Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys in Columbia, SC

The health and integrity of your spine has an enormous impact on your physical capabilities. Injuries to the spinal cord can be life changing. As a result, it is important that you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries, so that you and your family do not need to struggle to afford the treatment and care that spinal cord injury victims require.

At Peake & Fowler, our attorneys have decades of experience representing South Carolina accident victims, and we understand the critical needs you are facing after a severe and catastrophic injury. Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the complexities involved with these types of cases, and we will dedicate all the time and attention required to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Spinal cord injury cases can be very complicated, and insurance companies often spend a lot of resources fighting them because they tend to be higher value cases. We routinely go up against well-funded adversaries such as large insurers, and we are not intimidated by their vast resources. We will work hard to build a rock-solid case, so we can negotiate from a position of strength. And if the other side is not willing to negotiate in good faith, we are ready and able to pursue maximum damages at trial if necessary.

Below are some important facts to know about spinal cord injuries and how we can help.

Types of Injuries to the Spinal Cord

There are several different types of spinal cord injury:

• Contusion: bruising of the spinal cord.
• Laceration: tearing or severing of nerve fibers composing the spinal cord, resulting from damage.
• Compression: pressure on the spinal cord, impeding its function.
• Central Cord Syndrome: damage to large spinal nerve fibers.

Depending upon the nature and extent of the injury, spinal cord damage can result in anything from partial paralysis of a limb to quadriplegia and life-threatening loss of autonomic nerve functions, such as breathing and swallowing. In between those extremes, persons living with a spinal cord injury may experience a number of different problems that contribute to a diminishing quality of life. These include:

• Bulging and herniated discs.
• Lumbar strains.
• Loss of sensation.
• Respiratory, digestive, and circulatory distress.
• Loss of motor function in various parts of the body.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Loss of bowel and bladder control.
• Loss of sexual function.
• Pressure sores.
• High blood pressure and blood clots.
• Anxiety and depression.

Causes of Spinal Injuries in South Carolina

Some of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Vehicle and Traffic-Related Accidents: Car accidents, commercial truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents can all result in someone involved sustaining a spinal cord injury. More serious injuries to the spinal cord tend to happen in accidents where individuals have little to no protection, such as when a pedestrian is struck by a large vehicle while crossing the street.

• Serious Falls: Slip and fall accidents can happen just about anywhere, and there are a number of potential causes. Wet and slippery surfaces in a commercial establishment, for example, could lead to a serious fall that results in a spinal cord injury. These incidents can also happen in a number of workplaces, particularly in industries like construction where workers are frequently performing tasks in higher elevations such as on the roof. Elderly individuals in nursing homes are also at risk of severe spinal cord injuries when they suffer a fall that could have been prevented.

• Medical Negligence: Various types of medical procedures involve risks, for example, when a doctor is performing spinal surgery. A lot can go wrong in a procedure like this; one moment of inattention, one slip up, one poor decision and the patient can end up with permanent damage to their spinal cord. Not all spinal surgery complications are due to medical negligence, however. This is why it is important to have a case like this examined by an experienced attorney to determine if it is possible to prove that the injury happened because of a deviation from acceptable standards of care.

• Defective or Dangerous Products: Spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries have been known to happen because of dangerous or defective products. One frequent example is faulty machinery or equipment that workers use on the job. If that equipment malfunctions and causes a compensable injury, the injured individual may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer or distributor of the defective product.

• Sports Accidents: Individuals who play various contact sports or participate in other risky recreational activities are susceptible to spinal cord injuries. Examples may include football, cliff diving, and ATV riding.

• Violence: Various forms of violence can result in severe spinal cord injuries. This includes both physical assaults and attacks with a dangerous weapon. Younger children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to serious injuries from physical assaults, and a lot of nursing home patients have ended up with spinal injuries because of abuse by employees and staff within the facility.

Expenses Resulting from Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are unlike other accident injuries in the amount of care and rehabilitation they require. If you or a loved one sustains a spinal cord injury, it is important to seek out an attorney who understands the full extent of the costs you and your family will experience as a result of the injury, including:

• Physical rehabilitation
• In-home nursing care
• Loss of consortium for spouses of injury victims
• Loss of emotional support for family members of injury victims
• Expenses from medical problems secondary to spinal cord injuries, including lung infections, bladder infections, or bed sores
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity over the course of the victim’s lifetime

Living with spinal cord injury typically requires not only ongoing care but also significant changes in the living environment, such as adaptations to the home, vehicles, and the implementation of assistive technologies. To make sure you are fully compensated, your attorney will prepare a comprehensive assessment of the lifetime costs of an injury, and present your case in a compelling fashion, whether to the insurance company for settlement or to a jury in court.

Experienced and Dedicated Legal Representation in South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Claims

If you or a loved one have been in an accident and incurred spinal cord damage, ensure that you’re fully compensated for all of your losses, both present and future. From anywhere in and around Columbia, South Carolina, including Lexington, Kershaw, and Richland county, contact our compassionate and experienced personal injury attorneys at 803-788-4370 or message us online for a no-cost consultation and case assessment.