Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Lancaster, SC

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you deserve justice and financial recovery for the challenges you now face. David Blackwell, an experienced Lancaster spinal cord injury lawyer, is ready to support you throughout the claims process, while also assisting in your physical and emotional recovery. Our team is dedicated to helping victims of catastrophic injuries and strives to make our community safer. We will work diligently to pursue the best possible outcome for your case.

Don’t hesitate to seek the compensation and justice you deserve. Contact our Lancaster spinal injury lawyer for compassionate and effective legal advocacy. At David Blackwell Law, we offer free case reviews to help you explore your legal options for financial recovery.

We proudly serve clients throughout South Carolina, including Indian Land, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill.

What Are the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Doctors classify spinal cord injuries by their location on the spinal column. The location of a spinal cord injury will determine what parts of the body the injury may affect. The spinal cord has three major regions:

Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury in the lumbar region (the lowest region of the spinal column) affects the legs and pelvis, although injury victims may retain some mobility (with assistance) depending on the location and severity of the injury.

Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury in the thoracic spinal column (the middle region) affects the lower torso, trunk, and chest.

Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

A neck injury in the cervical spinal cord (the top region) can cause total body paralysis and has the highest risk of becoming fatal.

Doctors also classify spinal cord injuries according to their severity. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the spinal cord has only partially severed, and the injured person may retain some feeling and function below the level of the injury. In a complete spinal cord injury, the spinal cord has completely severed, cutting off all signals between the brain and the body below the level of the injury.

Spinal cord injuries typically cause some degree of paralysis below the level of the injury. Paralysis may come in the form of paraplegia (paralysis affecting the legs, pelvis, and trunk) or tetraplegia/quadriplegia (paralysis affecting the arms, chest, trunk, pelvis, and legs).

How a Lancaster Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help with Your Case

Recovering from a spinal cord injury can involve a long process, one that may include significant financial costs, placing pressure on you if you cannot work due to your injury.

David Blackwell, a spinal injury lawyer, can provide you with the support you need by:

Investigating your claim and securing evidence to build your case
Evaluating your legal options for financial recovery
Documenting your ongoing expenses and working with expert witnesses to calculate your future anticipated expenses
Regularly updating you on the progress of your case and answering any questions you may have about your rights or the claims process
Helping you secure the medical or specialist care you need
Pursuing the compensation you deserve as efficiently as possible

What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spine injury compensation can provide you with the financial resources you need to afford treatment and rehabilitation or long-term support for disabilities that result from your injury.

A verdict or settlement may include compensation for economic and personal losses such as:

Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
Costs of long-term care and support services for disabilities
Lost wages/income from missed work during the recovery period
Loss of earning capacity and employment benefits after becoming permanently disabled from work

Physical pain and anguish
Emotional trauma and distress
Lost enjoyment or quality of life because of disabilities or disfigurement

When you speak with our spinal cord injury lawyer, we can assess the compensation you may pursue based on your situation.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Spinal Cord Injury?

There’s no true average settlement for car accident back injury. Rather, compensation in a given spine injury case — whether stemming from an auto wreck, a slip-and-fall, or any other accident that wasn’t your fault — will depend on multiple factors, including:

The severity of the injury
The duration and expense of medical care and rehabilitation
Whether the injury results in prolonged or permanent disabilities
The time the injured person misses from work during their recovery
Whether the injured person can return to their old job or do other kinds of work at all

A relatively minor injury like a herniated disk will pay less than a more serious one, like a complete cervical spinal injury.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

At David Blackwell Law, our firm supports and advocates for clients who have suffered a spine injury in accidents or incidents such as:

Workplace accidents
Sports/recreational accidents
Assaults or abuse

How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in South Carolina?

In most cases, the South Carolina statute of limitations for injury claims gives victims three years to file a spine injury lawsuit after getting hurt due to another party’s fault. Courts strictly enforce the statute of limitations, and late filing could lead to a dismissal of your lawsuit.

You can best protect your rights by speaking with David Blackwell, a seasoned and knowledgeable Lancaster spinal cord injury attorney, as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may lose the opportunity to recover compensation for your medical care, lost income, or future needs.

What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

The immediate symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:

Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
Numbness, tingling, or loss of feelings in toes, feet, fingers, or hands
Loss of bladder/bowel control
Muscle weakness

Incoordination or loss of control
Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
Difficulty breathing
Odd twisting or positioning of the neck or back

Spinal cord injuries may have a more gradual onset of symptoms, including:

Loss of motor function or fine motor control
Altered or lost ability to feel touch, heat, or cold
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Exaggerated reflexes

Muscle spasms
Intense pain or stinging sensation in the back
Trouble breathing or clearing the lungs
Changes to sexual function or sensitivity

What Are Treatment Options for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Although healthcare providers cannot reverse the damage caused by a spinal cord injury, they can provide treatment that helps prevent further injury and enables injury victims to resume an active and productive life.

Initial treatment for spinal cord injuries focuses on stabilizing the spinal column to avoid further damage to the spinal cord. Treatment also involves maintaining a person’s ability to breathe, preventing shock, and avoiding complications like cardiovascular issues or blood clots. A spinal cord injury victim may require surgery to remove fragments or debris, repair vertebrae and spinal discs, or install rods and screws to stabilize the spine to prevent future pain or deformity.

Once a spinal cord injury stabilizes, treatment shifts to preventing or mitigating long-term complications of the injury. A spinal cord injury victim may receive medications to treat losses of muscle tone or bone density, manage blood pressure, prevent bladder/bowel issues, or restore sexual function.

Long-term treatment will also involve rehabilitation to maintain or strengthen muscle function, redevelop fine motor control, and learn adaptations to perform daily tasks with disabilities. Rehabilitation can include physical/occupational therapy, recreational therapy, vocational counsel, dietary counsel, and mental health care.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Doctors cannot repair a spinal cord injury, which means those injuries typically have lifelong effects. Much of the long-term care that a spinal cord injury victim will receive focuses on mitigating the complications of the injury and improving quality of life.

Examples of long-term consequences that can result from a spinal cord injury include:

Changes to bladder and bowel control, which may increase the risk of constipation, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, or kidney stones
Increased risk of pressure ulcers/bed sores due to loss of sensation and lack of movement to relieve pressure on body parts like feet, ankles, or legs
Circulatory issues, such as dangerous drops or spikes in blood pressure, which can increase the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, or pulmonary embolisms
Respiratory issues, which may increase the risk of pneumonia or other infections
Loss of bone density/osteoporosis, which can increase the risk of fractures
Loss of muscle tone or spasticity
Cardiovascular disease or diabetes caused by a more sedentary lifestyle
Changes to sexual health, including altered sexual function or sensitivity or loss of fertility
Chronic pain, including nerve pain in the spinal cord or muscle pain from overexertion of particular muscle groups
Depression or anxiety

What Clients Say

“David Blackwell is a compassionate, hardworking lawyer who will listen to your concerns and make your needs his number one priority.”

- Dana Courtney

“David Blackwell Law is very effective. They are courteous, easy to talk to, and easy to get along with.”

- Glen Crawford

“I have known David Blackwell for many years. He brings passion and integrity to his legal practice and work tirelessly for his clients. David knows how to maximize results in difficult situations.”

- Brian Trimnal, Local Attorney

“I have known David Blackwell since I started practicing law. David takes every case personally and does everything necessary to get the best possible results for his client. He is always a strong advocate for his client and is always willing to go the extra mile.”

- Van Myers, Local Attorney

“David and his staff are incredibly organized and attentive to each and every client. The services they provide are second to none, and I never miss an opportunity to recommend them.”

- Wayne Ridgeway, Local Attorney

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Call Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Lancaster for Help Today

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury for which someone else is to blame, get the legal help you need for your recovery. Contact David Blackwell Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. Learn how David Blackwell, a personal injury lawyer in Lancaster, can help you pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve.

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