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Dealing with an insurance company after an accident can be nerve-wracking. They hold the keys to your compensation. Will they trust what you say, or will they try to deny you the money you need to cover your medical bills and lost income? Fortunately, a John’s Island car accident lawyer can deal with insurers and negotiate the settlement you deserve.
Once you have a lawyer on your side, insurers know they have to play by the rules. The team at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys are familiar with the tactics and strategies insurers use to take advantage of honest claimants, and we know how to counter them. Contact us today to get the advocacy you need to make your claim successful.
The Role of the Insurance Adjuster in Car Accident Claims
An insurance adjuster’s job is to investigate your claim to see if it’s accurate or not by looking for evidence. In the best light, insurance adjusters protect companies from fraudulent claims and confirm your story. But that’s not their actual job.
Their actual job is to save the insurance company money by reducing the value of your case. In an at-fault state like South Carolina, no insurance adjuster will be on your side. Even filing a claim with your own insurance company can be extremely difficult.
If an adjuster approaches you, don’t say anything to them that could be used against your claim. If they offer you a settlement, have a lawyer look it over. A car accident attorney from John’s Island can review the offer and determine if it’s large enough to compensate for your expenses and losses.
What Can a Car Accident Lawyer from John’s Island Do for Me?
Once you hire a John’s Island car accident attorney, they’ll get to work gathering evidence to support your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. We’ll ask you for information about your case to get started and collect the following types of evidence:
- Footage of the collision
- Photos of the crash scene
- Witness testimony
- Statements from accident reconstruction experts
- The police’s accident report
We’ll take care of every aspect of your case so you can focus on your health and recover from your injuries. Our lawyers will keep you informed about your case, letting you know if we receive a fair settlement offer or if we need to take your case to court.
Most car accident cases are settled out of court, but that doesn’t mean a trial is completely off the table. If the insurance company doesn’t budge on a lowball offer, we will do what it takes to get the compensation you’re owed in court.
How Much Could I Receive from a Car Accident Claim?
Since each accident victim suffers different financial losses and emotional hardships, every car accident settlement is unique. Your lawyer’s job is to determine which losses you’re entitled to and how much you’re owed for each one.
Depending on the severity of your collision and the extent of your injuries, an attorney may pursue any of the following damages on your behalf:
- Car repair costs
- Cost to replace personal items that were damaged in the accident
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket medical costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The goal of filing a claim or a lawsuit is to obtain the compensation you need to be ‘whole’ again, which means to bring you as close as possible to how you were before your accident. A car accident lawyer from John’s Island can work hard to restore your financial, physical, and emotional health to the point it was before your collision.
How Much Time You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit
If you’ve been involved in a collision, you’ll have limited time to file a lawsuit. According to S.C. Ann §15-3-530, you have three years from the date of the crash to submit a lawsuit with the appropriate civil court system.
Waiting too long to contact an attorney and get started on your case could make it hard to file your suit on time. If you’re unable to file within the three-year time period, it’s likely that you won’t receive the compensation necessary to pay for your medical care, vehicle repair, and other expenses.
Even if your case doesn’t evolve into a lawsuit, it’s still helpful to get started on your case early. Doing so will show insurers that you mean business and will also allow your John’s Island car accident lawyer to collect evidence while it’s still fresh.
How Much does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Lawyers have a reputation for being expensive, which is true for some areas of law but not for our firm’s personal injury attorneys. Our lawyers use a contingency fee system instead of an hourly rate. This system allows anyone to get the representation they need to recover from a serious accident.
When you agree to a contingency contract, you won’t have to pay us anything unless we win your case. If your attorney wins your case, they’ll take a percentage of the total compensation you receive from your settlement or court verdict. If we lose your case, you owe us nothing.
There is no harm in seeing a lawyer for a consultation or even more than one. You don’t have to go with the first lawyer you talk with, and consultations are always free. The worst they can say is that your case is too weak to win.
What to Do After a Collision
The minutes directly following a car accident can be confusing and stressful, but staying calm is important. It’s also crucial that you prioritize your health. If you’re in severe pain or badly injured, contact emergency services and get the medical treatment you need to treat your injuries.
If your injuries are minor enough that you can wait a few hours before receiving medical treatment, there are a few things you can do to ensure the claims process goes smoothly. First, call the police. They’ll respond to the accident scene, take statements from those involved, and write an accident report that can be used as evidence in your case.
Next, you should exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in the collision. Remember, don’t apologize to the other driver(s) or admit fault. Doing so could be used to discredit your claim or lawsuit. Once you’ve taken down their information, talk to anyone who saw the crash and ask them if they could be a witness.
Retain a Car Accident Lawyer Today
Once you’ve given a statement to the police, exchanged information with the driver and witnesses, and received medical treatment, it’s time to retain a John’s Island car accident lawyer. At Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys, we have the experience you need to obtain a fair settlement or verdict.
We’ve obtained high-value case results for clients injured in a variety of different incidents. The compensation we’ve won has changed the lives of countless injury victims. Visit our testimonials page to read about how happy our past clients are with our work. Once you’re convinced that we’re the best firm for your case, contact us to schedule a free consultation.
