A spinal cord injury can have life-threatening and devastating consequences. Unfortunately, they’re also more common than you might think. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are approximately 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year. In the United States, there are 245,000 individuals currently suffering the consequences of these injuries.
The vast majority of spinal cord injuries are traumatic, and the leading cause is motor vehicle accidents. However, there are a number of ways that these injuries may occur, from occupational accidents to instances of negligent supervision.
No matter how a spinal cord injury happens, the effects can be catastrophic. Victims of spinal cord injury often have a diminished quality of life and may require around-the-clock assistive care. It’s not uncommon for these individuals to require help completing activities of daily living, including meal preparation, dressing, and bathing.
Continued long term care and rehabilitation is also expensive. Families of spinal cord injury victims often struggle to compensate for lost wages while also providing for the victim’s medical needs. If you know someone who suffered with a spinal cord injury, you may be struggling with medical bills, rehabilitation costs, nursing care, and more.
How a Personal Injury Settlement Can Help
At HawkLaw, we operate on a simple philosophy: that no one should have to struggle because of someone else’s negligence. While we know nothing can fully restore quality of life following a spinal cord injury, a personal injury claim can help compensate for economic and intangible losses following an accident. There are two main types of damages we pursue on behalf of our clients in Charleston, which include:
- Specific damages. Also called economic damages, these provide compensation for the measurable losses of an accident. Examples might include medical bills, ongoing rehabilitation costs, and any loss in earning capacity (in the event that the victim is unable to return to gainful employment).
- General damages. General damages reimburse for the immaterial costs of a spinal cord injury. These include pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
In certain cases, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages against a negligent party. Legislatures designed these damages to punish the defendant for reckless misconduct or gross negligence.
A personal injury settlement will do more than just hold the negligent party accountable; it also provides the victim’s family with a sense of financial security. These claims allow your family to provide needed care to your loved one while compensating for any lost income or earning capacity.
Your Spinal Injury Lawyer in Charleston
At HawkLaw, we’re committed to helping victims of spinal cord injury and their families. If you or a loved one experienced a spinal cord injury in a car crash, trucking wreck, or other traumatic event, contact us to schedule a free initial consultation. We have been helping Charleston area families gain recompense for their injuries for years – now let us go to work for you. Let us hold the negligent parties responsible and secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us at our convenient office located in Mount Pleasant today for your complimentary consultation today! (843) 737-9356.
