How Permanent Injuries Affect Settlement Value
Permanent injuries can result in ongoing medical costs, future lost income, and the inability to earn a living. This can significantly impact your ability to provide for yourself financially. If you have suffered permanent or long-term injuries, you should not settle for less than your projected future costs and the intangible losses you have sustained. At John Price Law our Charleston personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover maximum damages in the face of adversity. The moment of your injury should be the moment that you seek legal guidance.
Increased Medical Care Costs
A personal injury often involves costs for ambulatory care, emergency room treatment, and surgeries. What many people do not consider are the expenses associated with ongoing medical treatment, including revision surgeries, follow-up appointments, and physical therapy. These costs can add up quickly, significantly impacting a person’s bank account.
Greater Lost Wages
While most personal injury victims suffer lost wages, this amount is greater when a person sustains permanent injuries. Lost wages comprise the income that you failed to earn between the time of your accident and your recovery. If you missed out on anticipated overtime, bonuses, or salary increases during this time, that will be reflected in this amount as well.
Future Lost Wages
While lost wages deals with income lost in the past, future lost wages deals with projected earnings. This settlement figure measures the difference between what you would have been able to earn in the future (given anticipated promotions) and what you can earn post-injury.
However, future lost wages cannot be calculated accurately if your condition continues to improve. That is why our legal team recommends that you do not settle on a final settlement figure until you reach maximum medical improvement. MMI is the point at which you are no longer expected to make medical advancements, as determined by your treating physician.
Lost Earning Capacity
Lost earning capacity reflects a person’s inability to earn a living following a personal injury. It could entail a reduction or elimination of a person’s ability to earn income. This figure is based on your full earning potential, not past wages. This adjusts for your education level, age (calculating how many working years you would have had left if not for the accident), and your career trajectory. If your injuries were particularly severe or you suffered catastrophic injuries, leaving you with physical limitations, this figure will be higher. At John Price Law, our Charleston personal injury lawyers are prepared to evaluate your claim to determine your eligibility.
Greater Pain and Suffering Damages
While most of your losses will have a financial component, others may impact your quality of life. These are known as pain-and-suffering damages. Pain and suffering damages may include loss of enjoyment of life, infliction of emotional distress, disfigurement, permanent disability, and damage to reputation. While these damages do not have a dollar value attached, they greatly affect your mental and emotional health (which has been shown to slow physical recovery).
Although there is no damage cap in most personal injury cases, South Carolina imposes a cap in medical malpractice claims. As of December 2025, the non-economic damage cap is $596,001 for a single health care provider and $1,788,002 for multiple healthcare institutions. This cap adjusts each year based on inflation.
Contact Our Charleston Personal Injury Lawyers
A personal injury or accident can result in medical expenses that can be difficult to pay without a steady income. At John Price Law, our Charleston personal injury attorneys are committed to helping injured individuals recover fair compensation. To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or by calling (843) 552-6011 today.