Complete Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
A complete spinal cord injury (SCI) is among the most catastrophic injuries a person can suffer. In a complete injury, the spinal cord is fully severed or damaged to the point where no signals can pass through the injury site, resulting in total loss of motor function and sensation below the level of injury. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center reports that approximately 17,900 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year, with vehicle crashes and falls being the leading causes.
At Roden Law, our complete spinal cord injury lawyers represent victims and families across Georgia and South Carolina. We understand the lifetime implications of a complete SCI and pursue full compensation for the extraordinary medical care, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and ongoing support that victims require for the rest of their lives.
Understanding Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete. In a complete injury, there is no preserved motor or sensory function below the neurological level of injury. This means:
- Total motor loss: No voluntary movement is possible below the injury site
- Total sensory loss: No feeling — including pain, temperature, or touch — below the injury level
- Permanent condition: While medical advances continue, complete SCIs rarely recover significant function
- Secondary complications: Bladder and bowel dysfunction, respiratory compromise (in cervical injuries), chronic pain, pressure sores, autonomic dysreflexia, and increased risk of blood clots
The level of injury determines whether the result is paraplegia (lower body paralysis from thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries) or tetraplegia/quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs from cervical injuries).
Common Causes of Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete SCIs typically result from high-energy trauma that applies extreme force to the spinal column:
- Car accidents: The leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for nearly 39% of all SCIs — high-speed impacts, rollovers, and ejections are particularly likely to cause complete injuries
- Falls: Falls from significant heights in construction, industrial settings, or even residential properties can cause complete cord damage
- Acts of violence: Gunshot wounds and other penetrating injuries can sever the spinal cord entirely
- Motorcycle crashes: The lack of structural protection makes riders especially vulnerable to catastrophic spinal injuries
- Diving and sports injuries: Impact to the head or neck in shallow water or during contact sports can cause cervical complete injuries
Lifetime Costs of a Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Complete SCIs impose staggering lifetime costs. According to the NSCISC, estimated lifetime costs for a person injured at age 25 with high tetraplegia exceed $5 million, while paraplegia costs approach $2.5 million. These figures include direct medical costs, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home and vehicle modifications, personal care attendants, and lost wages — but do not account for pain, suffering, or diminished quality of life.
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-4) allows recovery of all damages that naturally flow from the injury, including future medical expenses and impaired earning capacity. South Carolina similarly permits recovery of all actual damages, including future life care costs established through expert testimony.
Life Care Planning and Expert Testimony
Our attorneys work with life care planners, vocational rehabilitation experts, and economists to document the full scope of lifetime needs. A comprehensive life care plan addresses medical care and specialist follow-ups, durable medical equipment (power wheelchairs, standing frames, respiratory equipment), home modifications (ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, ceiling lifts), vehicle modifications (wheelchair-accessible vans with hand controls), personal care attendant services, psychological counseling, and vocational retraining when partial employment is possible.
Under Georgia’s modified comparative fault rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), you can recover damages as long as you were less than 50% at fault. South Carolina allows recovery when you are less than 51% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Filing Deadlines for Spinal Cord Injury Claims
Georgia imposes a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. South Carolina allows 3 years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530. Given the complexity of complete SCI cases and the need for extensive expert analysis, we urge victims and families to contact an attorney as early as possible.