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Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can have life-changing impacts on those who have been injured and their loved ones. These injuries are often irreversible and can lead to loss of sensation, loss of motor control, paralysis, and even loss of life. On top of physical injuries and symptoms, spinal cord injuries can have devastating impacts on the mental health and daily lives of everyone involved.

Our team is here to help you through the legal process and get you the resources you need to make the recovery process as smooth as possible for you and your loved ones. While taking legal action won’t change what has happened, we find that it will help ease the financial and emotional burdens, and more importantly provide you with hope for the future ahead.

Having an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer on your side makes sure you are getting the maximum compensation available under South Carolina law and prevents you from being taken advantage of by insurance companies, something we see happen far too often. Contact our team at Cavanaugh & Thickens today to learn more about what you may be entitled to and how our team can help you by calling (843) 888-9000.

Choosing an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Matters

People who have suffered any form of spinal cord injury need a team of attorneys on their side who understand these injuries, the treatment plans, and the long-term effects they can have on those injured and their loved ones. Our team is here to help you through the legal process and get you the resources you need to make recovery as smooth as possible. Our lawyers have over 60 years of combined experience and extensive training in representing cases like these in Charleston and throughout the state of South Carolina and will use this to build a solid case on your behalf and secure you fair compensation for all past, current, and future expenses.

Our local law firm has the experience and resources of a big firm, with a small firm feel. We believe in client-attorney relationships and will take the time to genuinely get to know you, invest in your case, and ensure that you are taken care of every step of the way. Allow us to aggressively fight the legal battle for you so you can focus on what’s most important: healing. To get started today, please call our office at (843) 888-9000 for a free case evaluation during which we will listen to your story, explain your options under state law, and help you understand the next steps.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Charleston, South Carolina

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the leading causes of back and spine injuries are:

  • Vehicle Accidents (38.6%) – These include car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents, and may involve bicyclists or pedestrians.
  • Falls (32.2%) – Falls can occur in a wide range of locations, such as public spaces or at the workplace.
  • Violence (14%) – This may result from criminal acts such as gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and physical assaults.
  • Sports (7.8%) – This can include individual and team sport injuries, such as diving, football, rugby, hockey, skiing, contact sports, and other activities.
  • Medical/Surgical Malpractice (4.2%) – While rare, medical and surgical mistakes can lead to spinal cord injuries.
  • And others (3.2%)

The Different Types and Levels of SCI

There are a few different types and levels of spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. Complete spinal cord injuries result in permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord that was impacted. Often, these injuries are irreparable and result in paraplegia, tetraplegia, or loss of life. Incomplete spinal cord injuries temporarily or partially damage the spinal cord. With incomplete spinal cord injuries, the ability for the spinal cord to communicate with the brain is not completely lost, and those affected may even be able to feel some sensations and perform certain movements.

In addition to complete/incomplete injuries, there are four different sections of the spinal cord that when affected can greatly impact the level of injury.

1. Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries (C1 to C8)

The cervical spine is located at the top of your spinal column and forms the neck. Injuries to the cervical spinal cord are the most severe form of SCI and can impact one or both sides of the body. Typically, the higher up the injury, the more severe the associated symptoms are.High-cervical nerve injuries are very rare and can result in paralysis, quadriplegia, and loss of life. When people survive these injuries, they are often not able to breathe on their own and will likely require around the clock care. Those with low-cervical nerve injuries may still have some motor and sensory functions.

No matter where the cervical spinal cord injury occurred, patients and their loved ones have a long road ahead. Treatment for these injuries typically include surgery, steroid injections, ongoing physical therapy, and mental health counseling. In addition, you will likely want to work with a therapist who has direct experience counseling paralyzed clients.

2. Thoracic Spinal Cord Injuries (T1 to T12)

Thoracic spinal cord injuries affect the upper chest, upper mid-back, and abdominal areas. While severe injuries, most people will survive thoracic spinal cord injuries. These injuries typically result in paraplegia, with many patients still able to use their arms, chest, and upper back. Treatment for these injuries typically involve traction therapy, surgery, rehabilitation, and mental health counseling.

3. Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries (L1 to L5)

Lumbar spinal cord injuries affect the hips and legs. Injuries to the lumbar spine are severe, but typically not life-threatening. Many people with these injuries are able to travel using a manual wheelchair, and some are even able to walk short distances. Following a lumbar spinal injury, you can expect to be administered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs, surgery or surgeries, and ongoing rehabilitation, often in the form of physical and occupational therapy.

4. Sacral Spinal Cord Injuries (S1 to S5)

Sacral spinal cord injuries affect the hips, back of thighs, buttocks, and pelvic organs. Individuals with these injuries can expect treatment plans to include medication, surgery, and rehabilitation therapy to strengthen the areas affected.

Whether you are healing from a spinal cord injury or helping a loved one cope, we understand that recovering from these injuries requires hard work and patience every single day for everyone involved. In addition to helping with the legal aspects of your case, our team is here to help you get connected to resources that may assist in your recovery such as financial assistance, coping and support groups/resources, and more.

Different Types of Paralysis

  1. Paraplegia – Paralysis in the lower half of the body including the trunk, legs and pelvic organs.
  2. Diplegia – Paralysis of the same area of the body on both sides, such as both legs, both sides of the face, or both arms.
  3. Hemiplegia – Paralysis on one side of the body, for example left arm and left leg.
  4. Monoplegia – Paralysis of only one limb, such as right leg or left leg.

Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms

Spinal cord injuries symptoms vary greatly depending on which area of the spine has been damaged. Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • Loss of movement
  • Loss of sensation, such as the ability to feel touch or different temperatures
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Loss of bowel control
  • Exaggerated reflex activities
  • Spasms
  • Pain or intense stinging sensation from nerve damage
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Extreme pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back
  • Weakness, incoordination, or paralysis in any part of the body
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Difficulty balancing, and others.

If you have suffered trauma to the head or neck following an accident, or you witness someone who might have done so, it’s critical to seek medical help immediately. Some symptoms of spinal cord injuries can take time to appear and the faster the injured person is seen by a specialist, the better.

Our Team Will Hold The Liable Party Accountable for Your Damages at No Upfront Cost

Following an accident resulting in a serious spinal cord injury, you have the right to seek fair compensation for the injuries and resulting damages. Our goal is to make sure that the compensation received on your behalf is more than enough to cover the lifetime medical expenses associated with the injury, as well as fairly compensate you for the physical and emotional trauma you’ve been forced to go through. Our team will work with you to optimize your claim to make sure you are being compensated at the highest extent of the law for damages such as:

  • Medical Expenses
    • Including all past, present and future medical bills caused by the accident and injuries.
    • Medical Equipment
    • Live-in Care
    • Home/Vehicle Modifications
    • Rehabilitation Costs: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Vocational Rehabilitation, Educational Training, Recreation Therapy, and Others.
    • Costs Associated with Paralysis Complications: Such as blood clots, pressure sores, etc
    • Mental Health Counseling
    • And more.
  • Lost Income
  • Lost Earning Capacity
  • Lost Quality of Life
  • Loss of Consortium
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Emotional Distress
  • Wrongful Death
  • And More.

According to research by the NSCISC, people with high tetraplegia (C1-C4) can expect to pay around $1,329,755 in healthcare costs and living expenses in the first year, and $237,862 each subsequent year. Patients who suffer from paraplegia can expect to pay $667,569 the first year and $54,298 every year after.

These estimates do not include the costs for lost wages, emotional burden, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other damages. 

Low tetraplegia (C5-C8) spinal cord injuries can cost patients aged around 25, roughly $4,440,708 throughout their lifetime on health care costs and living expenses.

Again, this estimate does not include any costs for lost wages, emotional burdens, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and other damages. 

It’s critical that you hire an attorney who knows the facts, truths, and costs associated with spinal cord injuries to make sure you are best set up for the future. To understand what may be available to you under South Carolina law, please contact our team today.

Who May Be Held Liable for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Who may be held liable for your injuries and damages following a serious accident depends on the specifics of your case. In order to hold a party liable, our lawyers will gather evidence to prove they acted negligently, meaning they failed to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances. We will work hard to prove the elements of negligence: the at-fault party owed you/the injured individual a duty of care, there was a breach of that duty of care, this breach caused the accident and your injuries.

Depending on the specifics of your situation, some parties that may be held liable can include:

  • Motorists
  • Construction Companies
  • Roadway Designers
  • Property Owner(s)
  • Healthcare Provider(s)
  • Contractors
  • Product/Equipment Manufacturer

In some cases, we may identify multiple at-fault parties. To get a better understanding of fault in your particular case, please contact our office today. We would be happy to provide more clarity and your options based on your situation. Our award-winning legal team is available 24/7 at (843) 888-9000.

How Will a Cavanaugh & Thickens Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help My Case?

There are many benefits to hiring a lawyer to represent and optimize your personal injury claim, especially in relation to a spinal cord injury.

Let’s start with explaining how we will help when it comes to handling the insurance company. A lot of injured individuals expect the insurance company to offer a fair settlement that reflects what you deserve. With over 60 years of combined experience in this field, we can confidently say that this is almost never true. In addition to offering much less than what you deserve, you can expect the insurance company to make this a difficult process for you and your loved ones by denying your claim, being hard to get a hold of, “losing” important documents, trying to trick you into admitting fault, and much more. Our attorneys have strong reputations amongst insurance companies, so you can rest assured that you will be in good hands. We will lead the communication with the parties involved to protect your rights and help your case.

In addition to aggressively representing you in discussions about compensation, you can also expect our team to help throughout important parts of your case. With our team, you can expect that we will:

  • Go out and collect critical evidence such as photos, videos, security footage, and more to help prove important elements of the accident.
  • Regularly update you on the status of your case and what to expect next so you never feel alone or in the dark.
  • Keep track of all medical records associated with the accident to help value your past, current, and future expenses – we even have a dedicated medical records coordinator to make this as easy as possible for you.
  • Locate and speak with witnesses of the accident to get an accurate understanding of what happened and to help prove important elements of your case.
  • Provide guidance on important decisions.
  • Prove and value all of your past, current, and future damages, expenses, and losses.
  • Optimize your case to get you the maximum of what you’re owed under SC law.

Get a Free Spinal Cord Injury Case Evaluation

You should not be left alone to worry about the legal process after you or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury. Get the peace of mind you deserve knowing your case in the right hands. Our esteemed lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens will take the burden of the legal process off your shoulders so you can put all of your time and energy into what matters most: healing. We take great pride in being able to help our clients recover physically, financially, and emotionally following a serious accident and injuries, and are ready to help you get started on the road to justice today. Call our office at (843) 888-9000 to talk to an experienced lawyer today. We are available for you via phone 24/7.

You may also contact our team by emailing info@ctlawsc.com or filling out our online form, and a member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Additional Spinal Cord Injury Information:

How Much Will Hiring a Lawyer Cost Me?

Please note that meeting with and hiring an experienced lawyer here at Cavanaugh & Thickens will not cost you nothing up front or out of pocket. We believe everyone should be able to hire a reputable lawyer following a serious accident.

Our team works on a contingency basis, meaning at the end of the case, we receive a percentage of the total compensation recovered. If for some reason there is no compensation recovered, then you owe us nothing.

In addition, our law firm frequently uses our own money on resources to make sure your case is fully optimized and gets you the best outcome possible. To learn more or to schedule your free consultation, give our team a call at (843) 888-9000.

How Do I Know If I Have a Legal Case?

The state of South Carolina runs on a fault based system. This means that as long as you are found less than 51% at fault for the accident that resulted in injury, then you will qualify for compensation. This is another reason why hiring an experienced lawyer will be critical for your case – it is our job to prove the other party is at fault, thus responsible for your injuries, damages, and ultimately compensation.Our personal injury law firm works with accident types that most commonly lead to SCI every day – it’s what we do. To get a more concrete answer on whether or not you have a legal case, schedule a free consultation with our lawyers. We are available and ready to help. Simply call our team at (843) 888-9000 today.

What Is The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

In Charleston and throughout the state of South Carolina, you are only given a short window of time to file a personal injury lawsuit, so it’s in your best interest to schedule your free case evaluation with our team at your earliest convenience to see if you still qualify to file. Generally, you will have three years from the date of the accident but this can change depending on the parties involved. To learn more, please contact our office today at (843) 888-9000.