Spinal Cord Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes: Partial vs. Complete Paralysis Claims

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), almost 1,000 people sustained “incapacitating injuries” in motorcycle crashes in 2024. Spinal cord injuries often fall under the umbrella of incapacitating injuries because they can – in some cases – result in partial or complete paralysis.

When dealing with paralysis injuries in the context of motorcycle accident claims, it’s important to understand the different kinds of paralysis and the common costs associated with these diagnoses. A partial paralysis claim will probably look different than a complete paralysis claim, and the amount of compensation sought in each case may vary accordingly. Let’s discuss some of the major differentiators between these kinds of injuries and explore how a motorcycle accident lawyer can help survivors of paralysis injuries recover compensation after a negligence-related crash.

How motorcycle crashes cause spinal cord injuries

The spinal cord sends important messages and signals throughout the entire body, and any disruption to this pathway can seriously impact a person’s motor functioning. Spinal cord injuries are commonly reported in motorcycle crashes because these accidents often involve direct trauma to the back or head, as well as high-speed collisions.

Because motorcycles offer less physical protection than other kinds of vehicles, a rider can more easily come into contact with the pavement, environmental hazards, or other vehicles. Some motorcycle accidents also lead to riders being pinned under their bikes or between two surfaces, which can lead to severe crush or compression injuries. When trauma like this results in extensive damage to the spinal cord, a rider may become fully or partially paralyzed.

Partial vs. complete paralysis: What’s the difference?

When someone becomes paralyzed, it usually means they are no longer able to perform voluntary movements in specific muscles. Sometimes, a spinal cord injury results in localized trauma that only affects isolated muscle groups. Other times, the damage is widespread enough to prevent a patient from moving or controlling large portions of their body.

Medical professionals use a few different classifications to describe specific kinds of paralysis. Some of the terms you’ll commonly see used to describe these injuries include:

• Localized: Paralysis that affects a small section of the body, like the face, hands, feet, or vocal cords
• Diplegia: Affecting the same muscle groups on both sides of the body
• Hemiplegia: Affecting different muscle groups on the same side of the body (i.e., the right arm and right leg)
• Monoplegia: Affecting only one limb
• Paraplegia: Affecting both legs and sometimes the torso
• Quadriplegia or tetraplegia: Affecting all limbs and the torso (paralyzed from the neck down)

Some of these injuries qualify as partial paralysis injuries, while others are kinds of complete paralysis. If a patient suffers partial paralysis, their spinal cord may still be able to send limited signals to muscle groups below the injury site, allowing the patient to retain some movement or sensation in certain parts of the body.

When a patient suffers complete paralysis, that means their spinal cord is too damaged to send any signals past the injury site. This results in the loss of movement and sensation in any area below the damaged portion of the spinal column. This kind of spinal cord injury may result in paraplegia or quadriplegia and leave a survivor permanently unable to move their limbs.

While partial paralysis may allow for some functional recovery, patients with complete paralysis often face permanent loss of movement and may require lifelong care and support. In either case, however, treatment and management of paralysis injuries involves extensive medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation efforts – all of which can come at incredibly high costs and put patients and their loved ones in financial jeopardy.

Are paralyzed motorcyclists entitled to compensation?

If a motorcyclist becomes paralyzed in an accident, they may be entitled to compensation if they can show that the crash that caused their injuries was the direct result of another party’s negligence. Proving negligence in a motorcycle accident isn’t always as straightforward as we would hope, however, because of the systemic bias motorcyclists often encounter.

After a crash, other involved parties and their insurers will look for any possible reason to claim that the accident was actually your fault or that your injuries were the result of your own negligence. These claims can be incredibly impactful in a state like Illinois because we adhere to a modified comparative negligence system when assessing liability for damages. That means you’ll be barred from recovering any compensation if the facts suggest you were more than 50% to blame for your own losses. Even if you weren’t more than 50% responsible, any amount of comparative negligence could result in your compensation being reduced in proportion to your share of the blame.

This is why it’s so important to work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer if you suffer an incapacitating injury in a crash. Skilled attorneys can help push back against unsupported claims of comparative negligence and advocate for their clients when faced with anti-motorcycle bias. Your lawyer can help you collect important evidence, speak to witnesses, and even enlist the services of other experts to build a fact-based claim for appropriate compensation.

What damages are available to injured motorcyclists?

If you can show that your partial or complete paralysis was the result of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages for certain accident-related losses. These damages may include both economic and non-economic losses, as well as punitive damages in certain personal injury lawsuits involving willful, wanton, or egregious misconduct.

If you were paralyzed in a negligence-related motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for damages like:

• Emergency medical care
• Hospitalization
• Surgery costs
• Rehabilitation, physical therapy, or occupational therapy
• Long-term care facility placement
• At-home nursing care
• Wheelchairs or other mobility aids
• Accessibility or treatment-related home modifications
• Lost wages
• Reduced lifetime earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental healthcare services

Since there’s no cap on economic or non-economic damages in Illinois, you and your attorney can fight for the full and fair value of your losses. When it comes to fighting for permanent injuries like paralysis, it’s important to account for both current and future expenses so you can ensure your long-term financial needs are covered.

Life care planners, vocational experts, and financial professionals can all help you tabulate the combined costs of all your losses and project your most likely future financial outcome. Even partial paralysis can pose long-term challenges and be a source of ongoing financial distress, so you shouldn’t assume your injuries won’t qualify for compensation without first consulting an attorney.

Final thoughts

Spinal cord injuries are far too common in motorcycle accidents. When spinal cord damage causes partial or complete paralysis, many accident victims find their lives completely transformed in the blink of an eye. Paralysis injuries can directly impact a survivor’s ability to return to their home, school, work, and social routines and may be a source of lifelong physical, emotional, and financial strain.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand the harsh scrutiny many motorcyclists face while trying to fight for their rights. That’s why we are committed to providing unbiased, knowledgeable legal support to survivors and their loved ones – particularly when incapacitating injuries are involved.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury and is now paralyzed after a motorcycle crash, give us a call today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case review. We’ll talk to you about your legal options and help you determine whether your case may qualify for compensation under Illinois law.