South Carolina Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

South Carolina Eminent Domain Attorney

Any injury that causes a significant change to your quality of life could be catastrophic. Suffering a catastrophic injury means you aren’t able to enjoy and engage in life as you once were. If you are the victim of such an injury resulting from someone else’s negligence, you deserve justice. Consulting a South Carolina catastrophic injury lawyer can be the first step on your road to achieving the justice and compensation you deserve.

When an Injury Is Considered Catastrophic

Injuries that are considered catastrophic are typically serious injuries that require lifelong medical care. Oftentimes, these injuries prevent mobility and impair cognitive function. With catastrophic injuries, there is also no guarantee that undergoing treatment will improve the individual’s quality of life.

Catastrophic injuries can include many different maladies. Some of these are:

• Amputations
• Severe burns
• Injuries to the brain
• Spinal cord injuries
• Injuries to organs

The causes of these types of injuries vary. The most common causes are car or truck accidents, falls due to slipping, workplace incidents, or accidents resulting from another person’s negligent actions.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are often serious as well as traumatic for the injured party. Even minor brain injuries can affect a person’s cognitive processes, making it difficult to function normally. Victims of traumatic brain injuries can suffer symptoms long after the accident occurred, while those whose injuries are more severe may suffer for a lifetime.

Some common symptoms of brain injuries are short-term and long-term memory loss, trouble focusing, mood swings, and even drastic personality changes. If you have suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a catastrophic accident case.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a vital body part, as it transfers signals from the brain to the rest of the body. It allows the body to communicate physical sensations and pain to the brain. When an injury to the spinal cord occurs, this communication between the body and the brain is ruptured.

Those who have experienced spinal cord injuries can suffer a loss of feeling and the ability to walk normally. Victims of this type of injury may experience a much lower quality of life than they had before the accident. If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s actions, it is suggested that you discuss your options with a catastrophic injury lawyer.

Limb Loss and Injuries That Require Amputations

Serious accidents can result in the victim needing an amputation. Automobile accidents or incidents involving heavy machinery can lead to a limb being severed. Other instances that could lead to an amputation are accidents involving a crushing injury or a loss of blood flow, which can lead to dead tissue. Amputating may be a necessary solution to treat the patient and avoid worse outcomes, such as eventual death.

For amputees, life must return to a new “normal” in which they need to re-learn how to perform daily tasks. Patients with prosthetics have to learn how to function with them. Those who choose to use prosthetics usually have to replace them every three to five years, which is an added expense on top of other medical bills.

If you have suffered through an amputation or have lost one of your limbs as a result of an accident caused by someone else’s actions, you can have your medical bills covered through a personal injury claim.

Severe Burn Incidents

The unfortunate victims of severe burns typically must undergo multiple procedures in an effort to treat them. Not only do burn victims experience significant pain, but they may also suffer noticeable scarring. A burn victim’s appearance can change drastically, even after being treated. Victims may have lengthy stays in the burn unit of the hospital, greatly increasing their medical bills.

Even with cosmetic surgery, burn victims can have an altered appearance, as well as deeper changes in their ability to function before the accident. Burn victims deserve the help of a personal injury lawyer to help them reach fair compensation.

When to Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in South Carolina because of someone else’s actions, then you need to discuss your options with a catastrophic injury lawyer. These lawyers can give you a case evaluation, helping you develop your claim by discovering what caused the injury. When your quality of life is affected by someone else’s negligence, you can file an injury claim for damages.

When you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer, your case can be completely handled from beginning to end. A qualified lawyer can fight on your behalf in court, speak to insurance companies, and help you obtain the compensation that you deserve. With the help of a lawyer, you are also more likely to have your medical costs compensated.

As most catastrophic injury cases are anything but simple, having a lawyer represent you can help your case seem less complex and help you navigate the legal process. Some cases can take several months or years to reach a resolution. While waiting for your case to be resolved, your lawyer can spend the interim time finding evidence to support your claim. The more evidence you have to back up your case, the more likely it is that you will succeed.

In some cases, a claim can be settled before going to trial if the defendant offers a settlement. When this occurs, you have the option to accept the settlement, eliminating the need for the case to go to trial. An experienced lawyer can help you decide if this route makes sense in your situation.

Before Accepting a Settlement

If you do receive a settlement offer, it is wise to take time to consider it and your options before accepting it. A rash decision can result in receiving a smaller amount of compensation that won’t cover the total costs of your medical bills. Before accepting a settlement, it is suggested that you speak first with a lawyer who can help you evaluate whether this is a wise idea in your case.

Deciding to reject a settlement may not negatively affect your case. If you decide that the settlement offered is not satisfactory, your lawyer can help continue negotiations as you move forward in your case.

Keep in mind that compensation should be reflective of medical costs, loss of income, physical pain, and emotional distress caused by the incident. Compensation should match the severity of both immediate and long-lasting damages.

Common Characteristics of a Catastrophic Injury

Catastrophic injuries are a type of personal injury, but there are several differences that distinguish a catastrophic injury from a personal injury. One characteristic of a catastrophic injury is the severity of the damage caused to the body. After a catastrophic injury, the person’s quality of life is never the same, as they are unable to do things that they could do in the past. It is typical for individuals with this type of injury to need lifelong medical care.

Another common characteristic of this type of injury is lengthy recovery time. It isn’t unusual for victims to need several months, possibly even years, to fully recover. In some cases, full recovery isn’t possible. Catastrophic injuries also cause trauma to the victims, as the accidents and injuries sustained are overwhelmingly difficult to handle, both emotionally and physically. Recovering from trauma may require therapy as well as medication to help the victim cope.

FAQs

Q: What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?

A: A catastrophic injury is qualified as such when lifelong medical care is needed and the victim’s ability to function has been negatively altered. Common injuries that are considered catastrophic are spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and severe burns. For those who have experienced a catastrophic injury, there is no guarantee that undergoing treatment will improve the individual’s quality of life.

Q: Can You Sue for Pain and Suffering in South Carolina?

A: Yes, you can sue for pain and suffering in South Carolina. Any physical or emotional pain resulting from an accident experienced by the victim is considered recoverable damages. The victim can sue for compensation. While these damages do not have an assigned monetary value, an attorney can help determine a fitting value.

Q: How Long After an Accident Can You Sue in South Carolina?

A: In most cases, you have three years after an accident to sue in South Carolina. Typically, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit begins the day that the accident occurred. This is the case for personal injury, catastrophic injury, or wrongful death claims. Keep in mind that the statute of limitations against a governmental defendant is two years.

Q: What Is Catastrophic Litigation?

A: Catastrophic litigation is a case involving a catastrophic injury, such as severe burns, amputation, brain injury, back injury, or injury to the organs. These types of injuries greatly alter the victim’s life to the point where they may not be able to return to work or do other activities that they once enjoyed. The victim can then litigate their case or take legal action by filing a claim.

Consult With a South Carolina Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Injuries that are traumatic and cause a change in one’s significant quality of life are categorized as catastrophic injuries. If you are physically, emotionally, and financially drained from an accident that resulted from someone else’s negligence, it is wise to consult with a South Carolina catastrophic injury lawyer. Contact Devore, Acton & Stafford, P.A., for help with your injury case.