Have you suffered injuries from a car accident? Are you dealing with the aftermath of a collision? Our car accident legal team serving Charleston is here to assist you in pursuing the compensation you may deserve. We support accident victims across South Carolina, including North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Summerville, and Walterboro.
The aftermath of a car accident can be a stressful journey; you never planned to be in this situation, and figuring out the next steps can be challenging. Our personal injury legal team serving Charleston is here to offer legal representation to guide you through this challenging time.
Our commitment is clear: we strive to provide legal advocacy for those we serve. Our team comprises a dedicated car accident legal team serving Charleston, committed to standing up for the rights of those injured in accidents.
Find out why so many people choose us as their legal team, committed to working for justice on their behalf.
The Role of Our Car Accident Attorney Serving Charleston in Your Legal Claims
If you were involved in a car accident, whether it was your fault or another person’s, it is recommended that you contact our car accident legal team serving Charleston. Following a car wreck, you may need to get your car repaired, visit a doctor to treat injuries, or miss work.
Our legal team can help you pursue compensation, allowing you to focus on your recovery, your health, and your family.
If you were injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation to help cover automotive repairs, medical bills, and other costs. To obtain compensation, you must file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, your insurance company, or both.
Our personal injury legal team serving Charleston will assist you in dealing with the insurance companies to ensure your case is taken seriously and that you have the opportunity to seek the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Lawyer Serving Charleston
At our car accident legal team serving Charleston, we provide dedicated representation tailored to the specific aspects of your vehicle accident case. We begin by attentively listening to your account and asking questions to grasp the specifics of your situation and your goals.
Our next step involves a thorough investigation. This includes gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and managing communications with insurance companies on your behalf.
We oversee the entire insurance claim process, from initial discussions to settlement negotiations, ensuring you understand all legal options and potential outcomes.
We guide you through each step of building your claim, starting with filing your case through summons and complaints. Throughout the process, we handle depositions, gather and present evidence, and file necessary court motions.
Our goal is to identify all potential damages so you can seek fair compensation. We work with qualified witnesses and financial analysts to assess and validate the value of your case.
If your case proceeds to trial, we manage jury selection and present a strong argument in court. We provide strategic advice to help you make informed decisions every step of the way.
If an appeal is necessary, we handle that as well, along with judgment collections.
Our comprehensive approach to each stage of the legal process reflects our commitment to helping you pursue compensation and guiding you through the legal complexities. Contact us to learn more about how we can create a personalized strategy for your case.
After a car accident, taking specific steps to protect your health is important. Follow these guidelines:
- If possible, move to a safe area, turn on your hazard lights, and use flares or warning triangles to alert other drivers if it’s dark.
- Assess yourself and others for injuries. Avoid moving anyone who is injured unless it’s necessary.
- Contact the police, even for minor accidents. A police report can be useful for insurance claims.
- Collect names, contact information, insurance details, driver’s license numbers, and license plate numbers of all involved drivers. Additionally, gather contact information from any witnesses.
- Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle positions, damages, and any relevant road conditions or traffic signs.
- Avoid admitting fault or making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of liability.
- Even if you feel fine, consider getting checked by a healthcare professional, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Inform your insurer as soon as possible. Provide them with the gathered information and cooperate fully.
- Document all related expenses, such as medical bills and car repairs. Keep a record of any related communication.
- Contact our car accident legal team serving Charleston promptly. We can start building your claim as soon as possible.
Reasons for Car Accidents in Charleston
Most traffic accidents in Charleston and elsewhere are not primarily caused by a lack of driving skills but rather by the decisions drivers make while behind the wheel. Human error is responsible for the majority of road accidents.
Many drivers may contribute to common causes of traffic accidents. Raising awareness about these causes can help encourage more cautious driving behavior. Consider these prevalent factors each time you get behind the wheel:
- Aggressive Driving: Behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes can increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Alcohol, drugs, or certain medications can diminish reaction time and decision-making abilities, raising the risk of accidents.
- Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the GPS can take attention away from the road and lead to crashes.
- Inexperienced Drivers: A lack of driving experience can lead to mistakes with serious consequences.
- Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, uneven road surfaces, and unexpected obstacles can cause accidents.
- Adverse Weather Conditions: Heavy rain, fog, or icy roads can create challenging driving conditions and increase accident risks.
- Equipment Failure: Brake failure, tire blowouts, or faulty airbags can lead to accidents.
Time Limits for Filing Charleston Car Accident Lawsuits
The statute of limitations sets a deadline for initiating legal actions. Under South Carolina Code §15-3-530, individuals involved in a car accident have a three-year window from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Starting the legal process promptly is important. Although three years might seem sufficient, delays can affect your ability to pursue a claim. This legal timeframe promotes timely litigation and prevents indefinite legal action against the responsible party.
As time passes, evidence may become harder to obtain or less reliable, which can make a case more difficult to prove. Acting quickly helps ensure the case can be properly presented within the legal deadline.
What Compensation Are You Eligible for in Charleston?
To recover compensation after an accident, you or your legal team must prove that the defendant’s negligence directly caused your injuries. This requires establishing the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The defendant owed a legal obligation to act safely. On the road, all drivers are required to follow traffic laws and take reasonable measures to prevent harm.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet this obligation. Examples include violating traffic laws (such as speeding or running a red light) or engaging in reckless behaviors like road rage or driving under the influence.
- Causation: There must be a direct link between the defendant’s actions and your injuries, showing that the harm would not have occurred if they had upheld their duty of care.
- Damages: Proof is required for the losses you suffered. These can include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and other accident-related costs.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our car accident legal team serving Charleston applies knowledge of South Carolina traffic laws to build cases and pursue claims.
Understanding these elements can help determine eligibility for compensation. Speaking with our car accident legal team serving Charleston can help you evaluate your options and develop a legal strategy for your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Charleston
Every year in the United States, over one million car accidents cause injuries. While some may be limited to minor cuts and bruises, others can be more severe and long-lasting.
Below are some of the common injuries reported after car crashes:
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even a mild concussion can have consequences. Warning signs include headaches, confusion, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. Severe brain injuries may result in long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
- Spinal Cord Damage: This can range from herniated discs that cause pain to injuries leading to partial or complete paralysis. Symptoms may include numbness, loss of limb control, and breathing difficulties, often requiring medical care and rehabilitation.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding may not be obvious right away, but can be serious. Severe abdominal pain, dizziness, or fainting are signs that require prompt medical attention.
- Whiplash: Often seen in rear-end collisions, whiplash affects the neck and upper back, causing stiffness, headaches, and shoulder pain. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop over several days.
- Back Injuries: These can range from muscle strains and sprains to fractured vertebrae. Chronic back pain can reduce mobility and may require ongoing treatment.
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Crashes can break bones in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis. These injuries may require surgery, casts, and physical therapy.
- Facial and Dental Injuries: Cuts, bruises, fractures, or dental damage may require surgical repair and lead to medical expenses.
- Psychological Trauma: Victims may develop PTSD, anxiety, or depression, conditions that can affect daily life.
- Permanent Disability and Paralysis: Severe collisions can result in permanent disabilities, requiring long-term care or assistive devices.
Recognizing these injuries early and seeking medical treatment promptly can help with recovery. Even if you feel fine after an accident, it’s advisable to be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Evidence a Car Accident Attorney Serving Charleston Can Use to Support Your Claim
To prepare a case, a car accident legal team serving Charleston may gather and review a range of evidence, including:
- Your Testimony: A detailed account of what happened before, during, and after the accident.
- Witness Statements: Accounts from passengers, bystanders, or anyone who saw the crash occur.
- Admissions from the Other Driver: Any statements acknowledging fault or revealing key details about the incident.
- Vehicle Damage Analysis: Examination of impact points, damage patterns, and the position of vehicles after the crash to understand how the collision occurred.
- Injury Documentation: Medical reports, diagnostic tests, and treatment records outlining the nature of injuries.
- Accident Reconstruction: Analysis using physical evidence, measurements, and computer simulations to help determine cause and liability.
- Video Footage: Recordings from traffic cameras, nearby businesses, or dashcams that captured the incident.
- Vehicle Records: Maintenance logs and manufacturing records that may show mechanical issues or defects.
- Expert Testimony: Input from medical professionals, accident reconstructionists, or occupational therapists.
- Medical and Property Damage Bills: Documentation of expenses for treatment and repairs.
- Employment and Wage Records: Evidence of lost income and how the accident has affected work.
The relevance of each type of evidence depends on the specifics of the case. A car accident legal team serving Charleston can help determine which pieces are most useful and how to present them in support of a claim.
Charleston, South Carolina Car Accident Laws
In Charleston, South Carolina, personal injury claims follow the principle of comparative negligence. This means that if you file a claim against another party, they can argue that you share some responsibility for the accident.
If the court agrees, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 30% responsible for an accident and your total damages are $100,000, you would only be eligible to recover $70,000.
Insurance adjusters often use comparative negligence to reduce payouts, sometimes trying to inflate your share of fault to minimize the settlement.
Our car accident legal team serving Charleston works closely with you to gather and present evidence, manage communications with insurance companies, and help prevent your claim from being weakened.
A car accident legal team serving Charleston is familiar with the tactics insurers may use to lower settlements and can assist in negotiating resolutions.
The Challenges of Car Accident Cases in Charleston
Car accident cases, though common, present numerous challenges for injury victims. While you can seek compensation from the negligent driver, auto insurance companies often work against you. They may deny liability, try to shift partial fault onto you, or dispute the extent of your injuries to justify offering a low settlement.
Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts and may take advantage of the fact that most injured parties have little experience negotiating settlements. As a result, many people accept the first offer without realizing its potential impact on their long-term recovery.
Working with a car accident legal team serving Charleston can help in pursuing fair compensation. A legal team can negotiate with insurers, assist in protecting your claim, and take your case to court if needed.
A major challenge in these cases is securing a settlement that covers both current and future accident-related expenses. Serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord damage can create long-term medical and financial needs, making accurate future cost projections important, something insurance companies may resist.
South Carolina’s minimum auto insurance limits are $25,000 for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property damage, which can also limit how much compensation is available. With more than 10% of drivers uninsured or underinsured, recovering adequate damages can be even more challenging without legal assistance.
Handling car accident claims in Charleston requires persistence, knowledge of the law, and the ability to address insurance company tactics.
Reach Out to Our Car Accident Lawyer Serving Charleston
A car crash can result in physical injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress. Managing these challenges can be difficult, but legal assistance is available.
Speaking with a car accident legal team serving Charleston can help you understand your options for pursuing a claim. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we work to evaluate your case and assist in seeking compensation, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Our team aims to make the legal process more manageable by guiding you through each stage. If you have questions about your auto accident claim, contact us for a free consultation and case evaluation at (864) 664-3865.
We will review your situation, explain available legal options, and outline a plan for moving forward with your claim.
FAQ:
Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Car Accident?
Immediately after a motor vehicle accident, your health insurance typically covers your medical expenses. Once liability is established, the at-fault driver’s car insurance may reimburse your health insurer. If you do not have health insurance, you might still be able to receive treatment under a letter of protection, which allows payment to be deferred until your case is resolved.
Can I Sue if I Was Not Injured in the Car Accident?
Yes, you can still file a lawsuit even if you did not sustain physical injuries. While you cannot claim damages for bodily harm, you may be able to recover compensation for property damage and emotional distress, including anxiety or mental anguish caused by the crash.
Can I Sue a Government Agency for an Auto Accident?
If the driver who hit you was a government employee, or if negligent maintenance by a government road authority caused your crash, you may have a case. However, suing a government agency in South Carolina can be complex due to legal protections and strict procedures.
Lawsuits against the government often have shorter filing deadlines and damage caps compared to the typical three-year statute of limitations for most car accident claims. This makes it important to consult with a car accident legal team serving Charleston promptly to understand your options and the applicable deadlines.
