Lawsuit Information Center
This page looks at South Carolina personal injury settlements and jury award payouts. We look at settlement amounts and jury awards in South Carolina car accident, medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, product liability, and other injury lawsuits.
If you have a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in South Carolina, you understandably want to know the settlement amount or jury payout you can expect. Looking at example verdicts and settlements helps. It gives you a real-world sense of what South Carolina juries and defendants have done in prior cases.
But examples are only a starting point. You can have two cases that look similar on paper and end with very different results. Case value depends on the injury, liability, venue, medical proof, insurance coverage, witness credibility, and whether the plaintiff can show how the injury changed daily life.
Below are settlement amounts and jury payouts in South Carolina malpractice, car accident, premises liability, wrongful death, and other personal injury lawsuits. After that, we explain the South Carolina personal injury laws that most often affect case value at the settlement table and at trial.
If you were seriously hurt in South Carolina and want to know whether you have a claim, call us at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
What Drives South Carolina Injury Case Value?
South Carolina injury case value usually turns on a few basic questions. How badly were you hurt? Can you prove the defendant caused it? Did the injury permanently change your life? Is there enough insurance or corporate money to pay the claim? Where will the case be tried?
Those questions sound simple. They are not. Insurance companies know how to turn every one of them into a fight. They argue the injury was preexisting. They argue you waited too long to get treatment. They blame you for the accident. They minimize pain and suffering. They claim the medical bills are too high. They tell you the venue is conservative. They use every weakness they can find.
You need proof that survives that attack. That means medical records, imaging, witness testimony, expert opinions, lost wage documentation, photos, video, police reports, incident reports, and a clear before-and-after story.
| Value Factor | Why It Changes Value | Common Defense Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Injury | Permanent pain, disability, scarring, brain injury, paralysis, or loss of work capacity increases damages. | The plaintiff recovered or had the condition before the incident. |
| Clear Liability | When fault is obvious, settlement discussions focus on damages instead of whether the plaintiff can win. | The plaintiff was partly or mostly responsible. |
| Objective Medical Proof | Fractures, surgery, MRI findings, pathology, scars, and treating doctor opinions make damages harder to minimize. | The treatment was excessive or unrelated. |
| Venue | Jury pools differ by county. Some venues are more receptive to serious injury claims than others. | The venue is conservative and the jury will not award much. |
| Insurance or Assets | A strong case can still be limited if the defendant has low insurance and no collectible assets. | The policy limits cap the realistic recovery. |
| Punitive Conduct | Drunk driving, reckless corporate conduct, fraud, or conscious disregard can increase trial risk. | The conduct was careless but not reckless enough for punitive damages. |
South Carolina Injury Verdicts and Settlements
The examples below are not predictions. They show how South Carolina cases have resolved across different injury types. Some verdicts look low because the jury did not believe the plaintiff, the injury proof was thin, liability was disputed, or insurance coverage was limited. Some verdicts look high because the injury was permanent, the defendant’s conduct was bad, or the damages were easy for a jury to understand.
$16,000,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2025
A Spartanburg County jury awarded $16 million in a medical malpractice case involving the death of a newborn shortly after birth. The plaintiffs alleged that doctors failed to respond properly to fetal distress, and delays in treatment were fatal to the baby.
This is a huge malpractice result but a fairly ordinary-sized birth injury verdict. Birth injury and newborn death cases produce large verdicts and settlements in cases like this, where the jury finds that the fetal monitoring record shows missed warning signs and the jury believes timely action would have prevented the harm.
$1,750,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2024
A man worked as a maintenance worker at a plant during the 1970s and was exposed to asbestos. He later died of mesothelioma. The lawsuit focused on exposure to asbestos through gaskets manufactured by a specific company. The jury was initially deadlocked but eventually agreed on a $1.75 million verdict.
This is a relatively modest verdict for a mesothelioma case. The number likely reflects problems with proof, allocation issues, jury compromise, or concerns about whether this defendant was responsible for sufficient exposure.
$65,000 Settlement in South Carolina in 2024
The plaintiff said he was stopped in traffic when his vehicle was rear-ended by the defendant. He alleged unspecified injuries to his neck and back and claimed the defendant was negligent. The case settled for $65,000.
This is a typical modest rear-end settlement. Without surgery, fracture, permanent impairment, or strong objective findings, insurers usually push these cases into a lower range even when fault is clear.
$8,650 Verdict in South Carolina in 2024
The plaintiff said she was rear-ended by a defendant who was driving too fast while talking on his cell phone. She claimed misalignment of her jaw, two cracked teeth, a broken partial denture plate, damage to her gums and mouth, and bruising to her neck, hip, and right knee.
The jury awarded less than $10,000. That tells you the jury likely had serious doubts about causation, damages, credibility, or the connection between the crash and the dental and jaw complaints.
$2,500,000 Settlement in South Carolina in 2023
A 68-year-old man received a settlement after a medical malpractice case involving the delayed diagnosis and treatment of spinal abscesses. MRIs were ordered when he arrived at the emergency room, but the imaging was inexplicably postponed. His condition deteriorated, including loss of sensation and mobility in his lower extremities, before MRIs confirmed the abscesses.
Emergency spinal decompression and intensive rehabilitation followed, but he remained mostly confined to a power wheelchair with minimal walking ability. The settlement included a loss of consortium claim for the plaintiff’s spouse. This is the kind of delayed diagnosis case that has high value because the difference between prompt imaging and delayed imaging can be paralysis.
$453,919 Verdict in South Carolina in 2023
The plaintiff visited a dermatologist in 2018 for a lesion on his nose that had the classic appearance of basal cell carcinoma. A physician assistant performed a biopsy, and the pathology report came back indicating “serum crust with parakeratosis,” essentially a scab. At a follow-up appointment, an advanced practice registered nurse told the plaintiff the results were benign and recorded “benign skin” in the chart. Over the next two years, the lesion worsened. A second dermatologist later biopsied the lesion and confirmed basal cell carcinoma. The plaintiff underwent Mohs surgery and needed a three-stage plastic surgery repair.
The plaintiff demanded $135,000, but the defense would not offer more than $35,000. That was a bad read of the case. A Spartanburg County jury awarded $453,919.47. The verdict shows why “small” cancer delay cases can carry real value when the delay causes visible disfigurement and avoidable reconstructive surgery.
$13,100,559 Verdict in South Carolina in 2021
A 19-year-old man was a passenger in an SUV with four other occupants. The driver lost control, and the vehicle flipped over. Four occupants died. The plaintiff survived but suffered a traumatic brain injury and a fractured left clavicle. He underwent open reduction internal fixation and required lifelong neurological care. His cognitive deficits prevented gainful employment, and he also suffered mood swings and a sleeping disorder.
The plaintiff alleged negligence against the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the companies that repaired the roadway. He claimed they created dangerous conditions and failed to repair them. This verdict reflects catastrophic injury, lifelong care needs, and a roadway defect theory that the jury accepted.
$315,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2021
A 55-year-old woman dined with her husband at Outback Steakhouse and brought home leftover grilled chicken. The next day, she took a bite and felt sharp throat pain. An X-ray revealed a metal object in her esophagus. She had the object surgically removed and later avoided eating grilled chicken. She and her husband alleged that Outback failed to properly train employees and remove foreign objects from meals.
The jury awarded $315,000. Foreign object food cases can sound unusual, but they can have real value when the object lodges in the throat or esophagus and requires surgery.
$350,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2021
A 70-year-old man walked down a pedestrian ramp at a state park, slipped, and fell. He fractured his right tibia and underwent open reduction internal fixation. He spent 12 days in the hospital, went through five months of physical therapy, and used a wheelchair and walker for 15 weeks. He could no longer enjoy running.
The jury awarded $350,000. The value here came from surgery, hospitalization, loss of mobility, and the loss of an activity that was part of the plaintiff’s life before the fall.
$250,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2021
A 51-year-old woman was rear-ended. She suffered cervical bulges and tingling with radiculopathy. She underwent six months of physical therapy, took pain medication, and continued to experience cervical and lumbar pain. She and her husband alleged that the at-fault driver failed to safely operate his vehicle.
The jury awarded $250,000. This is a strong result for a non-surgical spine case and likely reflects good medical documentation and credible ongoing symptoms.
$150,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2021
A 37-year-old motorcyclist was struck. She suffered a concussion, three rib fractures, and leg bruises and abrasions. She was hospitalized for four days. Three months later, she returned for care and was diagnosed with residual headaches, intracranial hypertension, eye pain, vision impairment, and leg injuries. She alleged the at-fault driver failed to maintain a lookout and yield the right of way.
The jury awarded $150,000. Motorcycle cases can be strong, but they can also face bias and causation fights, especially when symptoms evolve over time.
$1,800,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2020
A woman was T-boned and suffered severe injuries. She alleged the at-fault driver ran a red light and drove while intoxicated. The defendant denied liability and argued comparative negligence. A Charleston County jury awarded $1.8 million.
This verdict shows the value effect of drunk driving allegations. If a jury believes the defendant was intoxicated and caused serious injury, settlement pressure rises sharply.
$150,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2020
A woman was rear-ended and injured her neck, back, and shoulder. She alleged the defendant failed to avoid a collision, properly brake, and drive cautiously. The defendant denied liability and argued comparative negligence. A Richland County jury awarded $150,000.
This is another solid non-catastrophic car crash verdict. The number suggests the jury believed the injury but did not see enough proof for a larger award.
$97,810 Settlement in South Carolina in 2020
A 29-year-old man was fatally struck while riding his moped. His mother alleged that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused his death. The defense denied liability. The case settled for $97,810.
The modest settlement for a death case likely reflects contested liability, collectability problems, insurance limits, or a combination of those issues.
$90,000 Settlement in South Carolina in 2020
A man was struck in Aiken County and died from his injuries. His family alleged that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused his death. The case settled for $90,000.
A wrongful death settlement this low usually points to limited insurance, disputed liability, difficult damages proof, or a defendant with no meaningful assets.
$1,100,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2019
A woman was sideswiped on SEC-30 in Seneca and suffered severe injuries. She and her husband alleged that the at-fault driver failed to timely brake, maintain a proper lookout, and yield the right of way. An Oconee County jury awarded the couple $1.1 million.
Seven-figure car accident verdicts in South Carolina usually require more than a crash. They require credible permanent injury, strong medical proof, and a jury that accepts the plaintiff’s damages story.
$1,100,000 Settlement in South Carolina in 2019
A 4-year-old house guest tripped on a tree stump and suffered severe injuries, including a leg fracture. The girl’s mother alleged that the homeowner failed to warn of the hazardous condition, maintain the yard, and protect house guests from harm. The homeowner denied liability. The case settled for $1.1 million.
This is a high settlement for a premises case involving a child. Young plaintiffs with fractures and long-term effects can drive settlement value, especially when the hazard is easy for a jury to visualize.
$809,395 Bench Verdict in South Carolina in 2019
A man was sideswiped in Myrtle Beach and injured his left hand and middle finger. He alleged that the at-fault driver ran a stop sign, drove too fast, and failed to control the vehicle. He also claimed vicarious liability against the driver’s employer. Following a bench trial, the court awarded $809,395.
Hand and finger injuries can be undervalued unless the lawyer shows how the injury affects grip, work, dexterity, and daily function. This result suggests the court accepted the real-world loss.
$795,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2019
A married couple was T-boned, and their vehicle flipped into a water ditch. The wife became submerged in the ditch and suffered multiple injuries, including severe bleeding. The husband suffered physical injuries and emotional distress from witnessing his wife submerged and bleeding. The couple alleged the at-fault driver ran a stop sign and drove while intoxicated. An Orangeburg County jury awarded $795,000.
The facts are vivid. Juries respond to danger they can see. A rollover into water, visible bleeding, and intoxication allegations all increase trial risk for the defense.
$250,000 Verdict in South Carolina in 2019
A woman was rear-ended by an unknown driver on I-77 and injured her neck, back, and chest. She alleged that the unknown driver failed to control the vehicle, observe traffic conditions, and brake. A York County jury awarded $250,000.
This is a strong result in an unknown-driver case and likely involved uninsured motorist coverage. UM claims can be the only real recovery path when the at-fault driver disappears.
$200,000 Settlement in South Carolina in 2019
A man with special needs underwent a thyroidectomy. After the procedure, his symptoms failed to resolve. He underwent a second surgery, and the surgeon found that the initial surgeon had not completely removed the thyroid. The patient’s mother alleged that the initial surgeon’s failure caused the symptoms to continue. The case settled for $200,000.
This is a modest medical malpractice settlement. It likely reflects a limited damages case despite a clear surgical issue.
Lessons From These South Carolina Verdicts and Settlements
The verdicts tell the same story you see in most states. South Carolina juries can return meaningful awards in serious cases, but they are not automatic. If a plaintiff has a catastrophic brain injury, paralysis, wrongful death, drunk driving facts, or strong medical malpractice evidence, the case can produce a large result. If the injury is subjective, the proof is thin, or the jury questions credibility, the verdict can be low.
The $8,650 verdict is a warning that not every case is a home run. The $13 million roadway verdict and the $16 million malpractice verdict are also warnings, but to defendants. South Carolina juries are capable of going big when the proof and the harm justifies it.
South Carolina Personal Injury Law
Below is a brief outline of key South Carolina personal injury law, including deadlines, fault rules, dog bite liability, damages caps, and claims against government defendants.
South Carolina Statute of Limitations in Personal Injury Cases
Every state imposes deadlines for filing lawsuits. In South Carolina, the general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of injury. This rule comes from S.C. Code § 15-3-530.
The three-year deadline covers many ordinary injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall claims, and most negligence cases. Wrongful death claims also generally have a three-year deadline, but the clock runs from the date of death.
Do not treat three years as a reason to wait. Evidence disappears. Video gets erased. Witnesses move. Vehicles get repaired. Medical records become harder to collect. If your case involves a government defendant, the deadline can be shorter.
The big thing — the real lesson here — is call a lawyer immediately. Figure out what your deadlines are and whether they are clear or unclear.
Discovery Rule
The discovery rule can extend the deadline in some South Carolina cases. Under the discovery rule, the statute of limitations can begin when the injured person knew or should have known of the injury and its cause, rather than the exact date the injury occurred.
This rule often appears in medical malpractice and latent injury cases. It does not rescue every late claim and South Carolina is filled with would-be plaintiffs who thought the discovery rule applied in their case. Same advice, right? Talk to a South Carolina lawyer soon rather than later.
Claims Against Government Defendants
Claims against state agencies, counties, municipalities, public hospitals, school districts, or other government entities are governed by the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. The deadline is generally two years, but the lawsuit deadline can extend to three years if a verified claim is first filed under the statute.
This can be a trap. If your case involves a state park, public hospital, public school, county vehicle, city employee, jail, government road work, or other public defendant, get legal help quickly.
Modified Comparative Negligence
South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence. A plaintiff can recover if the plaintiff’s fault is not greater than the defendant’s fault, but the recovery is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. South Carolina adopted this rule in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co.
Here is how it works. If the jury awards $100,000 and finds you 20 percent at fault, your recovery is reduced to $80,000. If the jury finds you more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing.
This is why defendants work so hard to blame the injured person. Every percentage point can reduce the payout. If they push your fault over the line, the claim is gone.
Strict Liability for Dog Bites in South Carolina
South Carolina dog bite law is favorable to victims. Under S.C. Code § 47-3-110, if a person is bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, the dog owner or keeper is liable for damages.
The statute has defenses. The owner may not be liable if the person provoked or harassed the dog and that provocation caused the attack. The statute also has rules for trained law enforcement dogs.
The practical point is that a dog bite victim in South Carolina usually does not need to prove that the dog had bitten someone before. The fight is more often over provocation, lawful presence, damages, scarring, and insurance coverage.
South Carolina Damages Caps
South Carolina does not have a general cap on damages in ordinary personal injury cases. Car accident, premises liability, product liability, and most negligence claims do not have a general pain and suffering cap.
Medical malpractice is different. South Carolina caps noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. Under S.C. Code § 15-32-220, the cap is adjusted annually for inflation. For 2026, the cap is $596,001 for a single health care provider or institution and $1,788,002 total against all health care providers and institutions.
Economic damages are not capped by the medical malpractice noneconomic damages statute. Future medical care, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other economic losses can still drive large malpractice settlements and verdicts.
South Carolina also caps punitive damages in many cases. Under S.C. Code § 15-32-530, punitive damages are generally capped at the greater of three times compensatory damages or the statutory dollar amount, adjusted annually. For 2026, the adjusted dollar amount is $739,245. There are exceptions that can raise or eliminate the cap depending on the defendant’s conduct.
| Issue | South Carolina Rule | What It Means for Your Case |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury Deadline | Usually three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530. | Most injury lawsuits must be filed within three years. |
| Government Claims | Usually two years, with possible extension to three years if a verified claim is first filed. | Public defendant cases need immediate review. |
| Comparative Negligence | Recovery is reduced by fault percentage and barred if plaintiff fault is greater than defendant fault. | The defense will try to push fault onto you. |
| Dog Bites | Owner or keeper is liable if the victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place, subject to defenses. | Victims usually do not need to prove a prior bite. |
| Medical Malpractice Cap | 2026 noneconomic cap is $596,001 for one provider or institution and $1,788,002 total. | Pain and suffering may be capped, but economic damages are not capped by that statute. |
| Punitive Damages | Usually capped at the greater of three times compensatory damages or the adjusted statutory amount, with exceptions. | Drunk driving and reckless conduct can change settlement pressure. |
South Carolina Medical Malpractice Law
Medical malpractice cases in South Carolina are harder and more expensive than ordinary injury cases. You need expert review, a standard-of-care theory, a causation theory, and damages large enough to justify the cost of litigation.
The plaintiff must prove that the provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that the failure caused injury. A bad result is not enough. The lawsuit has to show what should have been done, what was done instead, and how that difference changed the outcome.
South Carolina also has procedural rules for malpractice claims, including pre-suit requirements and mediation procedures. If you think a doctor, hospital, nurse, physician assistant, or other provider caused serious harm, get the records reviewed quickly. The statute of limitations and expert review process can take time.
The 2023 spinal abscess settlement and 2025 newborn death verdict show the range. A delayed MRI that leads to paralysis can be a multimillion-dollar case. A fetal monitoring failure that leads to a newborn death can produce an eight-figure verdict. But smaller malpractice cases can be hard to bring because the costs are high and the noneconomic damages cap can affect settlement leverage.
South Carolina Product Liability Lawsuits
Under South Carolina law, a manufacturer or seller of a product can be held liable if the product is defective and that defect causes injury or harm. South Carolina recognizes product liability claims involving manufacturing defects, design defects, and failure to warn.
South Carolina’s defective product statute, S.C. Code § 15-73-10, provides that one who sells a product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer is subject to liability for physical harm caused by the product if the seller is engaged in the business of selling that product and it reaches the user without substantial change in condition.
National mass tort and product liability claims often involve South Carolina plaintiffs. These include claims involving Roundup, Roblox, Depo Provera, Paraquat, hair relaxer, and other defective medical devices and dangerous drugs. The AFFF firefighting foam MDL is especially relevant to South Carolina because it is pending in federal court in South Carolina.
If a defective product injured you in South Carolina, preserve the product, packaging, receipts, warnings, photos, and medical records. Product cases can fail if the product is thrown away before it can be inspected.
South Carolina Sex Abuse Lawsuits
South Carolina law allows victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault to file civil lawsuits and seek financial compensation for the physical and emotional damages caused by the abuse.
A survivor may have a South Carolina sex abuse lawsuit not only against the individual who committed the abuse, but also against third parties such as schools, churches, daycare centers, youth organizations, employers, or institutions that negligently enabled the abuse to occur.
Third-party liability is often where meaningful recovery comes from. An individual abuser may be incarcerated, uninsured, or judgment-proof. An institution may have insurance, assets, documents, prior complaints, and policies that show it had the power to prevent the abuse and failed.
If a South Carolina school ignored boundary violations, a church concealed complaints, a daycare failed to supervise staff, or an employer hired someone with warning signs, the civil case may focus on institutional responsibility as much as the abuser’s conduct.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Our firm handles serious injury and wrongful death lawsuits in South Carolina by working with local partner firms — the best lawyers we know in the state for your case. We compensate our South Carolina lawyers out of our own attorneys’ fees, so it does not cost you anything to have two law firms instead of one. You owe a fee only if you get settlement compensation or a jury payout.
If you were hurt and believe you have a potential civil tort claim, get a free no-obligation consultation or call us today at 800-553-8082.