Serious Injuries
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When people are searching for a law firm to help them, they should know that Steinberg Law Firm has experienced lawyers working as a team to ensure our clients make the recoveries that they should. — Attorney Steven E. Goldberg
Getting Results
$3.85 Million
Truck Accident Case
South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney for Catastrophic Injuries
At the Steinberg Law Firm, we have a reputation for skillfully representing those who have suffered life-altering injuries in South Carolina accidents including motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, and workplace accidents. Our goal is to help clients recover from their injuries and move on with their lives – not just financially, but holistically.
For a free case review, call us at 843-720-2800.
Representing Injured People Since 1927
Charleston Personal Injury Law Firm for Cases Involving Serious Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are those that are so serious that they leave accident victims with permanent damage.
Every injury has an impact on a person’s life. However, the more severe the injury, the greater that impact. Often, serious and catastrophic injuries impact either the brain or the spinal cord and can result in brain damage or paralysis. Sometimes, these injuries heal over time; however, in some cases, improvement only reaches a certain point, leaving accident victims unable to work and participate in the activities that they used to enjoy.
What our clients say:
The Steinberg Law Firm was fast and aggressive with getting my case finalized, and I recommend it to anyone who is nervous about going through a lawyer after an accident. They treat you like family and handle everything for you, so you never have to worry. - Asha
Answering Your Questions
A South Carolina personal injury lawsuit provides accident victims with a way to obtain compensation for their injuries.
How common are serious injuries in the United States?
Accidental injury is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States; someone is accidentally injured every second, and someone is killed every three minutes. Every year, there are over four million auto accidents resulting in the need for medical attention, and each year, there are 24.8 million doctor visits for unintentional injuries and another 97.9 emergency room visits.
Serious Burn Injuries
Approximately 450,000 people are treated for burns in hospitals and emergency rooms every year.
Adding to this total are individuals who are treated in private clinics, medical offices and public clinics, who are not included in the American Burn Association hospital data. Roughly 75 percent of those treated in hospitals for burns were injured from contact with fire or flame or from scalding, or a burn from contact with moist heat, like steam.
Nearly 97 percent of all burn-injury victims survive; however, many suffer from life-long scarring and disfigurement, and 24 percent of burn injury victims are children under the age of 15.
Fire and burn-related costs total roughly $7.5 billion annually.
According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance, the typical claim for a catastrophic injury has increased from an average of $5 million to upwards of $10 million.
Vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spine injuries, followed closely by slip and fall accidents.
Spine & Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one that is serious enough that it affects how the brain works.
At least 5.3 million Americans live with a traumatic brain injury, and someone suffers from a brain injury in the United States every seven minutes. The most common causes of brain injury are falls, being struck by an object, motor vehicle accidents and assaults. Falls account for over 50 percent of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 61,000 people died from traumatic brain injuries in 2019 in the United States, which is about 166 brain injury-related deaths every day.
Free Personal Injury Consultations
Our lawyers know that the recovery process can be time consuming, stressful and expensive.
At Steinberg Law Firm we understand what it is like to suffer from injuries sustained in a serious accident, no matter where or why it happened. We are here to hear your story and find out how we can help you obtain fair and equitable compensation for your injuries.
Pursuing a Claim for Compensation After a Serious or Catastrophic Injury
Serious accidents disrupt lives. At first, an accident victim’s focus is on their physical recovery. Often, this involves a lengthy hospital stay followed by months of surgeries, doctor’s appointments, and physical therapy. Despite the advances in modern medicine, some accident victims are never able to fully recover from their injuries, preventing them from participating in the activities that they used to enjoy.
The lingering effects of a serious injury contribute to the emotional stress surrounding the accident. On top of the anxiety of wondering if life will ever be the same, most serious accident victims must miss a significant amount of work, resulting in a reduced income, if any at all. However, healthcare providers are less than sympathetic when it comes to the payment of medical expenses, which further adds to an accident victim’s stress.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, South Carolina law provides a way for accident victims to obtain compensation for their injuries from the responsible parties. To succeed in a South Carolina personal injury case, the accident victim, or plaintiff as they are referred to, must prove that the named defendant or defendants were legally negligent. A South Carolina negligence claim has certain elements that must be met:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care;
- Through some action or inaction, the defendant violated the duty owed to the plaintiff;
- There is a causal connection between the defendant’s conduct and the plaintiff’s injuries;
- The plaintiff’s injuries were a foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions; and
- The plaintiff suffered legally recognizable damages.
If successful, a plaintiff may be eligible for damages. The amount of damages that are available in a personal injury case varies on a case-by-case basis
Practice Areas
Results
WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER $1 BILLION FOR CLIENTS, INCLUDING:
$3.15 Million
Truck Accident Case
$3.2 Million
Workers' Comp Case
$1 Million
Workers' Comp Workplace Violence Case
Two Types of Damages in a Personal Injury Case
Economic damages: Economic damages are those that have a monetary value that can readily be determined. For example, common types of economic damages include:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Decrease in earning capacity
Non-Economic damages: Non-economic damages are less tangible than economic damages in that subjectivity is required when assigning them a value. Types of South Carolina non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain & suffering
- Emotional distress
- Humiliation & loss of reputation
- Physical impairment or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (involving a spousal relationship)
- Loss of society and companionship (involving a relationship with others)
Both Types of Damages Are Important
Both economic and non-economic damages are crucial in ensuring accident victims are adequately compensated.
While non-economic damages may be more difficult to quantify, they are equally important in a personal injury case. In fact, in many cases, the non-economic damages exceed the economic damages. Thus, working with an attorney who understands non-economic damages, and how to effectively prove them is crucial for those who have suffered a serious accident.
Steinberg Law Firm - Charleston Personal Injury Lawyers - 843-720-2800
Why Choose the Steinberg Law Firm
The Steinberg Law Firm Gets Results
At Steinberg Law Firm, we recognize that seeking compensation for our clients is just one part of our job. We see our role in the Charleston community as helping those who have been injured in preventable accidents get back on their feet. Thus, we take each case personally and get to know our clients as people, not cases. And we are also proud of the results that we have been able to obtain for many of our clients.
$2.75 Million
Product Defect Case
$2.75 Million
Product Defect Case
$1.68 Million
Workers' Comp Case
$1.65 Million
Truck Accident Case
$1.45 Million
Fatal Car Accident
$1.59 Million
Boiler Explosion Accident
Our Dedication Shows in our Results
Common Types of Serious Injury
While any injury can severely impact the life of an accident victim, the following are the most common types of serious and catastrophic injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by sudden damage to the head, often caused by an unexpected blow or jolt. TBIs are common in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and sports accidents. TBIs can be difficult to diagnose, as there are not always symptoms immediately after the accident. However, the long-term effects of a TBI can include memory loss, confusion, headaches, dizziness, loss of sleep, depression, vomiting, seizures, and emotional disturbances.
Multiple Bone Fractures
When a bone breaks into several pieces, it is called a comminuted fracture. It takes a significant amount of force to cause a comminuted fracture, which is usually caused by a serious car accident or fall. Comminuted fractures are serious, and typically require more than just a splint or a cast. Those who have suffered a broken bone typically need open surgery to repair the bone structure. Even then, there may be residual pain, inflammation, and loss of movement.
Crush Injuries
A crush injury can occur any time there is excessive force put on a part of the body. South Carolina workplace accidents are the most common causes of catastrophic crush injuries. A crush injury may result in broken bones, organ damage, or permanent nerve injury. In more severe cases, crush injuries can cause paralysis and in the worst cases lead to death.
Paralysis related to spinal cord damage
The spine is designed to protect the spinal cord, however, when experiencing excessive force, such as in a sports injury or car accident, the spinal cord itself can become damaged. Injury to the soft, gel-like spinal cord often results in temporary or permanent paralysis. The vertebrae, or bones that comprise the spine, can also fracture, causing excruciating pain.
Amputation of Limbs
The physical and emotional challenges that accompany limb loss cannot be overstated. It often takes years for someone to adjust to life after an amputation. Losing a limb is most often due to a workplace accident; however, it can also be caused by serious Charleston car, truck, and motorcycle accidents.
Life will never return to normal for those who have suffered a catastrophic injury. Injury victims may not be able to work and will often be limited in their daily activities.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
A serious injury can occur in any type of accident. Those who have experienced a catastrophic injury should consult with a dedicated South Carolina personal injury attorney to discuss bringing a claim against the at-fault party or parties. Having handled serious personal injury cases for 95 years, we have seen the most common causes of South Carolina serious injuries include the following:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are the single leading cause of spinal cord injury. The forces involved in these collisions can seriously damage the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis. Due to the somewhat mysterious nature of the spinal cord, even seemingly minor accidents can cause symptoms to occur weeks or months after an accident. Thus, anyone involved in a car accident should be sure to obtain prompt medical care to rule out any serious injury.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are the most common cause of brain injury. For example, slipping down a set of faulty stairs, or falling from an unsafe work zone are two common types of falls that present a major risk of brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries are extremely common, and the medical community has only recently started to really understand the long-term impact these injuries can have.
Workplace Accidents
Americans spend a significant amount of their time at work. And many who are employed in the construction and manufacturing industries regularly work in very hazardous environments. That being the case, it is not surprising that a large number of serious injuries occur while at work. Those injured in a workplace accident may be able to obtain South Carolina workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for their injuries. Depending on the nature of the accident, employees injured on the job may also be able to pursue a claim against the party responsible for causing the accident.
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are a leading cause of catastrophic injury, especially among younger people. While participation in any sport can result in a serious injury, the most catastrophic injuries occur in gymnastics, football, skiing, swimming, cheerleading, basketball, and hockey. Often, these injuries include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Reach out to a Dedicated Personal Injury Attorney
Catastrophic injuries are not defined by how they occur, but by the impact they have.
If you have been seriously injured in any type of South Carolina accident, reach out to a dedicated injury attorney for immediate assistance in determining whether you have a claim for damages. If successful, accident victims may be able to recover compensation for their past and future medical expenses, lost wages, decrease in earning capacity due to the accident, as well as for any pain and suffering caused by the accident.
What Our Clients Say
I would highly recommend them.
I would highly recommend them. Enjoyed the fact that every time I called, someone called me back. It made me feel like my case mattered, and that I mattered. They answered all of my questions and concerns in a timely manner.
- Paula
I am very pleased with my experience.
I am very pleased with my experience. I have and will continue to recommend the Steinberg Law Firm. They have worked very hard on my behalf.
- Sharon
Received a significant settlement.
Received a significant settlement. Ms. Andrews is very communicative and will fight for your case.
- Tiera Green
Taylor and his team did an amazing job
I was involved in an auto accident in 2021, and chose Steinberg Law Firm to represent my case. Taylor and his team did an amazing job representing me in my case. They were super nice, kept me up-to-date, answered any questions in a timely manner, and settled my case quickly. I highly recommend Taylor Grooms and his team.
- Mary Lowe
He didn't give up.
We work hard through the pandemic to get the case solved and it was a tuff fight but in all he didn’t give up. I definitely would call Lawrence Grooms again if I need him
- Shannon
Mr. Taylor Grooms is very professional...
Mr. Taylor Grooms is very professional and have great customer service. He made everything so easy.
- Kimberly
A team who exemplify extraordinary integrity, value, and work ethic.
Immediately after my auto accident. Mr. Taylor Grooms, Attorney and Ms. Glenis Haynes, Paralegal were compassionate and responsive to my inquiry. They are available by phone, text, and email proactively letting me know the status of my case. Mr. Grooms was direct letting me know the pros and cons concerning my outcome. Ms. Glenis was a phone call or text away when I had question. A team who exemplify extraordinary integrity, value, and work ethic. I am highly recommending Taylor and Glenis for their commitment to excellence.
- Dr. M. Frazier
Elliotte Quinn is a definite go-to for construction issues.
After a long suit over my home, we prevailed. Elliotte Quinn is a definite go-to for construction issues. Extremely detailed and easy to work with toward the goal. Highly suggested.
- M. Durante
Elliott and his assistant, Monica, were both amazing!
Elliott and his assistant, Monica, were both amazing! They explained exactly what to expect and when, and got us a great settlement. I highly recommend this law firm!
- Deena
Contact the Steinberg Law Firm for Immediate Assistance with your Catastrophic Injury Claim
What Our Attorneys Can Do For You
Our attorneys have over 170 years of collective experience handling almost every type of personal injury case imaginable. Given this broad base of experience, chances are, we have successfully handled a case just like yours. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a claim for compensation based on the catastrophic injuries you or your loved one has sustained, call 843-376-5896, or contact us through our online form. We represent clients in Charleston and throughout South Carolina. Calling is free, and because we offer a No Fee Promise, you do not pay unless we win. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you and your family through the recovery process.
Let Us Handle the Insurance Companies
If you have been hurt, our South Carolina personal injury lawyers want to help. We represent clients in all types of injury claims, including those involving car accidents, slip-and-falls, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, construction defects, and wrongful deaths. Our team of attorneys are both skilled negotiators as well as aggressive litigators and can seamlessly switch between those roles.
