Paralysis is the inability to move one or more parts of your body. It has may be temporary or permanent, but if it occurs due to an injury that you sustained as part of your work as a public safety member, you should be able to recover compensation on account of it.
Paralysis can take many forms, each of which has several different causes. However, according to the Cleveland Clinic, paralysis occurs broadly because of damage to some part of the nervous system, whether that be the peripheral nerves, the spinal cord or the brain itself. Therefore, it is entirely possible that a blow to the head could cause brain damage severe enough to result in paralysis.
Paralysis can be either generalized, meaning that it affects several areas of the body at once, or localized, meaning that it affects only one area. Common areas of localized paralysis include the vocal cords, face, hands or feet.
Classification of paralysis often takes place according to what area(s) of the body it affects. For example, the word for paralysis that affects only one limb, i.e., one of your arms or legs, is monoplegia. Diplegia, on the other hand, refers to paralysis affecting the same part on either side of your body. For instance, paralysis of both your arms would be an example of diplegia.
Paralysis is not always complete. Partial paralysis can also take place, allowing you some limited movement of the affected areas but making it nearly impossible to exert much control over them.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.