South Carolina workers' compensation and personal injury attorney George Taylor treats every client like a member of his family. It's not surprising then that he keeps in touch with many of his clients long after their cases have been resolved.
We recently had the privilege of sitting down with George. Here's what we learned:
Beginnings
George Taylor wanted to be an attorney at a very young age. This desire only increased as he grew older and saw all of the injustices in the world.
“I wanted to do my part in rectifying those injustices.”
In 2004, George received his bachelor's degree in political science from The Citadel. He joined the U.S. Air Force and was deployed multiple times during his service as an intelligence officer, including tours in Iraq and Qatar.
After leaving the Air Force, George attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he graduated with honors in 2011.
Career
Chasing a desire to represent injured individuals, George accepted a job at a personal injury law firm, where he eventually became a partner. In 2023, he co-founded Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, LLC. His practice focuses on workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.
During the course of his legal career, he has literally helped hundreds of injured individuals.
While it's impossible for George to select just one case that he is most proud of, there is a case that stands out. The case involved a client who had been severely injured to the point he could never work again. The case was heavily contested, but George was able to secure the maximum available benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act for his client, along with significant additional monetary damages for his client's future medical expenses. Although the case was resolved several years ago, George remains in close contact with the client to this day.
“This gentleman was a single father with three young children. He was extremely worried about his ability to provide for his kids with his injuries, and we were able to get him a recovery that alleviated all that stress.”
George receives a great deal of joy from helping his clients, but when you care so much for your clients, the law can take its toll.
“I take all of my cases personally, so it hurts to see my clients mistreated.”
Fortunately, others have recognized George's herculean efforts. In just the last few years, George has received the following recognitions:
- Workers Injury Law Advocacy Group: The Nations Top Injured Workers' Attorneys: 2021
- Workers Injury Law Advocacy Group: The Nations Top Injured Workers' Attorneys: 2020
- Legal Elite of the Midlands for Workers Compensation: 2021
- Legal Elite of the Midlands for Workers Compensation: 2020
- Legal Elite of the Midlands for Workers Compensation: 2019
- Injured Workers Advocates: Executive Board Member
Advice for prospective clients
When George was in law school, he was told to treat each client as though they were a member of his family. This particular piece of advice stuck with him. He encourages prospective clients to choose an attorney who's going to handle their case like it's the most important case they'll ever have.
How should a prospective client prepare for an initial consultation?
“The most important thing is to show up. Beyond that, if you have records, bring them with you. If you have contact information for the folks involved in your claim, bring that too.”
George offers FREE initial consultations at Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, LLC.
As for his own clients, George likes to prepare them for the legal process by comparing the law to a raging river.
“I tell my clients that the legal system is akin to a complicated river. They need to get their boat from start to finish. When I'm hired, I see myself as the navigator. I give the best advice I can, but at the end of the day, the client is the boat's Captain. The client gets to make the decisions.”
Free time
In those rare moments when George isn't working, he likes to spend time traveling with his family. He also tries to make time each week for his primary hobbies: working out and skateboarding.
George experiences the best of both worlds by living in Lexington and working in Columbia. When in Lexington, you might find him relaxing on Lake Murray. When in Columbia, he loves watching soccer at Monticello Road.
Bonus questions with South Carolina workers' compensation attorney George Taylor
Q. What advice do you most often give your clients?
A. I always let my clients know that they're not alone in their cases. I am always a telephone call away and doing my very best to fight for them.
Q. What's the biggest misconception about personal injury attorneys?
A. There is a misconception that injury lawyers are money hungry and in the profession for themselves. At Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, LLC, we're all about our clients and getting the best results for them.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional attorney?
A. Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci) from My Cousin Vinny.
Q. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A. Teleportation. I can just imagine all of the things I could do and see if I could cut out all the travel time.
Q. If you weren't practicing law, what job would you hold?
A. I think I would be a teacher. So many teachers helped shape me as a person, and it would be really cool to have that same kind of impact on future generations.
About Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, LLC
At Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, LLC, our attorneys have decades of experience skillfully navigating the complexities of personal injury and workers' compensation cases to secure the best possible outcomes for their clients. Contact us for your free, no-obligation consultation today so we can worry about the details and you can focus on getting better. View our law firm's profile and visit our website today.