Paralysis after a workplace event can affect movement, sensation, breathing, bowel and bladder function, skin integrity, pain, mental health, communication, transportation, housing, work, and family responsibilities. The compensation record should be organized around documented needs and qualified opinions rather than a generic description of severity.

A paralysis claim needs a life-impact record that connects the work event and neurologic diagnosis to acute care, rehabilitation, attendant and equipment needs, accessibility, work capacity, wages, benefits, future planning, and changes over time.

Preserve the event and emergency record

Document the fall, vehicle crash, crush, impact, penetration, electrical event, violence, or other mechanism; scene evidence; witnesses; equipment; emergency response; transport; initial neurologic findings; imaging; surgery; and later events. Protect physical and electronic evidence without delaying medical care.

Build a neurologic and functional chronology

  • Level and completeness of injury, motor and sensory findings, autonomic issues, pain, and complications
  • Acute hospital, surgery, rehabilitation, therapy, medication, equipment, and follow-up
  • Mobility, transfers, self-care, communication, cognition, skin care, sleep, and household function
  • Restrictions, work capacity, transportation, home access, caregiver assistance, and changing needs

Define medical compensation from current law

G.S. 97-2 defines medical compensation and includes identified medical, hospital, nursing, rehabilitative, attendant-care, medication, travel, treatment, and supply categories. The need, causal relationship, frequency, provider, duration, and cost must be supported in the individual claim.

Track authorization and care coordination

G.S. 97-25 addresses medical compensation, employer-provided treatment, employee requests, second opinions, and Commission procedure. Maintain recommendations, prescriptions, authorizations, denials, scheduling, provider communications, care plans, work notes, and unresolved requests.

Create separate needs ledgers

  • Clinical care: physicians, nursing, therapy, testing, medication, supplies, and complications
  • Equipment: wheelchair, seating, lift, bed, pressure relief, communication, maintenance, and replacement
  • Attendant care: task, provider, frequency, duration, training, documentation, and rate evidence
  • Access and travel: vehicle, mileage, transportation, entrances, bathroom, bedroom, and worksite
  • Economic: wages, leave, compensation, other benefits, expenses, and projected needs

Document family assistance without assumptions

Record who provided each task, when, for how long, why it was needed, training, competing responsibilities, out-of-pocket cost, and medical support. Family love and practical help are important facts, but the claim still needs clear documentation of compensable services and future needs.

Analyze wage and work capacity

G.S. 97-29 addresses total incapacity compensation. Preserve preinjury wages, medical restrictions, education, skills, job demands, offered work, transportation, accommodations, work attempts, post-injury earnings, and vocational evidence.

Plan for change, not a frozen snapshot

Identify current and future treatment, replacement cycles, attendant needs, complications, aging, accessibility, transportation, vocational options, and uncertainty. Separate present records from qualified projections and revisit the plan when function, care, housing, work, or family support changes.

Coordinate vocational questions

The related vocational rehabilitation guide explains assessments, restrictions, plans, labor-market evidence, participation, supported objections, job leads, and work attempts.

Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers provides information about workers’ compensation after paralyzing injuries in North Carolina.

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