Car accidents happen every day. And every day, innocent drivers are injured. Accident victims have to deal with expensive hospital bills and weeks of missed work. Fortunately, a West Ashley car accident lawyer can help you seek fair damages.
If you sustained injuries in an accident caused by another party, you shouldn’t have to pay for their mistake. A West Ashley personal injury lawyer from Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys can help you recover compensation and get back on your feet.
Contact our team to schedule a free consultation and learn how the Thumbs Up Guys can help you.
How Do You Get Compensation After a Car Accident?
Some people think the only way to get compensation for a car accident is through an expensive and lengthy lawsuit. However, in many cases, a skilled lawyer can negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company and avoid suing them altogether.
To get the compensation you need, a car accident lawyer in West Ashley must gather evidence showing how the other party caused your accident and why you deserve compensation. They’ll gather documents, photos, and witness testimonies to get you the best possible car accident settlement.
Do You Qualify to Get Damages in West Ashley?
You may file a claim for compensation if someone else caused your accident and financial losses through an act of negligence in South Carolina. A personal injury attorney can review the facts of your claim to see if someone owed you a duty of care, violated that duty, and directly caused your wreck.
Our personal injury law firm believes in holding negligent drivers responsible for their dangerous actions. You can reach out to us now for legal advice and to see if you qualify for legal compensation.
What Compensation Do You Get for Motor Vehicle Accidents?
In addition to collecting evidence and negotiating a settlement, an attorney can also determine your eligible damages. We’ll meet with you to discuss your losses and review your medical bills to determine what financial compensation you’re entitled to.
If your claim is successful, you could get several types of damages, including funds for your:
Medical Care
Car Accidents can leave you with severe injuries in South Carolina. Your accident claim can allow you to secure funds for your emergency care, time in a hospital, medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
Your personal injury attorney can focus on your current medical costs and future expenses associated with your recovery.
Property Damage
You can count on us to help you seek compensation for vehicle repair costs after an auto accident. We believe in securing fair compensation for any property damage caused by the accident. You may also receive funds to replace your vehicle if your car sustained catastrophic damage.
Lost Pay
We use our extensive experience to help clients get compensation for their lost pay. We also focus on bringing you funds for your decreased earning potential if the accident left you with a disabling condition. Getting professional legal representation can boost your odds of getting maximum damages.
Non-Economic Losses
Auto accident attorneys in South Carolina can also help you seek funds for your mental anguish and emotional distress. We believe in supporting personal injury victims and take these non-economic losses seriously.
These damages can help you pay your bills and rebuild your life after a severe collision. Reach out to a skilled attorney from our firm today to find out which forms of compensation you could receive from an insurance claim.
How Will a West Ashley Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
A lawyer can step in and help with all your legal needs as you recover after a car accident in South Carolina. Our team always works with the goal of bringing clients fair compensation for hospital bills, lost wages, and other losses.
We focus on investigating accidents. Our team uses several strategies and our combined experience to collect evidence about the causes of your wreck. Depending on your circumstances, we may:
- Interview all eyewitnesses to get official statements
- Visit the scene of your accident
- Get a copy of any police reports
- Look for photos and videos taken of the accident
- Work with car accident experts
A thorough investigation can help us identify the negligent party so we know who to pursue for compensation. We handle claims involving reckless driving, drunk driving, distracted driving, and fatigued driving.
An auto accident lawyer from our law firm will stick with you from the time of your accident until the final resolution of your case.
Can a Lawyer Help With a Fatal Car Accident?
A West Ashley fatal car accident lawyer can help your family if you lose a loved one due to someone else’s dangerous actions. We know how to file a wrongful death claim on your behalf, allowing you to secure damages to address the financial pressures on your family.
Filing a claim against the at-fault party also allows you to hold them accountable, potentially stopping them from harming anyone else.
Why Choose Us After a Car Accident in West Ashley?
Our team at the Thumbs Up Guys will provide you with personalized care and support if we handle your car accident case. We have years of experience and legal training that allows us to confidently negotiate with insurance agents or handle personal injury lawsuits.
We’ve secured millions in compensation for clients like you, including $350,000 for a client who sustained back and head injuries in a collision. You can review more information about our claims by checking out our case results.
Additionally, we handle car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll only have to pay legal fees once we resolve your claim in South Carolina.
What if the Other Driver’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover My Damages?
According to the South Carolina Code of Laws § 38-77-10, every driver in West Ashley and throughout the state of South Carolina must have a certain level of liability coverage. However, people don’t always follow the law, and some drive without the proper insurance. Even if someone is insured, their plan may not cover all your damages.
Fortunately, you still have options if the other party does not have ample insurance, but it may be more challenging to get compensation. You can pursue damages from your policy if you have an uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) policy.
You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver if you don’t have a UM or UIM policy. An attorney can construct your lawsuit, file your suit, and represent you in court.
What Are Common Injuries After a Car Accident?
Car crashes can result in several different injuries. However, there are specific injuries that car accident victims experience more often than others. Common injuries in a car accident include:
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Burns
Even if you feel fine, you should still get your injuries treated. Some catastrophic and potentially life-threatening injuries, like internal bleeding, can go unnoticed if you don’t go to the hospital. Plus, if you don’t act quickly, insurance adjusters may doubt that your injuries are actually serious.
These catastrophic injuries aren’t just painful. They can also be incredibly expensive, especially when they mean missing weeks or months of work to recover. If someone else caused your accident, you should contact an attorney ASAP.
They’ll know how to get the money you need to afford medical treatment and support yourself while you stay home from work to recover.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
If you sustained injuries in a collision, your safety and health should be your number one priority. Before you do anything regarding insurance or lawyers, you should get to a safe place and call an ambulance.
Even if your injuries seem minor, they can be more severe than you realize and could cause complications if left untreated.
Once you’ve taken all the necessary steps to ensure you’re okay, there are a few things you can do at the accident scene and in the following days to help your chances of receiving a fair settlement or jury verdict. Make sure to take the following steps:
- Call the police: You will need an official accident report for your claim, and the only way to get one is to get the police involved.
- Don’t refuse medical treatment: Not only is it essential for your health to get your injuries treated, but if you refuse treatment, the other party’s insurance company may try to use it to show that you don’t deserve compensation.
- Get the other driver’s information: Write down the other driver’s name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance information. Avoid being confrontational, as aggressive behavior could be used against you when it’s time to pursue compensation.
- Talk to witnesses: If anyone else saw what happened, talk to them and get their contact information. Be careful not to admit any level of guilt in your accident, as the other party and their insurance company could use that to reduce your settlement.
- Take pictures and videos: Document your injuries and any damage done to your vehicle. It can also be helpful to take photos of the overall scene of the accident.
- Don’t sign anything before you talk to an attorney: The insurance company may try to get you to sign off on a settlement quickly. There’s a good chance that their initial settlement offer will be less than you actually deserve. An attorney will be able to ensure you aren’t being taken advantage of.
- Get a free initial consultation with an attorney: Hiring an experienced car accident attorney from West Ashley can help you get the justice and damages you need to move forward with your life. Contact us today to talk to a knowledgeable lawyer for free.
An auto accident lawyer can provide you with more information about your next steps.
Your Time to File a Lawsuit Is Running Out
Once you’ve completed all the steps on our post-accident checklist, it’s essential that you contact an attorney ASAP. That’s because there’s a statute of limitations for car accident cases in West Ashley. Under S.C. Ann §15-3-530, you have three years from the date of your crash to submit a personal injury lawsuit.
While not all accident victims have to file a suit to get compensated, planning for the worst-case scenario is crucial. That means hiring an attorney immediately and getting started on your case as fast as you can.
Doing so will give your West Ashley car accident attorney the time they need to file a suit if your case requires one.
Talk to a Car Accident Attorney in West Ashley for Free
Medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair can set you back thousands of dollars. You’ll have to file a personal injury claim to get the money you need to replace your losses and pay your bills.
Filing a claim can be incredibly complicated, but with a skilled attorney on your side, you won’t have to worry about the ins and outs of the legal process. Contact Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys to get the legal help required to file a successful claim or lawsuit.
We’ll schedule you a free consultation with a West Ashley car accident lawyer from our firm. They’ll meet with you to discuss your accident and determine if we can take you on as a client. We look forward to hearing from you soon!