Physical and Emotional Trauma in Charleston Personal Injury Claims
With over 39 million accidental injuries occurring annually in the U.S., many personal injury victims experience emotional turmoil in addition to physical scars. If you were involved in an accident in South Carolina that caused you psychological harm or bodily injury, you may be entitled to compensation. At Mark C. Tanenbaum, we understand that becoming “whole” following an injury involves much more than surgical intervention.
Our personal injury lawyers understand common physical and psychological injuries and the damages that you may experience as a result. Call our office if you have suffered preventable injuries.
Types of Psychological Injuries in Charleston, SC
Generally, physical injuries can be treated with medications, surgeries, physical and/or occupational therapy, and other hands-on approaches. However, managing psychological injuries can be challenging and requires a different approach. Individuals who experience psychological trauma may experience a general inability to cope with what happened to them.
Common psychological injuries following a trauma may cause:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks to the incident
- Insomnia
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger management issues
Thankfully, emotional stress damages may be sought for psychological injuries. Individuals should be able to recoup these losses as part of their total economic damages. If you are interested in learning more, consider consulting with a Charleston personal injury attorney.
Types of Personal Injuries in Charleston, SC
Whether you are involved in a car crash, slip and fall, or sustained injuries due to a defective product, you have a right to seek compensation for the harm you sustained. Common physical injuries in Charleston, SC, include the following.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
An exploding product or a high-impact crash can cause the brain to shake back and forth rapidly within the skull, leading to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI may present with a variety of symptoms, including headaches, vomiting, nausea, loss of consciousness, and irritability.
Sadly, moderate or severe TBI victims usually have chronic health problems, with a reported 55% of individuals remaining unemployed five years post-injury. It is estimated that those who suffer a severe TBI will experience approximately $3 million in medical costs over their lifetime.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury occurs whenever there is damage to the bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the skull to the tailbone. It may appear on the sports field, slipping on an icy sidewalk, or in a motor vehicle crash. Common symptoms include numbness/tingling, loss of sensation, extreme pressure in the neck and back, loss of bladder or bowel control, and paralysis. The level of injury will determine which body parts are impacted, with cervical spine injuries causing quadriplegia and thoracic and lumbar spine injuries causing paraplegia.
The severity of injury will determine the extent to which motor and sensory function is impaired. There is a greater likelihood of recovering from an incomplete injury (injury in which some nerve fibers remain intact) as opposed to a complete injury (injury causing total damage to the spinal cord). Even so, an individual will likely require months of physical therapy and other regenerative therapies to regain movement and feeling. Medical costs can pile up quickly, placing a family in financial distress.
Severe Burns
Third-degree burns can cause damage to the two layers of skin and underlying tissue. Given the severity, third-degree burns are also known as full-thickness burns. They place a person at increased risk of shock, sepsis, and death. More serious burns can also deaden nerves, making the person unaware of their injuries.
Unfortunately, your risk of death increases with the greater surface area of the skin that is burned. Treating severe burns often involves wound dressings, debridement (removing dead tissue), medications, and skin grafts, costing victims tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.
Speak with a Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer Today
A personal injury can cause both physical and emotional hardship, impacting your mobility and relationships with loved ones. For over 50 years, Mark C. Tanenbaum has successfully assisted individuals who have experienced life-altering events. If you or a family member has been affected by a personal injury, our legal team understands the gravity of what is at stake.
To arrange your free consultation with one of our Charleston personal injury attorneys, please contact us online or by phone at (843) 577-5100 today.