Permanent injury compensation can be an important part of a personal injury claim. Too many victims get less than they deserve.

Bobby Jones Law explains what your case could be worth and how to maximize your award.

What Makes an Injury Legally “Permanent” in South Carolina?

A permanent injury is an injury that doesn’t heal despite adequate medical care. It will affect the injured person significantly for the rest of their life.

An injury may be permanent because it:

Impairs bodily function
Affects mental function
Impairs life activity
Causes complications
Lowers life expectancy
Is disfiguring
Leaves visible scars
Causes chronic pain
Involves loss of limb

Permanent injuries last forever. While they are unlikely to heal, they can be managed.

Permanent Injury Settlement Amounts in Greenville, SC

There are two types of cases where a person may receive a permanent injury settlement in Greenville, SC: personal injury and workers’ compensation. The amounts are calculated differently.

Personal injury

Personal injury claims are based on negligence or other wrongdoing. Usually, they are not work-related unless they are brought against someone other than the employer.

In personal injury claims, there are no clear-cut rules for calculating permanent injury compensation. The person must show the overall impact of the injury on their personal situation.

Workers’ compensation

In workers’ compensation, a permanent injury isn’t fully healed at maximum medical improvement. Workers’ compensation uses a chart to evaluate permanent impairments by body part. The disability is then evaluated based on the extent of loss of function.

Permanent injury settlement amounts are more rigid in workers’ compensation than in personal injury. But both types of cases require evidence to explain the extent of permanent injury.

Permanent Injury Settlement Ranges by Injury Type in SC

Permanent injury compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis.

But all permanent injuries are serious.

You’ll see suggestions online that a catastrophic injury may be worth $1 million or more. Amputation or loss of limb may be worth $250,000 to $500,000. Scars and disfigurement may range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more.

The examples that you see online are just estimates. An experienced attorney can give you a personalized evaluation of what your permanent disability settlement amount might be.

Factors that Determine Permanent Injury Compensation

Without a precise calculator for permanent injury compensation, it’s important to know the factors that determine an award amount.

Disfigurement
Scars
Suffering
Lifestyle
Independence
Life expectancy
Strength of the case
Development of evidence.
Pursuit of the case

Some factors in permanent injury compensation relate to the severity of harm. Other factors relate to how the person pursues their case. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced attorney representing you. Effective case management and claim preparation are key to getting results.

How Economic Damages Are Calculated in Permanent Injury Cases in Greenville

Economic damages that factor into a permanent injury case in Greenville include:

Medical: Future medical care, including doctor’s visits and medical supplies.
Rehabilitation: Physical therapy and other rehabilitation.
Supplies and costs: Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury.
Earning capacity: If the person’s projected income changes because of their injuries.
Home modifications: If a person needs modifications to their home or vehicle.

Direct expenses, both current and projected in the future, can be claimed as economic damages in a Greenville permanent injury claim.

How Non-Economic Damages Are Valued in SC Permanent Injury Settlements

Non-economic damages for personal injury include:

Physical pain
Emotional anguish
Grief, sorrow
Lifestyle limitations
Loss of society

These are the ways that the person suffers that can’t be directly measured with a bill, receipt, or income statement. Non-economic damages are valued in proportion to the loss to the person. The person’s circumstances both before and after the injury are important when evaluating non-economic loss.

Why Permanent Injury Victims Are Most Frequently Undercompensated in SC

Permanent injury victims are often undercompensated in SC because:

Future damages: Damages that will occur in the future can be hard to evaluate. You must know what you can claim and how to support the claim with evidence.
Experts: Permanent injury claims often rely on expert witnesses. An expert can discuss the impact of injuries. Experts must be named in advance of the trial.
Invisible injuries: It can be easy to discredit injuries that aren’t obvious. Things like chronic pain and limited functioning are too easy for insurance companies to ignore.
Pre-existing conditions: People claiming permanent injury often have to fight claims of pre-existing conditions.
Case valuation: Without an attorney, a person may not fully understand their case value. They may accept the insurance company’s first offer without knowing that they could receive more.
Social media and surveillance: Insurance companies may sift through social media posts and even use private surveillance to attempt to discredit claims. They may take things out of context to try to avoid paying compensation.

It’s important to have an experienced attorney represent you.

How SC’s Caps on Non-Economic Damages Affect Your Permanent Injury Case

SC caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.

Learn more: Limits on Damages in South Carolina Medical Malpractice Cases.

Talk to a Lawyer for Permanent Injury in Greenville, SC

Because permanent injury claims can be complex, you need a lawyer to maximize your compensation. Bobby Jones Law is a law firm for permanent injury claims in Greenville, SC. We handle claims in the Greenville Circuit Court and surrounding areas.

A lawyer can help you investigate, build evidence, and pursue a strategy. They know how to fully value your claim. At Bobby Jones Law, we never tire of helping people receive the compensation they deserve for permanent injuries.

Call or message us now.