{"id":42215,"date":"2026-09-08T15:33:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T15:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/glossary\/what-is-the-cause-of-tetraplegia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T16:15:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T16:15:37","slug":"what-is-the-cause-of-tetraplegia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/glossary\/what-is-the-cause-of-tetraplegia\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Cause of Tetraplegia? Florida Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Florida Guide | Catastrophic Injury<\/p>

What Causes Tetraplegia? A Plain-Language Guide for Florida Families<\/h1>

Tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia, can change a family's life overnight. Here is how it usually happens, what to know next, and how CHG Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options.<\/p>

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Why Families Contact Us<\/h2>\n

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By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published October 26, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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What Is the Cause of Tetraplegia?<\/h2>\n

Tetraplegia is caused by damage to the cervical (neck) spinal cord. Motor vehicle crashes, falls, and diving accidents are among the most common causes of traumatic tetraplegia. “Traumatic” means the injury came from a sudden event.<\/p>\n

If you or someone you love suddenly cannot move the arms or legs, call 911. Get emergency care right away.<\/p>\n

Tetraplegia is a permanent condition. All four limbs lose function. For many families, the first days after an injury are a blur. They spend long hours in hospital waiting rooms. They also face hard questions.<\/p>\n

This guide explains the medical picture in plain language. It also connects that picture to the legal steps that may follow. It shows where to start.<\/p>\n\n

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Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia) in Plain Language<\/h2>\n

Tetraplegia<\/strong> means you cannot move or feel all four limbs. That includes both arms and both legs. The clinical term is quadriplegia. The two words mean the same thing.<\/p>\n

Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerve fibers. It runs from your brain down through your spine. It carries signals that tell your muscles to move. It also lets you feel touch, temperature, and pain.<\/p>\n

When the cervical spinal cord is damaged, these signals cannot cross the injury site. This often happens after a violent impact, a fall, or a diving accident. Everything below the injury loses function.<\/p>\n

This is different from paraplegia<\/a>.<\/strong> Paraplegia affects only the lower body. That means the legs and lower trunk. It results from injury lower in the spine. The injury is in the thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar (lower-back) region.<\/p>\n

Why the Level of Injury Changes Daily Life and Care<\/h2>\n

The cervical spine has eight levels of vertebrae and nerve roots. They are labeled C1 through C8. The cervical spinal cord controls signals to the arms, hands, legs, and feet. So an injury at any cervical level can cause tetraplegia.<\/p>\n

The level of injury shapes what daily life and care look like.<\/p>\n

Injury level determines how severe paralysis<\/a> will be:<\/strong><\/p>\n