Stephen Schultz | April 23, 2025 | Personal Injury
Hemiplegia causes paralysis on one side of the body. This condition often stems from traumatic injuries caused by car accidents or other personal injury cases, and can severely affect your ability to move or function.
Causes, symptoms, diagnostic tools, and available treatments all influence your recovery path and legal options after an accident. This is what you need to know about hemiplegia and your possible legal options for your personal injury case.
Causes Linked to Traumatic Injuries
Traumatic injuries often lead to hemiplegia. Car accidents, falls, and sports incidents frequently cause brain trauma. Damage to the brain may affect the side opposite the injury, due to how each hemisphere controls movement for the opposite side of the body.
Accidents that block oxygen flow to the brain, such as near-drowning events or severe strokes, may also lead to hemiplegia. The severity and location of the injury often determine the level of paralysis. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, the cause of the condition directly affects your treatment and legal claim.
Common Symptoms After an Accident
After an accident, you may notice paralysis on one side of your body. This paralysis can involve your arm, leg, or face and may prevent you from walking or handling objects. You might also lose coordination or experience weakness and balance issues.
Many people also report numbness or a pins-and-needles feeling on the affected side. Accidents that lead to hemiplegia may also impair your speech or memory. These symptoms often require medical intervention, physical therapy, and long-term support.
How Hemiplegia Differs from Other Conditions
Hemiplegia differs from hemiparesis. Hemiplegia involves complete paralysis, while hemiparesis causes only weakness. If you face one of these conditions, your treatment and rehabilitation approach depends on the severity of movement loss.
Strokes and cerebral palsy may also cause hemiplegia. Each cause requires a different plan. Medical teams must know the origin of the paralysis to recommend the right steps for recovery. If your condition results from an accident, your legal strategy should also reflect this.
Diagnostic Methods Used by Medical Professionals
Doctors start with a physical exam to check your reflexes, strength, and coordination. Imaging tools like MRIs and CT scans show where the brain sustained damage. These scans give your medical team the information they need to confirm the cause of your paralysis.
Doctors may also run neurological tests to evaluate memory, focus, and thinking ability. These tests help build a rehabilitation plan that treats both physical and mental effects. Early and thorough diagnosis helps you receive the right care and support.
Treatment Options and Long-Term Care Needs
Physical therapy helps restore strength and motion. Occupational therapy helps you manage basic tasks at home and in public. Speech therapy supports recovery for people who lose language skills after a brain injury. Each therapy works best when tailored to your injury.
Long-term care might include home modifications, mobility aids, and regular therapy visits. These needs often require ongoing medical support. If you suffered the injury in an accident, legal action may help cover the costs of your care.
Legal Options for Accident Victims With Hemiplegia
Accidents that lead to hemiplegia often involve long recovery periods, lost income, and major medical bills. A personal injury claim may help you recover these costs. You may also qualify for future care coverage, pain and suffering compensation, or lost earning potential.
To strengthen your legal claim, gather all relevant medical records, doctor’s notes, and accident documentation. Insurance companies often challenge claims, so a strong file gives you an advantage. You must act promptly because deadlines apply to injury claims.
A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With a Hemiplegia Claim
A consultation allows a personal injury attorney to review your case. They can ask about the accident, your diagnosis, and the medical care you received. The legal team can also explain what steps to take next, what to expect from the legal process, and what documents you need.
Legal action may not reverse your injury, but it may provide the support you need for treatment and care.
Contact the St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers
The pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical bills related to delayed pain can quickly take a toll. If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation. If you’re experiencing delayed pain after an accident, schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case and protect your legal rights.
If you’ve been injured, please contact the attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation, we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County and Boone County and we have offices in St. Louis, Ladue, Columbia, Creve Coeur.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
1430 Washington Ave Ste 225
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 444-4444
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
9807 S 40 Dr
St. Louis, MO 63124
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Columbia Office
28 N 8th St # 502
Columbia, MO 65201
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
