Hurt in an accident in Columbia or elsewhere in South Carolina? You have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of your damages, including for any non-economic losses. Personal injury claims can be complicated, especially for those who have suffered a “serious” injury in an accident. This raises an important question: What qualifies as a serious injury under South Carolina law? At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., we want to make sure that you know how to protect your rights and your interests. Here, our Columbia personal injury attorney highlights the key things to know about the definition of serious injury in South Carolina.
Serious Injury: The Legal Meaning in South Carolina
The fact that an injury was a serious injury is absolutely relevant in a personal injury claim. However, technically speaking, South Carolina does not use a single statutory definition of “serious injury” that applies across all personal injury claims. Instead, courts evaluate seriousness through case-specific factors, including overall damages, permanency, any functional impairment, and medical records. In that context, a serious injury is one that typically involves permanent impairment, significant loss of bodily function, disfigurement, or injuries that substantially interfere with a person’s ability to work or perform daily activities.
The Bottom Line: South Carolina courts focus on substance rather than labels. An injury becomes legally serious when the evidence shows lasting consequences that extend beyond temporary pain or short-term recovery.
Common Examples of Serious Injuries
There is a wide range of different types of serious injuries. The key thing that they all share in common is that serious injuries require immediate medical attention. Any person who has suffered a serious injury must be able to get to a doctor right away. Beyond that, they need the proper ongoing/follow-up/rehabilitative support. Our firm handles all types of serious injuries in Columbia, South Carolina, including:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Traumatic brain injuries range from moderate concussions to severe diffuse axonal injuries. For head injuries, the medical evaluation often includes CT scans, MRIs, neuropsychological testing, and long-term cognitive monitoring. Even when imaging appears normal, TBIs can cause persistent deficits in memory, executive function, emotional regulation, and sleep. These impairments frequently interfere with employment and daily functioning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one million people suffer from TBIs nationwide each year.
- Spinal Cord Trauma: Spinal injuries include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, and complete or incomplete spinal cord damage. Objective findings may include MRI-confirmed disc pathology, EMG nerve studies, and surgical intervention such as fusion or laminectomy. These injuries often produce chronic pain, radiculopathy, weakness, or loss of mobility. Any amount of spinal cord damage is a catastrophic injury.
- Complex Fractures: Complex fractures involve multiple breaks, displacement, joint involvement, or comminution. Treatment may require open reduction and internal fixation using plates, screws, or rods. Recovery often includes prolonged immobilization, physical therapy, and risk of post-traumatic arthritis. Functional loss, range-of-motion deficits, and chronic pain are common. A complex fracture can lead to a permanent medical impairment.
- Internal Organ Damage: Internal injuries may involve the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, or gastrointestinal system. Diagnosis often requires imaging, laboratory testing, and surgical intervention. Even when acute recovery occurs, organ damage can result in long-term complications or reduced physiological function. These injuries carry heightened medical risk and future monitoring needs.
- Permanent Disfigurement and Scarring: Disfigurement includes burns, facial injuries, surgical scarring, and amputations. Medical evaluation addresses skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and cosmetic prognosis. These injuries often cause psychological harm alongside physical damage.
Recovering the Maximum Compensation for a Serious Injury
A serious injury can leave a victim with serious medical impairments. In South Carolina, severely injured victims have the right to seek compensation for the full scope of their damages, including intangible losses. How much can you expect to recover in a personal injury claim for a serious accident? The answer will depend on case-specific factors. Liability and damages are big issues. The challenge injured victims face is that insurance companies fight hard to settle these cases for less. A top-rated Columbia, SC, serious injury lawyer can help. Along with other types of damages, you may be able to recover financial compensation for:
- Property loss, including vehicle repairs;
- Ambulance transportation expenses;
- Emergency room care and related costs;
- Hospital bills and other medical cases;
- Physical therapy and rehabilitative care;
- Loss of wages and loss of future income;
- Pain and suffering and mental distress;
- Disability or disfigurement;
- Reduced quality of life; and
- Wrongful death of a family member.
A major challenge in serious injury claims is that insurers have strong financial incentives to limit payouts as damages increase. As injury severity rises, claims exposure expands to include future medical care, permanent impairment, lost earning capacity, and substantial non-economic damages. Insurers respond by taking an aggressive approach that is focused on paying out the absolute minimum possible financial compensation to injured victims. If you are dealing with a serious injury, you must have an experienced Columbia, SC, personal injury lawyer on your side.
We Handle Serious Injury Claims in Columbia, South Carolina
Serious injury claims are complicated. Following a bad accident in Columbia, you need experienced legal representation. The right lawyer can help you navigate the claims process and put you in the best possible position to get justice, accountability, and the maximum available financial compensation. At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., our case results and client testimonials demonstrate our resolve to represent victims the right way in difficult cases. Your initial consultation with our Columbia catastrophic accident lawyer is free and fully private.
Contact Our Columbia, SC Personal Injury Attorney Today
At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., our Columbia personal injury lawyers are skilled, knowledgeable, and committed to providing top-tier legal advocacy. If you or your loved one suffered a serious injury in an accident, we are here to help. Contact us today for a free, no obligation initial consultation. We handle serious injury claims in Columbia and all across the broader region, including in the zip codes of 29205, 29206, 29207, 29208, 29209, and 29211.