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The short answer: A spinal cord injury from a car accident often brings a lifetime of medical care, lost income, and daily support, so a fair claim has to account for decades of future costs, not just today’s bills. In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a claim, and you can still recover compensation as long as you’re not found more at fault than the other driver. With so much money and so many years on the line, an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer matters.
A spinal cord injury can change your life in an instant. One moment you’re driving home, and the next you’re facing a future you never planned for, worried about your health, your independence, and how your family will manage. If you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident, you deserve real answers and someone steady in your corner. The consultation is free, and remember, Trey helps.
In this article, our Summerville car accident lawyer discusses:
– How car accidents cause spinal cord injuries
– The long-term costs of a spinal cord injury
– Why these claims mean calculating decades of future costs
– How South Carolina law affects your case
– Why Trey Harrell helps with spinal cord injury cases
How Do Car Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?
Car accidents can cause spinal cord injuries when the violent force of a crash fractures or compresses the vertebrae and damages the bundle of nerves inside. The spinal cord carries signals between your brain and your body, so when it is injured, those signals can be disrupted or cut off. High-speed collisions, rollovers, and T-bone crashes are especially dangerous, but even a lower-speed wreck can cause lasting harm. Doctors sort these injuries into two types, and the difference matters for your recovery and your claim.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries
An incomplete injury means the cord is damaged but not severed, so some sensation and movement below the injury remain. Outcomes vary widely from one person to the next. Many individuals regain some function with intensive rehabilitation, though they may still live with pain, weakness, or limited mobility for the rest of their lives.
Complete spinal cord injuries
A complete injury means a total loss of sensation and movement below the level of the injury. Depending on where the spine is damaged, it can cause paraplegia (the legs and lower body) or tetraplegia (all four limbs). These are catastrophic, permanent injuries that reshape nearly every part of daily life.
You don’t have to sort out the legal side alone. Call 843-636-8739 for a free consultation, and you won’t owe attorney’s fees unless Trey recovers compensation for you.
What Are the Long-Term Costs of a Spinal Cord Injury?
The long-term costs of a spinal cord injury reach far beyond your first hospital stay and often stretch across the rest of your life. These are among the most expensive injuries because the care rarely ends. Costs typically include:
– Ongoing medical care, from surgeries and specialty treatment to prescriptions and complications
– Rehabilitation and physical therapy, often for years
– Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and adjustable beds, that wear out and need replacing
– Home modifications such as ramps, wider doorways, and roll-in showers
– Lost earning capacity when you cannot return to your job, or cannot work at all
– In-home care or nursing support for daily tasks
Beyond the dollars come the pain, the lost independence, and the strain on the people who love you. A strong claim accounts for all of it.
Why Do Spinal Cord Injury Claims Require Calculating Decades of Future Costs?
These claims require projecting decades of future costs because the compensation you accept has to cover needs you haven’t paid for yet. Insurance companies know this and often push for a quick, low settlement before the long-term picture is clear. Getting the number right takes real work. Building a full spinal cord injury settlement often means bringing in medical professionals, life-care planners, and economists to map out future treatment and its lifetime cost. Trey and his team handle that heavy lifting, so nothing important gets left off the table. Once you settle, you generally cannot go back for more.
Don’t let an insurance company decide what your future is worth. Call 843-636-8739 for a free case evaluation.
How Does South Carolina Law Affect Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
South Carolina law limits when and how you can pursue a claim, and both can affect what you recover. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Miss that deadline, and you can lose your right to compensation, no matter how strong your case is.
Fault matters too. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence model with a 51% bar, which means you can still recover damages if you’re less than 51% at fault, although your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers often try to pin the blame on you to reduce what they owe, so it helps to have someone representing your side from the start.
Why Choose Trey Harrell for Your Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Trey Harrell brings courtroom experience and a personal commitment to every catastrophic injury case he takes. As a former federal prosecutor, Trey isn’t afraid to take a case all the way to trial, and insurance companies know the difference between a lawyer who will fight and one who won’t. Just as important, Trey gets it on a human level. As a father of two and a third-generation Charlestonian, he understands how a catastrophic injury reshapes an entire family, not just one person. Trey and his dedicated team walk you through each step with patience, so you can focus on healing. From the Charleston office on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Trey helps injured individuals across South Carolina get their lives back together.
Remember, Trey helps. Call 843-636-8739 for a free consultation. You won’t pay attorney’s fees unless he recovers compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury Car Accident Claims
How much is a spinal cord injury settlement worth?
Every case is different, and value depends on the severity of your injury, your medical needs, your lost income, and how the crash happened. Because a spinal cord injury settlement has to cover a lifetime of care, these claims are often substantial, but no honest lawyer can promise a specific amount. Trey will review your situation for free and give you a straight answer about your options.
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury claim in South Carolina?
You generally have three years from the date of the crash under South Carolina’s statute of limitations. Some situations can shorten or extend that window, so talk with a spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as you can. Waiting also makes it harder to gather evidence.
What if I were partly at fault for the accident?
You may still recover. Under South Carolina’s rule, you can recover as long as your negligence is not greater than the other driver’s, and your award is reduced in proportion to your share of fault. This is one more reason to have an attorney defend you against attempts to overblame you.
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and depends on its unique facts.