Has your loved one suffered a car accident coma in Greenville, SC? Our experienced Greenville car accident lawyer at Bobby Jones Law explains what you need to know.
What Types of Comas Can Result from a Car Accident in South Carolina?
There are several types of car accident coma:
Trauma-induced: Coma resulting from direct physical trauma, which tears brain fibers.
Anoxic: Complete loss of oxygen resulting in unconsciousness, commonly from cardiac arrest.
Hypoxic: Partial loss of oxygen resulting in unconsciousness, from cardiac arrest, shock, or blocked breathing pathways.
Persistent vegetative state: Autonomic functions continue without assistance, but the person seems unaware and does not interact.
Medically induced coma: When physicians intentionally create an induced coma after a car accident to protect the brain and lower demands during healing.
What Does the Glasgow Coma Scale Mean and How Does It Affect Prognosis?
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool that medical professionals use to assess consciousness. It can help professionals diagnose a coma and track changes.
When a person is conscious, they are:
Awake. This includes waking up when someone tries to wake you.
Alert. Responding and understanding your surroundings.
Oriented. Knowing who you are, what day it is, and other basic details.
The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses these measures and evaluates the central and peripheral nervous systems. It measures:
Eye response. What it takes for a person to open their eyes, if at all.
Verbal response. Understanding what others say and being able to respond.
Motor response. The ability to move voluntarily or extend muscles when pressure is applied.
GCS-P. A metric that was added to the Glasgow Coma Scale that measures pupil reaction to light.
Each metric is scored with a number. The Scale provides specific tests that doctors use to score function. Usually, a score of eight or less means the person is in a coma.
What Does Car Accident Coma Recovery Look Like in Greenville, SC?
How long the coma lasts and the extent of recovery vary significantly from person to person.
Treatment starts by stabilizing the patient. Doctors make sure the airways are clear. They may take steps to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of infection. The person may receive nutrition, help with bladder function, and movement to prevent pressure sores.
When the person regains consciousness, they can begin therapy. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can help restore function and maximize independence.
What Are the Long-Term Medical Costs of a Car Accident Coma in South Carolina?
Right after the car accident, a person in a coma will need intensive medical care. They may require surgery and interventions to stabilize their medical condition. Neurological imaging can contribute to high initial costs.
Long-term, the person may have the following medical costs:
Inpatient rehabilitation: Assistance with daily living while the person relearns basic tasks.
Outpatient therapy: To restore cognitive and motor function.
Caregiving: For daily living needs and assistance with home medical needs.
Assistive modifications: Specialized beds, wheelchairs, mobility devices, vehicle modifications, communication devices, and the like.
Monitoring: The cost of medical monitoring for continued care.
Mental health care: For grief, depression, and anxiety.
In addition, coma may result in lowered earning capacity. The family may need replacement care for children and other dependents. The long-term costs of a car accident coma can quickly exceed $1 million.
Who Makes Legal Decisions When a Car Accident Victim Is in a Coma in SC?
South Carolina has a law that prioritizes decision-making. The priority list is:
- Court-appointed guardian
- A person named in a durable power of attorney.
- Spouse (unless legally separated)
- Adult children (by majority agreement)
- Parent. Parent of the patient.
- Adult siblings (by majority agreement)-
- Grandparent (by majority agreement)
- Other adult relatives with a close personal relationship (by majority agreement)
- Person with authority under the law
- Another person with an established relationship acting in good faith
The person making decisions must base their decisions on what the person would have wanted. Otherwise, they must act in the person’s best interests.
How Is a Car Accident Coma Case Pursued Legally in Greenville, SC?
A person may receive compensation for a car accident coma. Legally, the case starts with an investigation. The investigation determines accident liability. The person must prove car accident fault with evidence.
The person must also prove damages. For car accident coma cases, this means medical experts and economists who can project long-term losses.
Many claims are resolved through insurance settlements. However, because of the large amounts involved, it may be necessary to take the case to court.
The legal process involves filing a claim, formal information sharing between parties, pre-trial hearings, alternative dispute resolution, and trial. A case may settle at any stage in the process.
What Damages Can Families of Car Accident Coma Victims Recover in South Carolina?
Damages for car accident coma victims and their families may include economic and non-economic losses. That means financial losses as well as personal suffering and disability. Future projected losses may be included.
What Happens to the Legal Claim If a Car Accident Coma Victim Does Not Survive in SC?
If a car accident coma victim doesn’t survive in SC, the case becomes a wrongful death claim. The basis for liability is the same, and comparative negligence may apply.
The difference is that the case focuses on losses to family members, both personally and financially, rather than directly to the victim. In addition, there may be a survivor’s action to compensate for expenses the person had before their death, plus conscious pain and suffering.
Why Families of Car Accident Coma Victims in Greenville Need Dedicated Legal Representation
Dedicated legal representation can ensure that the claim is managed to maximize compensation while the victim and family address the catastrophic injury that has occurred.
Bobby Jones Law is a law firm for coma victims in car accidents. We take cases in Greenville and throughout South Carolina. Call or message us now.
