After a car accident leaves you permanently paralyzed, everyday activities you once handled independently may require assistance. Your injuries could require medical care, changes to your home and help returning to work. If another driver caused the crash through careless actions, you may be able to seek payment for these long-term needs under Maryland law.
How can permanent paralysis affect your daily life?
Paralysis from a spinal cord injury can affect your ability to move, work and care for yourself. Severe injuries often require daily help with bathing, dressing or moving around your home.
Long-term needs may include:
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Wheelchairs and other mobility equipment
- Home modifications, such as ramps and accessible bathrooms
- In-home nursing and personal care
- Ongoing medical treatment and supplies
These expenses can continue for years or throughout your lifetime.
What compensation may be available in Maryland?
A successful injury claim may cover medical bills, lost income and other financial losses. You may also claim income you can no longer earn because of your injuries.
Depending on your case, compensation could cover future care, pain and suffering, such as physical discomfort and emotional distress. State law limits how much you can recover for these losses, but not for medical costs.
Maryland follows a rule called contributory negligence. If your own careless actions helped cause the crash, you generally cannot receive compensation, even if the other driver was mostly at fault.
The state also generally requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of the accident, although exceptions may apply.
Why documenting future care needs matters
Your care needs may change over time after permanent paralysis. Medical records, therapy plans and doctors’ reports can help show how your injuries affect daily life and what care you may need in the future. A personal injury attorney can work with medical and financial experts to estimate these costs and explain how they may affect your claim.