Charleston Port Truck Driver Secures $325,000 Settlement After Traumatic Brain Injury Claim Was Initially Denied

Steinberg Law Firm Attorney Adam Greene Helps Injured Longshore Worker Overcome Significant Causation Challenges

Workers on Charleston’s waterfront perform physically demanding and often dangerous jobs that keep cargo moving through one of the nation’s busiest ports. When injuries occur, obtaining benefits can be complicated—especially when the injury is not immediately obvious and the employer disputes the connection between the accident and the worker’s medical condition.

Steinberg Law Firm attorney Adam Greene recently secured a $325,000 settlement for a Charleston waterfront worker after overcoming significant legal and medical challenges in a disputed brain injury claim.

The case involved a combination of benefits available under both the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, creating additional legal complexities. The result demonstrates the importance of experienced representation when a worker suffers a serious injury that is initially denied and requires extensive medical and expert evidence to prove.

An Unexpected Injury on the Charleston Waterfront

Our client was a truck driver working on the Charleston waterfront, where cargo containers are routinely loaded, unloaded, and transported throughout port facilities.

During the course of his employment, a shipping container was abruptly placed onto the bed of his truck. The force of the impact caused a significant jolt throughout the vehicle.

Unlike many traumatic brain injury cases, the worker did not strike his head inside the cab. There was no visible head trauma, no direct blow to the skull, and no video footage documenting what occurred.

Yet days after the incident, the worker began experiencing symptoms that ultimately led to the discovery of a subdural bleed—a potentially life-threatening condition involving bleeding around the brain.

Because there was no direct head impact and no video evidence, the claim was immediately disputed.

“One of the most challenging aspects of this case was helping others understand that a traumatic brain injury doesn’t always require someone to hit their head,” said Adam Greene. “Medical science recognizes that sudden acceleration and deceleration forces can cause serious brain injuries, but proving that connection in a contested claim often requires extensive investigation and expert testimony.”

Understanding Longshore and State Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers injured on Charleston’s waterfront may find themselves navigating more than one workers’ compensation system.

While many maritime employees are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, certain workers may also have rights under the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act depending on the nature of their job duties, employer relationships, and where the injury occurred.

The LHWCA is a federal law that provides benefits to maritime workers injured on or near navigable waters, including longshoremen, cargo handlers, terminal workers, ship repair workers, and other waterfront employees. The Act provides medical treatment, disability benefits, and compensation for permanent injuries.

In some cases, however, a worker’s claim may involve both federal and state workers’ compensation considerations. Determining which laws apply and maximizing available benefits requires a detailed understanding of both systems.

“One of the unique aspects of waterfront injury cases is that they don’t always fit neatly into a single category,” Greene said. “Understanding how federal Longshore benefits and state workers’ compensation laws interact can make a significant difference in the outcome of a claim.”

Employers and insurance carriers frequently challenge these claims, particularly when the injury involves complex medical issues such as traumatic brain injuries or delayed symptoms.

Proving a Brain Injury Without Direct Impact

The insurance carrier disputed whether the workplace incident actually caused the worker’s subdural bleed and resulting neurological injuries.

Without video evidence and without a direct head strike, establishing causation became the central issue in the case.

Greene worked closely with medical experts to analyze the mechanism of injury and explain how the sudden force generated when the container landed on the truck bed could have caused the brain injury.

The case required extensive expert causation analysis, medical review, and legal advocacy to connect the workplace event to the worker’s disabling condition.

“Insurance companies often focus on what they believe should have happened rather than what the medical evidence actually shows,” Greene said. “Our job was to present the science, present the facts, and demonstrate that this worker’s condition was directly related to the forces involved in the accident.”

A Hard-Fought $325,000 Recovery

As the medical evidence developed, it became clear that the worker’s injuries would have a profound impact on his future.

The brain injury and resulting limitations significantly affected his ability to work and created uncertainty regarding his long-term earning capacity and quality of life.

Despite the carrier’s denial of the claim and the challenges surrounding medical causation, Steinberg Law Firm continued to aggressively pursue the case. Through expert medical testimony and extensive investigation, Greene was able to establish the connection between the workplace incident and the client’s subdural bleed.

Ultimately, the matter was successfully resolved for $325,000, with compensation involving both Longshore and state workers’ compensation benefits.

“Insurance carriers often challenge cases involving delayed symptoms or injuries that aren’t immediately obvious,” Greene said. “This case required us to dig deeper, work closely with medical experts, and demonstrate exactly how this accident caused our client’s injury. The result provided meaningful compensation and financial security for someone whose life changed dramatically because of a workplace accident.”

While no settlement can erase the physical and emotional effects of a traumatic brain injury, the recovery helped ensure that the client received compensation reflecting the seriousness of his condition and the challenges he faced moving forward.

Experience Matters in Waterfront Injury Claims

Claims involving waterfront workers are often more complex than traditional workers’ compensation cases. They may involve overlapping state and federal laws, specialized medical evidence, vocational considerations, and substantial disputes regarding causation.

Attorney Adam Greene has built a reputation for helping injured workers navigate these challenging claims. Before joining Steinberg Law Firm, Greene represented employers and insurance carriers, giving him valuable insight into how claims are evaluated and defended. Today, he uses that knowledge to advocate for injured workers throughout South Carolina.

Greene’s experience includes representing injured workers under both the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, allowing him to identify opportunities and challenges that can significantly impact the outcome of a claim.

“Waterfront workers perform some of the most demanding jobs in our economy,” Greene said. “Whether a claim falls under Longshore, state workers’ compensation, or a combination of both, injured workers deserve someone who understands the law and is willing to fight for them. We were pleased to help this client obtain a favorable result after a claim that many initially believed would be difficult to prove.”

Injured on the Charleston Waterfront?

If you work on the Charleston waterfront, at the Port of Charleston, or in another maritime industry and have been injured on the job, you may have rights under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, or both.

For nearly 100 years, Steinberg Law Firm has represented injured workers throughout South Carolina. Attorney Adam Greene has extensive experience handling Longshore and waterfront injury claims, including cases involving disputed injuries, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and complex medical causation issues.

If your claim has been denied or if you have questions about your rights after a waterfront workplace injury, contact Steinberg Law Firm for a free consultation to learn how we may be able to help.