Getting into an accident can be confusing, frustrating, and emotionally daunting. In addition to financial and emotional burdens, accidents can cause serious physical injuries with long-lasting effects and treatment plans, such as spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury entails damage to the bundle of nerve fibers that links your brain to the nerves throughout your body.

South Carolina personal injury attorneys explain the impacts these injuries can have on families, compensation available for these injuries, and how the law protects you following an unexpected accident. If you have any questions about the contents of this article or if you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury and are looking for support, contact our office today for a free case evaluation directly with a reputable injury lawyer.

What Are Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms and have not already, or have any pain following an accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms that may indicate a spinal cord injury include but are not limited to:

  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Weakness or reduced strength
  • Paralysis or lack of muscle control
  • Uncontrolled flexing or muscles
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Heart rate, body, and blood pressure disruptions

If you or your loved one was involved in an accident that led to a spinal injury, it is in your best interest to speak with a lawyer who is experienced in this area of the law and understands the impact that spinal cord injuries have physically, financially, and emotionally on accident victims and their loved ones.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

You could sustain various types of spine injuries depending on the type of accident you’re involved in and the specifics of the accident. Spinal cord injuries can range greatly in severity, including injuries such as:

  • Whiplash: This injury happens when the neck is pushed by a forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement.
  • Spinal fracture: Occurs when one of the thirty-three bones that make up the spinal column breaks and may require surgery to repair.
  • Spinal cord damage: This injury entails any damage to the nerves at the end of the spinal canal or spinal cord. Depending on the severity, this injury can cause permanent changes in bodily functions.
  • Spinal stenosis: When the inside space of the backbone is too small, it puts pressure on the spine and nerves, causing spinal stenosis.

Proper diagnosis is crucial to ensuring you get the treatment you need to best recover. Getting medical attention is the top priority when it comes to any injury following an accident, especially a spinal cord injury. 

Your legal team will ensure that all medical bills and related costs are organized and included in your personal injury claim, helping to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for all past, present, and future care costs.

Pursuing Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries often result in expensive medical bills – from emergency care costs to long term rehabilitation. Many families immediately feel the impact of these costs and the financial burden can quickly become overwhelming. On top of that, these accidents can cause severe emotional trauma, pain and suffering, property damage, and many more unexpected damages. 

Luckily, in South Carolina, you can recover compensation as long as you are found to be no more than 50% at-fault for the accident. Experienced spinal cord injury lawyers will conduct thorough investigations into the accident to prove who was at-fault and optimize your claim, fighting to get you the best outcome possible for your claim and your future. 

To protect your rights and help you secure adequate compensation for the injuries and damages incurred due to an accident, experienced personal injury lawyers in South Carolina will help you do the following:

Collect Evidence

Proving fault is one of the most important aspects of all South Carolina personal injury claims. Our lawyers will track down and preserve critical pieces of evidence that strengthen your claim including:

  • Pictures or video recordings of the accident scene and the damage or injuries sustained
  • Medical records
  • Records of out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury
  • Police report concerning the accident
  • Eye witness statements
  • Records of time lost from work and pay stubs
  • Black box data, and more.

Submit a Personal Injury Claim

Once your lawyers collect the necessary documentation, they will use their experience and resources to optimize your personal injury claim.

Your legal team will also submit the documentation to the at-fault party’s insurance company and demand fair compensation for your injuries.

The value of your claim is based on many different factors, such as the severity of your injury, economic damages, and much more. An experienced attorney will help you understand how much your case is worth and won’t settle for less than you deserve.

It’s important to remember that attorneys have the experience and training needed to aggressively negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure you receive the entirety of the compensation you deserve.

File a Lawsuit

If negotiations fail, your lawyer must be prepared and have the skills necessary to take your case to trial. The court process can be complex and lengthy, but sometimes it’s the best option to ensure that you are getting the justice you deserve. While most injury cases settle outside of court, your lawyer will help you understand the process and prepare you should your case go to trial.

What Damages Can I Recover in a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?

Generally, you can seek compensation for a few different forms of damages. These typically fall into 2 categories:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the losses to which you can attach a monetary value. Examples include:

  • Medical bills
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Surgery and rehabilitation costs
  • Prescription medication costs
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

A spinal cord injury typically causes non-monetary losses for victims as well, which you can pursue compensation for in addition to economic damages. They refer to losses such as:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disability
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish

You may be able to seek punitive damages if the at-fault party caused the accident due to gross negligence or intentionally caused you harm. A common example of this is if the at fault party was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the accident. The amount of compensation you can obtain depends on multiple factors, which your lawyers will carefully evaluate and fight to get you the best possible outcome.

 

Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Providing Legal Insights After a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries can have devastating consequences, sometimes hindering you from living your everyday life the same way you were before the accident. Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC is here to fight to get you back on track and secure you the compensation you deserve. Let us use our decades of combined experience and history of results to help you get the best outcome possible for your case and future. Call our office today at 803-888-2200 for a free case evaluation – available 24/7.

With offices in Columbia and Mount Pleasant, our lawyers travel and handle SCI cases throughout South Carolina.

Legally Reviewed By: Joseph O. Thickens

I’m Joe Thickens, and I’m a founder and personal injury attorney at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC. I primarily represent people who have been injured in car and truck accidents in Columbia and throughout the state of South Carolina. Our entire team is dedicated to getting accident victims the justice they deserve, including making sure they get compensated for all of the physical, financial, and emotional pain they’ve had to face as a result of an unexpected accident.

If you or a loved one has any questions following an accident, we’d be glad to help you understand your options under state law. We take great pride in our work and prioritize a great client experience. If you’d like more information, simply call our team at 803-888-2200. We are available for you via phone 24/7.