Goose Creek Car Accident Lawyer

Someone has to pay for the damages caused by reckless driving. That’s why auto insurance is a requirement for drivers. However, insurance companies want to pay as little as possible for your damages. That’s where our personal injury lawyers in Goose Creek can help you.

If you’ve been in a car accident and want to stop worrying about the insurance companies, contact our car accident lawyers in Goose Creek at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, the Thumbs Up Guys. We have been helping clients in the area for years with their car accident cases.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

After a car accident, accident victims must fulfill several responsibilities. You need to exchange personal information with the other driver and any witnesses. You also need to let the police know what happened. If the police weren’t involved, you’d need to let the DMV know what happened if there was injury, death, or damage greater than $1000.

You can do this by filing a traffic collision report. It must be filed within 15 days of the accident. If you don’t file it, the DMV may accuse you of driving without insurance and suspend your license!

Also, if you can, take photos of the accident scene and your injuries as soon as possible after the accident. You and your lawyer could use them as evidence for your claim. After leaving the scene, get examined by a doctor if you haven’t received medical attention yet.

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Goose Creek

Once you’ve handled things with the police and DMV, and received a medical exam, now is the time to consider getting legal representation. If you’re not the at-fault driver, you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance.

By using a personal injury lawyer, you won’t miss any avenues of compensation that may apply to your case. You’ll also receive advice to protect yourself from the insurance company’s tactics. They have lawyers on their side, too. You should have the same legal protections.

Hiring a car accident lawyer in Goose Creek costs nothing upfront but your time. Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis. You owe us nothing unless you win your personal injury claim. If your claim or lawsuit is denied, we don’t deserve to get paid!

Potential Damages for Car Accident Compensation

After a motor vehicle accident, accident victims are owed money for fair compensation. Damages are the things for which you are compensated. Car accident attorneys will study the evidence in your case to identify and place a value on all the ways your accident harmed you.

These damages fall into two primary categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are anything you can justify a dollar amount for through evidence. These are things like medical bills, car payments, property damage, lost wages while you recover, and similar things.

Non-economic damages do not have a dollar amount but are recognized by law as having a cost. This is where things like pain and suffering and mental anguish come into play. There are a few standard ways to calculate these damages, often using economic damages as a baseline.

Is There an Average Car Accident Settlement Value?

No. Every case is a unique constellation of circumstances, insurers, car values, injury types, etc. There is such a variation that we cannot say what an average amount of financial compensation is. However, there are ways we can estimate your case before taking it on.

One is looking at previous cases with similar situations from our case files. Another is through looking at any evidence you have during your consultation. If you have the photos we mentioned, a copy of your accident report, and/or a copy of your treatment records, we can estimate your case value more effectively.

Our Goose Creek car accident attorneys will use their extensive experience to help you get the most money possible from your car accident claim.

Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in South Carolina

The statute of limitations is a crucial legal concept that sets a time limit for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. Here’s what you need to know:

For most car accident cases in South Carolina, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This applies to personal injury claims and property damage claims.

Once the statute of limitations expires, you lose your right to sue for damages related to the accident. Insurance companies are aware of these time limits and may use delay tactics.

Exceptions and Special Circumstances

• Claims Against Government Entities: If your accident involves a government vehicle or employee, you may have a shorter time frame to file a notice of claim, typically within one year.
• Wrongful Death Claims: If the accident resulted in a fatality, the statute of limitations is still three years, but it begins from the date of death, which may be different from the accident date.
• Minors and Incapacitated Individuals: The statute of limitations may be “tolled” (paused) for minors until they reach the age of 18 or for individuals who are mentally incapacitated.
• Discovery Rule: In rare cases where injuries are not immediately apparent, the statute might begin from when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered.

Gathering evidence and building a strong case takes time, so speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to begin the legal process.

What Types of Car Accident Cases Do You Take?

Our firm accepts most vehicle accident cases, including the following:

• Rear-end collisions
• Truck collisions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Drunk driver crashes
• Distracted driving crashes
• Cases with catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injury

If you have any questions, reach out to our team of Goose Creek car accident lawyers. We can discuss the details of your case to determine the best way forward.

Scheduling a Consultation With the Thumbs Up Guys

Hiring a car accident lawyer is the best thing you can do to ensure your insurance settlement is fair after a negligent driver has hit you. The experience of our car accident lawyers in Goose Creek will serve you well. You can focus on recovering after your accident, and the Thumbs Up Guys can focus on winning your claim.

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our team is simple. Call us at the number at the top of the page, or reach out to us through the web on our online form. Don’t wait too long to hire our Goose Creek lawyers. The sooner you act, the stronger your chances of a fair settlement for your auto accident.