, and frustration
- A need for assistance or adaptive devices
- Loss of fine motor skills
- Balance and coordination problems
- Speech and language difficulties, if the brain’s speech center is affected
These changes don’t just affect the injured person. Families and caregivers also face a steep learning curve and have to adjust their routines and homes to accommodate their loved one’s new needs.
How Does Hemiplegia Impact an Accident Case?
Hemiplegia is more than a medical issue. It often stems from accidents that are more than just bad luck—a car accident caused by an intoxicated or distracted driver, a fall on unsafe property, or a preventable workplace accident. In these cases, hemiplegia is often the result of someone else’s negligence.
When someone else’s negligence causes an accident that results in hemiplegia, it’s important to understand the legal implications. The financial burdens associated with medical care, therapy, equipment, and lost wages can be substantial and overwhelming. Since the condition is often permanent, short-term expenses can become lifelong concerns.
In a personal injury claim, your attorney will need to prove who caused the injury as well as how it has changed your life. A lawsuit is about seeking accountability for lost independence, life quality changes, and emotional distress on you and your family, as much as it is about getting the money you need to pay for your care.
To learn more about the legal implications of hemiplegia on an accident claim, speak with a Kennesaw personal injury attorney.
Contact Starks Byron, P.C. Today for a Free Consultation With Our Kennesaw Personal Injury Attorneys
Hemiplegia is a serious condition that reshapes how someone moves through the world—and how the world responds to them. Understanding what hemiplegia is, where it comes from, and how it affects a person’s life is the first step toward making informed choices in a complicated and stressful situation.
If you were injured in an accident that resulted in a hemiplegia injury, call Starks Byron, P.C., today to schedule a free consultation. Our Kennesaw personal injury lawyers can listen to your story and help you understand your legal rights to seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
Starks Byron, P.C.
1275 Shiloh Rd NW Ste 2710, Kennesaw, GA 30144
(404) 795 5115
