Texas Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Texas Catastrophic Injury Attorney

Catastrophic Injuries Often Caused By Texas Truck Accidents

A catastrophic injury is one that results in long-term consequences or permanent disability. The effect on the person that suffers the catastrophic injury is considerable, and significant medical treatment is typically needed. Many accidents involving large trucks are catastrophic due to the size and mass of the truck. If you have suffered a debilitating injury, it is in your best interest to contact a Texas catastrophic injury attorney at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm. Call us at 1-800-738-93946.

Paralysis Caused By Trucking Accident

Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis occur far too often for occupants of smaller motor vehicles involved in accidents with large trucks. Whether or not a spinal cord injury will result in paralysis, and whether or not that paralysis is permanent, depends on where on the spine the injury occurs and the severity of the injury.

Paralysis is a condition that can cause a life-time of suffering and the need for care. When you become paralyzed in a trucking accident, a Texas catastrophic injury attorney can help you recover compensation to pay for the care you need, including:

• Medications to relieve pain and discomfort
• Occupational therapy to learn how to perform everyday tasks with minimal or no assistance
• Physical therapy to help stimulate the nerves and maintain flexibility and strength
• Devices, such as a wheelchair, to help with mobility

Monoplegia Caused By Trucking Accident in Texas

Monoplegia is paralysis affecting only one limb. In other words, loss of feeling and ability to control movement is only lost in one arm or one leg.

Hemiplegia Caused By a Texas Trucking Accident

Hemiplegia is paralysis affecting one side of the body. A person that suffers from hemiplegia would have paralysis in either their right arm and right leg, or their left arm and left leg.

Paraplegia Caused By Trucking Accident in Texas

Paraplegia is paralysis that starts anywhere from the mid to lower part of the back and affects the lower half of the body, including both legs. People with paraplegia still retain the use of their arms.

Quadriplegia Caused By Texas Trucking Accident

People with quadriplegia suffer severe spinal cord injuries on the upper part of their spine. The resulting paralysis affects the torso and all four limbs. As the torso is paralyzed, persons with quadriplegia require a ventilator to help them breathe.

Quadriplegia is the most severe form of paralysis, and people that suffer from it require extensive long-term care.

Amputation Due to Truck Accident

Amputation is when any extremity of the body is completely removed. It is possible to have a finger, hand, or arm amputated, as well as a toe, foot, or leg. Amputations are generally a last resort for surgeons and performed when there is no other way to save the part being amputated.

Amputations caused by trucking accidents typically occur in one of two ways. The first occurs when the extremity is damaged beyond the point of repair and must be removed by a surgeon. The body part may be crushed during the collision, causing extensive and permanent injury which the surgeon is unable to mend. The other way is when the extremity is removed (at least partially) during the actual crash. In other words, the collision occurred in such a way that the extremity was torn away from the rest of the body, and it is not able to be re-attached.

Healing after an amputation can be a long and arduous process. It typically involves the amputee having to re-learn basic life skills such as how to walk, drive, and even write. According to the severity of the amputation, and the body part that was removed, the amputee may not be able to work any longer. The good news is that when the amputee was injured in a truck accident, it may be possible for them to recover the money they are owed to take care of their needs. A Texas catastrophic injury attorney from the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can help by reviewing your case with you and determining the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused By Trucking Accident

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when something happens that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. It can be caused by a blow to the head, or by the brain being penetrated by a foreign object. TBIs aren’t always obvious as soon as the accident occurs. Symptoms to be on the lookout for include:

• Dilated pupils or other problems with vision
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Slurred speech
• Inability to awaken from sleep
• Loss of consciousness

States of Unconsciousness

In some of the most severe cases of TBI resulting from a trucking accident, the victims are left in a state of unconsciousness. There are typically three states of unconsciousness that our Texas catastrophic injury attorney has seen in TBI victims following a trucking accident.

• Coma: A person in a coma is unconscious and unresponsive to external stimuli. Most comas do not last longer than 3-4 weeks, although they can last for years.
• Vegetative State: TBIs caused by trucking accidents can also leave people in vegetative states. A vegetative state means that the victim can usually make minimal movements and respond to some reflexes, but is not aware of their environment. They may show normal digestive and sleep functions, and their eyes may be kept open. Some people are determined by medical professionals to be in a permanent vegetative state, meaning they will most likely never awaken.
• Minimally Conscious State: A victim in a minimally conscious state shows some signs of being aware of their surroundings. Some victims of comas and vegetative states go through a minimally conscious state as they awaken.

A Texas Catastrophic Injury Attorney On Your Side

Catastrophic injuries caused by truck accidents are life-altering, and often require a lifetime of care. When you have suffered a debilitating injury in a truck accident, you need a Texas catastrophic injury attorney that will help you recover the compensation you are due. Contact the professionals at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm by calling 1-800-738-93946 or via our contact page.