If you have suffered a life-changing injury and someone else is at fault for the accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation. The South Carolina catastrophic injury attorneys at Jebaily Law Firm want to help you demand that the responsible party pay for the financial, physical, and mental harm they caused you. We understand how devastating a catastrophic injury can be to you and your family. We are prepared to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.
Contact Jebaily Law Firm today and speak with one of our catastrophic injury attorneys about how we can assist you during this difficult time. The consultation is free and without obligations.
How Can Catastrophic Injuries Impact Your Life?
Catastrophic injuries can impact your life in many ways. First and foremost, you may need lifelong medical care, which can be incredibly expensive. You may also be in considerable pain and emotional distress. You may need around-the-clock assistance at home to take care of yourself and perform daily tasks. Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may need medical equipment in your home and adaptive equipment for your vehicle.
Second, catastrophic injuries can prevent you from returning to the same line of work or from working at all, threatening your financial security and your emotional well-being.
Third, catastrophic injuries impact your family too. Your spouse and children may need to adjust to a new way of life at home, and they may have to find other ways to show you love and affection. These changes can impact the happiness and harmony of your family.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?
The following injuries are generally considered catastrophic injuries:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) range from mild to severe, but all of them can leave accident victims with long-term cognitive and emotional challenges.
- Birth Injuries – Birth injuries can cause long-term brain damage, developmental issues, physical disabilities, and serious infections, which can affect the child for their entire life if they do not prove fatal.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – This type of injury can result in partial or even total loss of motor or sensory function at the level of injury.
- Paraplegia or Quadriplegia – Paraplegia is paralysis of the lower body, whereas quadriplegia is paralysis of the upper and lower body.
- Loss of Limbs – Accident victims who suffer the loss of a limb or loss of limb function may need to learn new ways of walking, working, eating, and taking care of themselves.
- Internal Organ Damage – Internal organ damage may result in losing a portion of the organ, such as a section of the bowels or lungs. It can also cause long-term challenges with bodily functions.
- Loss of Vision – An accident victim who loses the ability to see will need additional support at home and work to continue to care for themselves.
- Loss of Hearing – An accident victim who loses their ability to hear will have to adjust to an entirely new way of experiencing the world.
- Severe Burns – Not only do severe burns leave disfiguring scars, but they also can reduce range of motion, cause long-term pain, increase the risk of infection, and negatively affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
- Disfigurement – Disfigurement can impact an accident victim’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
- Amputations – Amputations of a limb or digit can prevent an accident victim from returning to their line of work or engaging in hobbies and pastimes that they previously enjoyed.
- Wrongful Death – Catastrophic injuries frequently cause wrongful death.
What Is the Proper Treatment for a Catastrophic Injury?
The proper treatment for a catastrophic injury will depend on the specifics of the injury, but it will almost always be expensive, painful, and emotionally distressing. Catastrophic injury victims often need extensive surgeries, followed by long-term or even life-long physical and occupational therapy. They may need medications to help with bodily functions, prevent infection, and relieve pain. Depending on the nature of the injury, they may also benefit from mental health counseling.
The science of catastrophic injury treatments continues to advance, including promising developments that can improve the quality of life for some accident victims. However, the results of a catastrophic injury remain both serious and potentially expensive.
Common Sources of Catastrophic Injuries
While any accident can result in a catastrophic injury, the most common sources of these devastating injuries include the following:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
- Falls
- Sports and Recreational Activities
- Construction Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Defective Medical Devices and Drugs
Statute of Limitations for South Carolina Catastrophic Injury Claims
In South Carolina, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date the injury occurred. If the injury happened in the workplace and the victim is a covered employee, they have two years to seek workers’ compensation benefits. That means you have just a few years to:
- Hire the best catastrophic injury lawyer
- Gather essential evidence to prove someone else is responsible for your injury
- Consult with experts on your long-term medical needs
- Quantify your economic and non-economic losses
- Complete the necessary legal paperwork
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement to avoid trial
- File a personal injury lawsuit with the appropriate court if the insurer won’t cooperate
As you can see, two or three years can quickly pass when you’re trying to prepare a case, recover from your injuries, and adjust to a new way of life. Get started today by hiring an experienced catastrophic injury attorney so you can focus on healing without worrying about deadlines.
Contact Our South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys Today
If you sustained a catastrophic injury in South Carolina that was not your fault, the personal injury attorneys of Jebaily Law Firm want to help you pursue the financial recovery you need from the person who hurt you. We understand that catastrophic injuries impact more than your health and that you deserve compensation for the full range of harm you have suffered. We are ready to devote our resources, experience, and compassion to fight for your future.
Contact us today to discuss your case with one of our South Carolina catastrophic injury lawyers at no cost or obligation.
