A spinal cord injury at work can change your life in an instant. Whether you’ve suffered a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury, partial paralysis, or full paralysis, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences are profound. Medical treatment can be extensive and costly. Recovery may take months or years, and some injuries result in permanent disability. Goings Law Firm, LLC helps injured workers in South Carolina pursue workers’ compensation benefits for spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
Why Choose Goings Law Firm, LLC for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Spinal cord injuries require specialized legal knowledge and an understanding of both the medical complexity and the South Carolina workers’ compensation system. Goings Law Firm, LLC has experience handling serious injury claims, including those involving spinal cord damage and paralysis. The team works with medical experts to document the full extent of your injury and its impact on your ability to work and live independently.
The firm’s approach focuses on securing all benefits available under South Carolina law. Goings Law Firm, LLC manages every stage of the claim—from initial filing through appeals—and remains involved to protect your rights. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless there is a recovery in your case.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen at Work
Spinal cord injuries can occur in many workplace settings across South Carolina. Understanding how these injuries happen can help explain why they are typically covered by workers’ compensation when they arise out of and in the course of employment.
Common workplace causes include:
- Falls from heights on construction sites, ladders, or scaffolding
- Motor vehicle accidents involving company vehicles or work-related travel
- Heavy equipment accidents or machinery malfunctions
- Falling objects striking the spine or neck
- Diving accidents in water-related work
- Explosions or fires in industrial settings
- Assaults or intentional trauma in certain work environments
- Repetitive strain or overexertion injuries affecting the spine
Each of these situations can result in serious spinal cord damage that affects your ability to work and participate in daily activities. When these injuries are work-related, workers’ compensation may cover medical care and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries and Their Effects
Spinal cord injuries are often classified by the location of the damage and whether the injury is complete or incomplete. Understanding your injury type can help you grasp your symptoms and possible recovery path.
Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury means the cord is fully severed or damaged, resulting in total loss of function below the injury site. An incomplete injury means some nerve fibers remain intact, allowing partial function and sensation below the injury level. Incomplete injuries may offer more potential for recovery and rehabilitation than complete injuries.
Tetraplegia and Paraplegia
Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) occurs when a spinal cord injury affects the cervical spine (neck), resulting in paralysis of all four limbs and often affecting breathing and other vital functions. Paraplegia occurs when an injury affects the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spine, resulting in paralysis of the lower body and legs. The level and completeness of the injury determine the extent of paralysis and disability.
Anterior Cord Syndrome and Other Partial Injuries
Anterior cord syndrome affects the front portion of the spinal cord, typically causing loss of motor function and pain sensation while preserving some touch and proprioception. Other partial injuries, such as Brown-Séquard syndrome or central cord syndrome, affect specific regions of the cord and result in different patterns of loss and preservation of function.
Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injury symptoms vary depending on the severity and location of the damage. Some effects appear immediately, while others develop over time.
Physical symptoms may include loss of sensation or feeling below the injury site, loss of motor control or paralysis, pain or burning sensations, difficulty breathing (in high cervical injuries), loss of bladder or bowel control, and sexual dysfunction. Individuals with spinal cord injuries often experience muscle spasticity, contractures, and pressure sores if proper care is not maintained.
Psychological and emotional effects can include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and adjustment challenges related to permanent disability. Many people with spinal cord injuries experience fatigue and reduced stamina. Others may have communication difficulties or cognitive changes depending on the injury location.
Long-term effects often require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, and personal care assistance. These needs can be extensive and costly, making workers’ compensation benefits critically important.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Spinal Cord Injuries in South Carolina
South Carolina workers’ compensation law can provide important protections for workers with spinal cord injuries. Understanding the available benefits can help you pursue appropriate compensation.
Medical care coverage may include necessary treatment related to the spinal cord injury, such as emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing medical appointments. It can also cover diagnostic tests, medications, assistive devices, home modifications, and personal care services prescribed for your recovery and ongoing management.
Wage replacement benefits may be available if your injury prevents you from working. These benefits are typically calculated as a percentage of your average weekly wage and continue while you are medically unable to work or working with reduced hours or pay under certain conditions.
Permanent disability benefits may apply if your spinal cord injury results in lasting impairment that affects your ability to work. The amount is based on medical evaluations and statutory guidelines. In cases of severe paralysis, permanent total disability benefits may be available, providing ongoing income support.
In some cases, you may have a separate third-party liability claim if someone other than your employer was responsible for the incident that caused your injury. For instance, if a negligent driver caused a crash while you were driving for work, you may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim against that driver. Goings Law Firm, LLC can help evaluate whether additional claims beyond workers’ compensation may be available.
Proving Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Spinal cord injuries are typically well-documented through medical imaging and clinical examination, making them easier to prove than some other injuries. However, insurance companies may still dispute the extent of disability or the permanence of the injury.
Key documentation can include:
- Medical records from your initial emergency treatment and follow-up visits
- Diagnostic test results such as MRI, CT scans, and neurological examinations
- Reports and opinions from neurologists, neurosurgeons, or other specialists
- Statements from family members, coworkers, or supervisors who observed changes in your abilities
- Your own written record of symptoms and how they affect daily activities and work tasks
- Vocational evaluations assessing your ability to return to work
Goings Law Firm, LLC works to collect and organize this information and to connect the spinal cord injury to the work-related incident. The firm also monitors deadlines, since delays in reporting the injury or filing a claim can affect your rights.
What If Your Claim Was Denied?
Some spinal cord injury claims are denied at first by workers’ compensation insurers. Reasons may include disputes over whether the injury is work-related, disagreement about the severity of the condition, or arguments that symptoms stem from pre-existing issues.
A denial, however, does not necessarily end the process. South Carolina law provides a system for requesting a hearing and appealing adverse decisions before the Workers’ Compensation Commission. At that stage, you can present medical evidence, expert opinions, and testimony.
Goings Law Firm, LLC can assist by:
- Reviewing the reasons for denial
- Obtaining additional medical or vocational evidence
- Preparing legal arguments responding to the insurer’s position
- Presenting your case at a hearing before a commissioner
With stronger evidence and focused advocacy, some denied claims may be resolved through hearings or negotiated outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a spinal cord injury for workers' compensation?
Generally, any spinal cord injury that arises out of and in the course of employment can qualify, including complete and incomplete injuries, tetraplegia, paraplegia, and partial spinal cord injuries, as long as the medical evidence links the condition to a work-related event.
How long does a spinal cord injury workers' comp case take?
Timeframes vary. Some claims resolve within several months if there is little dispute about the injury or treatment. More complex cases, especially those involving contested permanent disability or appeals, can take a year or more. Your attorney can help you balance the desire for a quicker resolution with the need to fully document your injury and future needs.
Do I need a lawyer for my spinal cord injury claim?
You are allowed to file a claim without a lawyer, but spinal cord injury cases often involve complicated medical questions and close scrutiny by insurers. Having an attorney can increase the likelihood that your claim is properly documented, deadlines are met, and your rights are protected during negotiations or hearings.
How much does it cost to hire Goings Law Firm, LLC?
Goings Law Firm, LLC works on a contingency fee basis in workers’ compensation matters, meaning attorney’s fees are typically collected only if there is a recovery for you. This arrangement allows injured workers to seek representation without paying upfront legal fees.
Can I pursue a third-party claim in addition to workers' comp?
Yes, in appropriate situations. If a third party—such as another driver, a negligent subcontractor, or a product manufacturer—contributed to your injury, you may have a separate claim against that party. Workers’ compensation and third-party claims can proceed together, but they interact in specific ways, including potential reimbursement rules, which your attorney can explain.
What is the statute of limitations for third-party claims?
In many South Carolina personal injury cases, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file suit against a responsible third party, though exceptions exist. It is important to speak with a lawyer promptly so that all applicable deadlines, both for workers’ compensation and any third-party claims, are met.
Contact Goings Law Firm, LLC for Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis claims involve strict timelines and detailed proof requirements. Waiting too long to act can make it harder to obtain benefits. Goings Law Firm, LLC is available to discuss your situation, explain your options, and help you with the workers’ compensation process.
Call (803) 350-9230 today to schedule a free consultation. The firm reviews your case, answers your questions, and handles the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on your recovery.
Client Testimonials & Results
View our results to see how we’ve helped injured workers recover the benefits they deserve. Read testimonials from workers who have benefited from our representation.
