Toronto Personal Injury Lawer Blog - Findlay Law

Paralysis is defined as complete loss of strength, motor function or voluntary movement in an affected limb or muscle group. Paralysis can affect only one muscle or limb (partial paralysis or palsy) or it can affect all of an area's muscles, resulting in total paralysis.

Paralysis is often caused by an injury to a person's spinal cord or brain, two vital organs of the body's central nervous system. The chain of nerve cells that runs from the brain through the spinal cord out to the muscle is called the motor pathway. Normal muscle function requires intact connections all along this motor pathway. Damage at any point reduces the brain's ability to control the muscle's movements and can cause sudden loss of sensation or other bodily systems/functions.

What are the different types of paralysis?

• Paraplegia, affecting both legs and the trunk
• Quadriplegia, affecting all four limbs and the trunk
• Monoplegia, affecting only one limb
• Diplegia, affecting the same body region on both sides of the body (both arms, for example, or both sides of the face)
• Hemiplegia, affecting one side of the body

What can cause paralysis?

• Trauma (accidents, falls, violence)
• Stroke
• Tumor
• Multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy,
• Metabolic disorders,
• Ruptured or slipped discs
• Spinal diseases
• Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine
• Neurodegenerative disease (a disease that damages nerve cells)
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Radiation
• Toxins or poisons

Paralysis injuries are life-changing and can result in a lifetime of expensive medical care. If you have suffered a paralysis injury due to the negligence of an individual, medical professional or medical facility, we may be able to help you collect compensation for pain and suffering, loss of wages, medical expenses and costs of future treatment.

At Findlay Law, our paralysis injury lawyers are dedicated to helping make your life a little easier. Please contact our office for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights.

Most people have seen humorous home videos on television or YouTube of people clumsily falling over furniture or animals and even toppling into a body of water. Even Miss Universe contestants aren't immune from the occasional trip on stage. However, slipping and falling due to negligence on the part of the property owner is no laughing matter.

People of all ages and health conditions can be seriously injured (or even die) from slips and falls. These accidents can happen inside or out, on private property or in a public place. If you have sustained injuries due to slipping or falling on premises owned or maintained by someone else (through no fault of your own), you may be able to file a lawsuit to get compensation for those injuries.

What conditions can cause slips and falls?

• Snow or ice covering walkways
• Wet flooring without appropriate warning signage
• Loose or torn carpeting
• Steps or manholes without warning
• Broken sidewalks
• Uneven ground or level changes without warning
• Construction debris on walkways

If you are involved in a slip and fall accident, we can help you investigate the cause of your accident and injuries to determine if you have a case. Please contact our office for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights. We can help you win compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

Auto accidents are bound to happen, no matter how safe of a driver you are. The automobile you choose to transport your family and friends should be the safest, most reliable car you can afford.

Autotropolis.com editors recently announced their picks for the top 10 safest vehicles for 2008. According to Autotropolis.com, the vehicles below were chosen because they scored well in collision testing, safety ratings, safety features, reliability, available drive system (all-wheel-drive), driving characteristics (view of the road, ride height) and child friendliness (child-friendly vehicles tend to be safer).

2008 Top 10 Safe Car List (in order)

1. 2008 Ford Taurus
2. 2008 Jeep Commander
3. 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4. 2008 Lincoln Town Car
5. 2008 Infinity FX
6. 2008 Honda Pilot
7. 2008 Mercury Sable
8. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
9. 2008 Chrysler Town & Country
10. 2008 Toyota Highlander

The MSRP of the top 10 cars for 2008 ranges from approximately $22,800 to $45,000+. Other cars rounding out the top 15 include the 2008 Toyota Sienna, 2008 Chevrolet HHR, 2008 Honda Odyssey, 2008 Lincoln Mark LT and the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban.

Of course, no automobile is 100% safe. If you've been injured in an auto accident, please contact our office for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights. Canada has a "no fault" system, which means that, regardless of who caused the auto accident, all injured parties may seek compensation.

It has been reported that there are about 160,000 road accidents in Canada every year, killing approximately 2,800 people. Compared to other countries, these statistics are low. However, chances are high that you or someone you know will be in some type of auto accident during your lifetime.

Why do auto accidents happen?
There are many different reasons why people find themselves the cause or the victim of auto accidents.

• Driver distractions: cell phone usage, laptop usage, grooming (make-up application, electric razors), music (radio, iPods, etc.), conversations with passengers, food/drink, bugs in the car
• Driver impairment: alcohol, drugs (prescription or illegal), fatigue, illness
• Bad driving: rubbernecking, tailgating, failure to stop or yield, speeding, racing, aggressive driving, unsafe passing, ignoring blind spots
• Mechanical failure: flat or blown out tires, loss of brakes, loss of steering
• Road conditions: rain, ice, snow, fog, pot holes, animals or foreign obstacles on the road
• Road design: poor visibility, poor markings, poor surface conditions, construction areas

At Findlay Law, we can help you if you've been injured in an auto accident. Canada has a "no fault" system, which means that, regardless of who caused the auto accident, all injured parties may seek compensation. Please contact our office for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights.