It is hard to believe that after serving your country in war, going through spinal surgery, and eventually ending up paralyzed from the waist down that there would not be housing available to suit your specific needs.  However, this is the struggle that many American veterans are facing right now: getting a house or apartment that is equipped for the disabled or paralyzed.

Just a few months ago, one man went through that frustrating and disheartening experience.  The man was once a member of the U.S. Army before contracting E. coli during knee surgery.  The bacteria formed blood-clots and he eventually became paralyzed from the waist down.

But he still had to have a place to live, like all of us do.

Our firm’s paralysis attorneys know just how difficult life can become after a spinal cord injury or infection leaves you paralyzed.  Worrying about finding a suitable living situation can only add to your pain and suffering.

When asked how the man found his current apartment, which is a rarity in that it meets all of his needs, his answer was “it was kind of like the last ditch.  I mean it was like the only one I found in two-and-a-half to three months of looking.”

Since he only lost the use of his legs and is considered to have paraplegia, he’s still very mobile around his house and does not require assistance from an onsite nurse.  What that does mean is that his needs must be specifically fine-tuned so that he can take care of himself, such as lower counter tops in the kitchen and closet shelving brought down instead of being kept up high.

According to the Minnesota State Council on Disability in St. Paul, handicapped-accessible housing will become increasingly more difficult as the number of Americans age increases and the amount veterans who return from war grows.  But there are other hardship factors too, such as there is currently no database available of housing that has been modified by owners or management companies to accommodate paraplegics and quadriplegics as residents.  To make matters even worse, landlords will often fill vacant, differently-abled apartments and homes with residents who do not have any variety of paralysis, strictly so the unit does not remain empty in a dismal economy.

Despite everything, the man considers himself one of the lucky ones because he does have an apartment that is equipped for his life with paralysis and keeps him in touch with family and friends at the same time.

Our paralysis attorneys know that life becomes a lot harder once you find out that you cannot use your body like you used to.  This is one of the many challenges that people with paralysis face every day, but this proves that these challenges can be overcome.  It might be an uphill battle and one that seems impossible at times, yet those with paralysis can still get the things that they want out of life.

If you or a loved one have been involved a personal injury that has left you with paralysis, then we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible following the accident at 1-858-551-2090 or please click here for a free consultation with an experienced paralysis attorney.  We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay anything until we recover money on your behalf.