Columbia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Columbia Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

An injury to the spinal cord can permanently change a person’s life, work opportunities, physical capabilities, and mental health. Aside from the physical suffering, medical bills, and the inability to work can add significant financial strain. If you live in the Columbia area and have suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, a seasoned Columbia spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue justice.

About the Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III

If you have been injured, pursuing compensation may feel stressful or overwhelming, but it does not have to. We at the Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III have been advocating for people in South Carolina for thirty years. We work tirelessly for our clients through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Our office is located in Sumter, convenient for our Columbia clients, and we are always a phone call or an email away.

Are Spinal Cord Injuries Common?

Spinal cord injuries happen more frequently than you might guess. An estimated 250,000 to 390,000 Americans have spinal cord injuries. Each year, that number grows by approximately 18,000. Spinal cord injuries can happen to anyone, but the majority of people with such injuries are men. Of all people with new spinal cord injuries annually, approximately 79% of them are men.

What Can Be Included in Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury in Columbia?

For most spinal cord injury cases, the proper legal action is to file a personal injury claim. The most common exception to this rule is workplace injuries. Compensation for workplace injuries is usually paid by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, and an employee who files a workers’ compensation claim usually cannot file a separate claim against the employer.

In a personal injury claim, a fair settlement should help the victim return their life to the way it was before the injury, to the greatest degree possible. If you file a claim for a spinal cord injury, the compensation offer should include the following: 

• Medical costs. A settlement should cover all medical bills associated with the accident. This includes immediate bills such as emergency room services, ambulance rides, and emergency surgery, as well as ongoing medical expenses like physical therapy, medication, and adaptive equipment.
• Lost wages. Spinal cord injuries are often very serious, and victims may be out of work for a long time. In some cases, they may even be permanently disabled and may not be able to return to the job they were doing before the accident. Compensation for lost wages should take all of this into consideration.
• Pain and suffering. This compensation is for the physical pain and suffering resulting from the injury, as well as psychological trauma and emotional distress that may have arisen because of the accident and the reality of the injury.

Why You Should Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you have been in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing and have suffered a spinal cord injury, you should hire a spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are most interested in protecting their own interests, and they are notorious for denying claims they should accept and underpaying claims they do process. Even if you receive an offer of compensation from the insurance company, it is unlikely that it will completely offset your losses, and you and your family will be left trying to fill in the gaps.

FAQs About Spinal Cord Injury Law

How Long Do Spinal Cord Injuries Take to Heal?

There is no simple answer to the question of how long a spinal cord injury could take to heal. No two spinal cord injuries are the same, and recovery times range widely based on the severity of the injury and where it is located on the spinal cord. Sometimes full function is never regained, but most meaningful recoveries happen within the first 18 months following the injury. However, it is not impossible to continue to regain function after this window.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Columbia?

The cost to hire a spinal cord injury attorney in Columbia varies depending on the complexity of the case, the amount of time the attorney must spend on the case, and individual attorneys’ rates and fee structure. However, most lawyers who take cases in this area of law do so on a contingency basis, meaning they take no up-front fee. Instead, they receive a portion of any settlement they secure for their client.

How Long Will It Be Before My Spinal Cord Injury Case Is Resolved?

As with any other personal injury case, there is no way to know for sure how long it could take to resolve a spinal cord injury case. Personal injury cases usually cannot be completely resolved until the injured person has reached maximum recovery and has added all applicable medical bills to the claim. For a severe injury like a spinal cord injury, this process could take years.

How Are Pain and Suffering Quantified in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

Compensation is usually calculated by using one of two methods: the multiplier method, the per diem method, or a combination of the two. In the multiplier method, the victim’s total financial losses are multiplied by a factor determined by the overall impact of the injury on the person’s life.

Using the per diem method, pain and suffering are determined according to what the victim would usually earn in a day of work.

Hire a Trusted Attorney – Contact the Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, you may feel like your life has been turned upside down. In addition to your physical pain, mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about the future may be causing significant stress. You don’t have to navigate the unknown alone. Contact the Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III today to discuss your case and find out how we can help you.