attorney nathan hughey

Attorney Nathan Hughey

Attorney Nathan Hughey is a fourth generation South Carolinian who opened Hughey Law Firm in 2007 after having worked for five years as an attorney defending nursing homes and insurance companies. Using the years of invaluable experience gained as a defense attorney, Mr. Hughey and his team of lawyers, experts, and support staff now fight for the rights of the injured and aggrieved against many of those same nursing homes and insurance companies to the tune of $220 million in verdict and settlements for their clients.* Mr. Hughey and the Hughey Law Firm have won numerous awards, including the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubbell, which is given to less than four percent (4%) of law firms nationwide due to the exception client service Mr. Hughey has shown throughout his time as a personal injury attorney in South Carolina.

(843) 881-8644(888) 884-8311

Attorney Nathan Hughey was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, graduating from A.C. Flora High School in 1992. After high school graduation, Mr. Hughey attended the College of Charleston, where he graduated in 1996 with a degree in Political Science. Afterwards, Mr. Hughey returned to the state’s capital to attend the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he graduated in 2000.

That same year, Mr. Hughey was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and joined Hood Law Firm, LLC of Charleston, South Carolina. Eventually, Mr. Hughey would become a partner at the firm. At Hood Law Firm, Mr. Hughey was tasked with defending nursing homes, large corporations, and insurance companies in complex personal injury cases, much like those he represents plaintiffs in today. During this time, Mr. Hughey also gained admission to the United States District Court, District of South Carolina (2001).

Although a successful civil defense litigator, Mr. Hughey always felt for the injured parties across the table from him; therefore, in 2006, Mr. Hughey joined Lourie Law Firm, LLC to begin his career representing plaintiffs. During his time with the firm, Mr. Hughey secured numerous victories for his clients in nursing home, auto accident and slip and fall cases. Also, in 2006, Mr. Hughey was admitted to the United States District Court for the Fourth Circuit.

In 2007, Mr. Hughey opened the Hughey Law Firm in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, to continue to fight for the rights of those who have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or actions. As owner and managing partner of the Hughey Law Firm, Mr. Hughey handles many types of civil cases, including but not limited to, elder abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, auto and trucking accidents, and premises liability. Mr. Hughey has successfully argued before numerous state and federal courts in South Carolina. Additionally, Mr. Hughey has argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Mr. Hughey resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina with his wife, Liz. They have four children between them, Stokes, Bella, Sam and Price.  Mr. Hughey is active in the community, giving time and pro bono (free) legal services to those in need. Mr. Hughey also sponsors and coaches multiple youth sports teams every year (Hughey Law Firm sports teams have won many championships over the years).

Past Cases

While Mr. Hughey has worked hundreds of civil litigation cases across all areas of personal injury law, three (3) cases are highlighted below as having particular complexity and severity during Mr. Hughey’s representation of his clients.*

In this case, Mr. Hughey was presented with a client who was ejected from his vehicle after it was struck with by a driver who was in a work truck at the time.  A lawsuit was subsequently filed on behalf of Hughey Law Firm’s client against both the driver and the driver’s employer to attempt to recover for our client’s many economic and non-economic damages.  This case stands out to Mr. Hughey due to the severity of the client’s injuries, the numerous medical and auto experts involved, and dealing with the issues that arise from the legal doctrine known as respondeat superior.

One of the most complex cases that Mr. Hughey has worked was also one of his more highly publicized cases in which Mr. Hughey’s autistic client eloped from the assisted living facility/group home in which he was living and subsequently struck by a car driven by an underage drunk driver and killed.  Multiple lawsuits were filed on behalf of the estate of Mr. Hughey’s deceased client. At one point there were more than fifteen (15) defendants and four (4) insurance companies involved in the litigation process.  Holding all parties responsible for their actions, Mr. Hughey was able to settle for a total of $3.375M for his client’s estate

In Tucker v. Moore Elliott Realty, Inc. (Civil Action No. 05-CP-2715), Mr. Hughey was approached by a woman whose leg was crushed after a dock collapsed on it at a vacation home her and her family were staying at in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Figuring out the cause of the collapse (rusty bolts) and determining responsibility for the structural failure was of paramount importance in this case. Using export witness reports, photographs, medical records and more, Mr. Hughey was able to secure a $1.625M settlement for his client, which included money for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Testimonials

“I have witnessed, on numerous occasions, Mr. Hughey contributes his time and financial resources to individuals in need and community projects in the Charleston area. Mr. Hughey has selflessly given up his time to help others who are in need. I am also aware that Mr. Hughey has extended Pro Bono legal services to persons unable to afford representation.”– A Past President of the Charleston County Bar Association.
“As I have come to know Nate Hughey, he has become my primary choice for association in matters involving civil litigation outside of my particular practice area. I am totally comfortable in trusting my clients to Mr. Hughey’s representation. Not only does my personal experience confirm his high level of [knowledge] and ethical handling of such matters, the feedback I have received from my clients also confirms the same. Based upon such background, it is without reservation that I can attest to Mr. Hughey’s legal abilities and high ethical standards which he so vigilantly maintains while representing his clients.”-A Past President of the Charleston County Bar Association

Areas of Practice

  • Civil Litigation
  • Automobile Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
  • Premises Liability / Slip and Falls
  • Products Liability
  • Construction Litigation
  • Insurance Bad Faith Litigation
  • Admiralty / Longshore claims
  • Boating Accidents
  • Workers Compensation
  • Medical Malpractice

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • AV Preeminent Rating
  • Martindale – Hubbell, Client Distinction Award
  • Top Rated Transportation Lawyers 2013
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
  • SuccessfulVerdicts.com, Platinum Level Member
  • Worldwide Who’s Who, Platinum Member
  • American Association for Justice, Member
  • South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, Former Member
  • South Carolina Association for Justice, Member
  • South Carolina Bar Association, Member
  • Charleston County Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Member
  • The American Registry – America’s Most Honored Professionals 2016 Awardee

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina J.D. – 2000
  • College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina B.A. – 1996 Major: Political Science

Our Practice Areas

There are many ways in which an accident can occur. Here is a list of some of the areas of personal injury law that we have particular experience in assisting our clients:

Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one unexpectedly brings grief as well as complexity to the lives of family members left behind. Unfortunately, the process of holding the at-fault party accountable for the wrongful death of your loved one is complex as well. The experienced attorneys at Hughey Law Firm can guide you through that process.

Catastrophic Injuries

Certain injuries can result in a lifetime of medical care and expenses, and take away the victim’s ability not only to work at the job he or she formerly held, but to be gainfully employed at all. If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries in an accident caused by someone else, you deserve an injury lawyer who will fight for you to get the necessary compensation to provide the care and necessities you need for life.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents are among the most common premises liability claims. These types of accidents can result in serious injuries. If you have been injured due to an unsafe condition at a residential, commercial, or public property, you may be eligible to file a premises liability claim.

Product Liability

Consumers have the right to expect that the products, medications, and food that they have purchased are safe to use. If you’ve been injured due to a defective product, you may have a valid product liability claim.

Worker’s Compensation

If you have been injured in a workplace accident, you have the right to file a worker’s compensation claim in order to get compensation for your injuries, including medical treatments and lost wages. We are happy to answer questions and provide guidance in your decision to file a claim. Additionally, if your workplace accident was caused by the recklessness or carelessness of an individual, you may be able to seek damages from the at-fault party who should also be held liable.

Nursing Home Injuries

If your loved one has been mistreated, abused, or neglected by the staff at a nursing facility, we will fight to hold these facilities accountable for their actions, not only for your loved one’s sake but for the sake of preventing others from being injured by the same negligent actions.