Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Fighting for Neck, Back & Spine Injury Victims

Spinal cord injuries have the potential to profoundly change lives. From long and painful recoveries and extensive medical bills to lasting limitations and permanent disability, the devastating consequences that accompany these injuries raise the stakes when it comes to pursuing compensation from those at fault.

At CR Legal Team, injuries that damage vertebrae and spinal cord tissue are among the most serious injuries we see in our practice. Fortunately, we’ve become skilled in leveraging our experience and resources to help spinal cord injury victims in the fight for full compensation.

If you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury due to another’s negligence, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim and compensation for your losses. Our Charleston spinal cord injury lawyers at CR Legal Team have over three decades of experience litigating catastrophic injury claims and can review your case and legal options during a consultation.

Call (866) 691-0607 or contact us online for a FREE consultation. Our spinal cord injury attorneys proudly serve victims and families across Charleston County and beyond.

What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are injuries that affect vertebrae and tissue in the spine. Damage to these vital structures can result in damage to nerve cells that transmit signals between the brain and various parts of the body, causing them to lose their ability to function partially or completely.

Given the importance of the spinal cord and spinal nerves, spinal cord injuries have immense potential to result in life-altering consequences, as well as considerable pain and suffering, lengthy recoveries, painful rehabilitation, and lasting limitations or disability.

However, there is variance in how a spinal cord injury affects a person’s movement and ability to function. The nature and severity of damage to the spinal cord, for example, can greatly impact outcomes, as can where along the spine an injury occurs. For example:

• Injuries to the neck/head region above shoulder (cervical spine) make for the the most severe spinal cord injuries. Damage to the cervical spin can result in quadriplegia or tetraplegia and partial or complete loss of function from the neck down.
• Injuries to the upper chest/mid-back (thoracic spine) can result in sensory and motor function loss below the point of injury (quadriplegia).
• Injury to the lowest portion of spinal cord (lumbar spine) does not typically affect upper body movement but can cause loss of function in the legs and hips.
• Injury to the sacrum (sacral spine) can result in loss of function in various nearby organs, such as the bowel, bladder, and sex organs.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are two main types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete.

• Complete spinal cord injuries: A complete spinal cord injury is one in which the victim loses all sensation and movement below the site of the injury. For example, if the victim suffers a complete spinal cord injury at the neck, they will be paralyzed from the neck down.
• Incomplete spinal cord injuries: An incomplete spinal cord injury is one in which the victim retains some sensation and/or movement below the site of the injury. For example, if the victim suffers an incomplete spinal cord injury at the neck, they may be able to move their arms but not their legs.

Both complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis, which is the loss of movement and sensation in the affected areas of the body. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the injury.

Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim After a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries typically result from some form of trauma to the neck or back. This includes trauma sustained in a variety of accidents and incidents caused by the negligence of someone else.

Fortunately, South Carolina law recognizes the need to hold negligent individuals and entities accountable when they cause preventable harm and losses and allows spinal cord injury victims to pursue personal injury claims against those they allege to be at fault.

As claims brought in civil court, personal injury lawsuits allege that the negligence of a defendant (or multiple defendants) more likely than not caused their spinal cord injury, and that those defendants should be held liable (financially responsible) for the resulting losses. Of course, plaintiffs who bring these claims must be able to prove them with supporting evidence.

There are many ways that negligence can result in spinal cord injuries. Some examples of situations where spinal cord injury victims may have grounds for legal action include:

• Motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, or car accidents caused by negligent drivers.
• Trucking accidents resulting from regulatory violations.
• Construction accidents caused by a negligent third party (i.e. a subcontractor).
• Premises accidents (such as a slip and fall) resulting from hazardous property conditions.
• Injuries caused by defective products.
• Medical malpractice during a surgical procedure or another form of treatment.

Determining when a person or entity can be held liable depends on the specific facts of a case, as well as a victim’s ability to gather evidence and conduct necessary investigations into the accident, resulting injury, and availability of sufficient insurance coverage.

At CR Legal Team, our award-winning Charleston spinal cord injury lawyers leverage more than 30 years of experience to help catastrophically injured clients identify when they have viable claims, who they can potentially hold liable, and how we can work to pursue the maximum financial compensation possible.

How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Treated?

Spinal cord injuries are notorious for their profound and lasting consequences. This includes the need for extensive treatment, rehabilitation, and accommodations that enable victims to acclimate to new lives and limitations.

While there is currently no cure for spinal cord injuries, there are treatments that help victims manage symptoms, work toward function and independence, and improve quality of life.

Some of the most common treatments for spinal cord injuries include:

• Immobilization: Some doctors may recommend that victims wear neck braces or use backboards and other devices to immobilize the spine. This may be appropriate in cases where some recovery is possible, as it can help prevent further damage to the spinal cord.
• Surgery: In some cases, spinal cord injuries may require surgery. For example, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury because of a broken bone or a herniated disc, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the damage and improve function.
• Medications: Various medications can be used to manage the symptoms of spinal cord injuries. For example, your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, prevent blood clots, or relax muscle spasms.
• Rehabilitation: After a spinal cord injury, you may need to undergo rehabilitation. This can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or vocational therapy. Rehabilitation can help you regain strength, improve your mobility, and learn how to perform everyday tasks with your new limitations.
• Assistive devices: There are many assistive devices available that help victims perform everyday tasks with new limitations. This can include walkers, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, and other mobility devices, as well as adaptive equipment designed for specific tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
• Home modifications: Victims with spinal cord injuries may require modifications to their homes and vehicles to accommodate their new limitations. Some examples include ramps, grab bars, and handrails that provide extra support and easier access, and accommodations to vehicles that allow for hand-controlled driving or wheelchair access.

Compensation in Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits

In the field of personal injury law, spinal cord injuries are referred to as catastrophic injuries because they have a greater potential for severe and life-altering repercussions than the injuries sustained by most personal injury plaintiffs. This includes not only physical pain and disability but also the incalculable emotional suffering endured by victims and their loved ones. Importantly, it also includes medical expenses related to both treatments victims have already received and ongoing costs they’re likely to incur well beyond the conclusion of their claims.

By filing a personal injury action with the help of an attorney, spinal cord injury victims and their families can work to recover compensation for these losses. Some examples of recoverable damages in spinal cord injury cases include:

• Economic Damages account for financial losses that have a specific monetary value attached to them. These typically include:
  • Medical Expenses: Immediate and ongoing medical costs, including hospital stays, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation.
  • Lost Income: Compensation for wages lost due to injury-related work absences, including potential future earnings if the victim can no longer work or must work in a reduced capacity.
  • Future Care Needs: Cost projections for long-term care requirements, from home modifications to ongoing medical treatments and personal care assistance.
• Non-Economic Damages may not have a direct financial impact or easy-to-calculate sum but are just as critical. Examples include:
  • Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and discomfort endured both immediately following the injury and expected in the future.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Losses related to the inability to participate in hobbies or other activities previously enjoyed.
  • Emotional Distress: Recognition of the psychological impact of the injury, including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
  • Emotional Injuries of Family Members: Emotional damages suffered by victims’ family members are also compensable. These include loss of emotional support and loss of consortium (companionship).
• Punitive Damages are special damages awarded only in limited cases where the defendant's actions were especially egregious. Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to restore the victim's financial state, punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

Calculating damages in a spinal cord injury case is a complex process that often requires the expertise of medical professionals, economists, and vocational experts. These experts help forecast the costs of lifetime care, the impact on earning capacity, and the overall financial burden an injury places on the victim and their family and provide vital testimony that allows victims and their attorneys to seek a full financial recovery.

Call For a FREE Consultation: (866) 691-0607

For those grappling with the repercussions of a spinal cord injury, a lawsuit can offer a pathway to financial security and the support necessary for recovery and adaptation. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate this legal journey alone; our award-winning lawyers at CR Legal Team can help.

Backed by over 30 years of experience and extensive resources, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for the seriously injured. If you have questions about a claim anywhere in South Carolina, our Charleston spinal cord injury attorneys are available 24/7 to discuss your options.

Give us a call at (866) 691-0607 or complete an online consultation form.