Paraplegia Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Paraplegia — the paralysis of the lower body, including partial or total loss of function in both legs and often the trunk — is a devastating, life-altering condition. It results from damage to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord, leaving the upper body unaffected but eliminating the ability to walk, stand, or control lower-body functions. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation estimates that approximately 5.4 million Americans live with some form of paralysis.
At Roden Law, our paraplegia lawyers fight for victims across Georgia and South Carolina who face a lifetime of challenges after negligence-caused injuries. We understand that paraplegia is not just a medical diagnosis — it transforms every aspect of daily life and imposes enormous financial burdens that must be fully compensated.
How Paraplegia Differs from Tetraplegia
Paraplegia affects the lower body due to injury at or below the thoracic spine (T1 and below), while tetraplegia (quadriplegia) affects all four limbs due to cervical spine injury. Paraplegic individuals typically retain full use of their arms and hands, which allows greater independence — but they still face profound challenges:
- Mobility: Permanent wheelchair dependence for daily activities
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction: Neurogenic bladder and bowel requiring catheterization and bowel programs
- Sexual dysfunction: Loss of sexual function and fertility challenges
- Skin integrity: Constant risk of pressure sores from wheelchair sitting
- Chronic pain: Neuropathic pain at and below the injury level affecting quality of life
- Mental health: Depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders are common following paraplegia
Paraplegia can be either complete (total loss of function) or incomplete (some preserved function), significantly affecting the long-term prognosis and compensation needs.
Common Causes of Paraplegia
Paraplegia most frequently results from traumatic events involving extreme force to the thoracic or lumbar spine:
- Motor vehicle accidents: The leading cause — high-speed collisions, T-bone crashes, and rollovers concentrate force on the mid and lower spine
- Falls: Falls from height in construction, industrial, and residential settings
- Motorcycle crashes: Riders ejected or thrown from motorcycles are especially vulnerable to mid-spine injuries
- Acts of violence: Gunshot and stabbing wounds to the back
- Sports and recreation: High-impact sports injuries, particularly equestrian, skiing, and cycling accidents
- Medical negligence: Surgical errors during spinal surgery, failure to stabilize spinal fractures, or delayed treatment of cauda equina syndrome
Lifetime Costs and Compensation
The NSCISC estimates lifetime costs for paraplegia at approximately $2.5 million for a person injured at age 25. This includes wheelchair and mobility equipment, accessible housing and vehicle modifications, personal care attendant services, ongoing medical care and rehabilitation, bladder and bowel management supplies, and psychological counseling.
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-4) allows full recovery of all damages naturally flowing from the injury, including future medical and life care expenses, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for spouses. South Carolina similarly permits comprehensive damage recovery.
Under Georgia’s comparative fault statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), recovery is available if your fault was less than 50%. South Carolina’s threshold is 51%.
Filing Deadlines
Georgia’s 2-year statute of limitations (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) and South Carolina’s 3-year limit (S.C. Code § 15-3-530) apply. Given the catastrophic nature of paraplegia and the extensive expert analysis required, early attorney involvement is essential.