Lexington, South Carolina Car Accident Injury Lawyers
Your crash injuries matter to us
Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a car accident in Lexington, Columbia, or another South Carolina community? Are you in pain or suffering? If another driver clearly caused your crash, it’s important that you take legal action right away. Otherwise, you might end up having to pay for your medical care or other accident-related expenses out of your own pocket.
Our experienced Lexington car accident injury attorneys at Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law can help you every step of the way. We understand the seriousness of injuries sustained in a crash. In an instant, you may have sustained an injury that requires surgery. Or you may simply need time to rest and heal.
Our attorneys – brothers Kevin and Steven Johnson – can help you during this challenging time. We can help you fill out any necessary forms related to your accident. We can deal directly with insurance companies and anyone else investigating your crash on your behalf. That way, you can focus on what matters most – your recovery.
What type of car accident injury are you dealing with after your crash?
Car accident injuries can cover a wide range. Some of the most common – and most serious – injuries we deal with at our law firm include:
- Concussion Injuries
- Neck and Back Injuries
- Whiplash
- Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding
- Broken bones and bone fractures
- Scarring and disfigurement
Concussion Injuries
In a car accident, the force of impact can jolt the head back and forth or side to side. This motion can move the brain and cause it to bounce around and touch the skull, resulting in a concussion. Many people are familiar with the term concussion and because of that, they may assume the injury is minor. That is not the case. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and any brain injury is serious and if not properly treated can worsen over time. If you are experiencing vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, or short-term memory loss, you may be suffering from a concussion or another type of serious TBI. While some concussions heal fairly quickly, others can lead to lingering symptoms called post-concussion syndrome (PCS), which can last for weeks, months, or even years.
It’s critical that you have a doctor examine you right away and diagnose whether you have a concussion or TBI. Diagnosing a concussion typically begins with an Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE), which includes an assessment of physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related symptoms. Your doctor may order follow-up tests such as neuropsychological testing, CT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Properly diagnosing a concussion is important to begin the proper treatment and avoid potentially life-threatening complications. The proper diagnosis will also help to support your claim for damages.
Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries are some of the most painful injuries a person can suffer after a car accident. Some common types of neck and back injuries include:
- Sprain: Damage to the neck/back ligaments. The force of impact of a car accident is too much for our ligaments to endure. With a sprain, the ligaments can tear. If you have a neck or back sprain you may have symptoms like muscle spasms and a limited range of motion. Some types of sprains can heal with rest and ice, but others may require medical treatment and even surgery.
- Strain: Damage to the neck/back muscles and tendons. The symptoms of a neck or back strain are like those of a sprain. Strains tend to be more minor than sprains and can heal with simple ice and rest treatment, but it is possible for a muscle or tendon to tear enough that surgery is the only treatment option.
- Herniated disc and spinal cord injuries: Spinal discs are stacked to create our spine and allow our backs to move and be flexible. The impact of a car accident can rupture these discs and cause the soft interior to bulge out of place. This can press on nerves and cause pain or numbness and weakness in the back, arms, and legs. In extreme cases, a spinal cord injury can leave a person paralyzed.
Whiplash
Whiplash is among the most common injuries people suffer after most types of car accidents. From rear-end accidents to head-on collisions, whiplash after a car accident can be extremely painful. The force of impact throws a person’s head back and forth. This abrupt motion can cause a person to have pain in their neck that can extend to their back. The muscles, spinal discs, nerves, and tendons in your neck can all be damaged by this injury. Since whiplash is so common, many people assume it is a minor injury, but the pain from whiplash can be long-term. If you are suffering from whiplash, you may be experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Neck and back pain
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Stiffness of the neck
- Fatigue
- Limited movement of the neck
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
Scarring and Disfigurement
Many car accidents cause significant scarring and skin damage. Some types of car accident injuries that can leave permanent scars include:
- Cuts and lacerations from broken glass and other sharp debris
- Skin injuries from contact with pavement (if you were ejected from the vehicle)
- Severely broken bones
- Fuel burns
- Injuries that require surgery and suturing
Even temporary disfigurement, such as black and blue bruising, can cause significant humiliation and affect your quality of life. If you sustained a disfiguring injury in a car accident, you deserve to be compensated not only for medical treatment, but for all the effects the scarring has had on your life.
Injuries from car accidents often develop over time. If you’re wondering how long after a car accident can injuries appear, it varies from accident to accident. Delayed pain can start after a day or two or longer. That’s why it is crucial for you to seek medical attention so you can learn the full extent of your injuries and receive the proper treatment.
Along with these serious injuries, our law firm also works with families dealing with the loss of a loved one in a car crash. If another driver caused this accident, your family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim for your accident.
What makes car accident injuries so complicated?
Car accidents involving serious injuries can be complicated for many different reasons, including:
- The driver who caused your injury and crash denies doing anything wrong.
- The insurance company representing the other driver denies your claim.
- The driver who caused your injury and accident claims you caused the crash.
- You’re still in pain and recovering but your employer insists you must return to work.
- The insurance company representing the other driver makes a lowball settlement offer and refuses to offer more money.
You have enough to worry about after your accident. You should be focused on getting better. We can deal with all the paperwork and cut through all the red tape often associated with serious car crashes. That’s why we want to meet with you.
What is the average car accident injury settlement?
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to car accident injury settlements or claims. Some injury claims are worth a few thousand dollars. Similar injuries might be worth a lot more money. The difference depends on factors such as how much time you need to recover from your injuries and whether you need time off from work to rest during that time.
In addition, if you need surgery or other advanced medical care, your injury-related expenses can add up fast. The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all your injury expenses if another driver caused your collision. This is because South Carolina has an at-fault car insurance system. That means the at-fault party (and their insurance company) is responsible for paying for all your injury-related expenses.
What car accident injury expenses can I be compensated for?
Many people only focus on the short-term expenses after a serious accident. But what you might not realize is you can (and should) be financially compensated for all your injury-related expenses, now and in the future. Such expenses can include:
- Emergency medical care, including surgical procedures, especially in cases involving organ damage or internal bleeding.
- Physical therapy.
- Treatment for chronic pain.
- Home modifications, such as installing a wheelchair ramp if you sustained a permanent disability in your accident.
- Follow-up surgery, months or years after your accident.
- Cost of repairing your car or buying a new one if it’s a total loss.
- Replacement income if you need time off from work to recover from your injury.
- Lost future income if you cannot return to work or can only work in a reduced capacity due to your car accident injury.
You might also be eligible for financial compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
How long after a car accident can you claim an injury?
In general, you typically have three years from the date of your car accident to file an injury claim or lawsuit in South Carolina.
But the sooner you talk to an attorney about compensation for your car accident injury, the better. There are several reasons why. One, the evidence you need to build a legal case can be lost or destroyed over time. So if you wait to take legal action, that evidence might no longer exist and you might not have a strong legal case.
In addition, insurance companies might question whether you were actually hurt in a car accident if you wait a long time to file an injury claim. Instead, they might insist that you got hurt some other way and it’s not their responsibility. This is why it’s always best to act fast and talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after your car crash.
Get serious about your car accident injury. Get Johnson + Johnson.
The clock is running after your accident. In many cases, you often only have three years or less from the date of your accident to take legal action, including filing a car accident lawsuit. This deadline – known as the statute of limitations – might seem like a long time, but the reality is the sooner you start taking legal action after your crash, the better. Otherwise, you could end up having to pay for your medical bills or other accident-related expenses yourself.
That’s not right. Get the respect you deserve. Talk to a car accident injury lawyer today. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation with a Lexington car accident lawyer who puts your best interests first. We know the area and understand the law. That’s because both our lawyers were born and raised in Lexington. For us, it’s more than just a job. It’s about fighting for justice for our friends and neighbors. You’re more than just a client at our law firm. You’re family.
Let us help you with your car accident injury claim. Get serious. Get Johnson + Johnson – a new class of attorney serious about winning.
