
The average American will be involved in three to four car accidents over the course of their lifetime. Those with good luck may end up in fewer collisions or only be involved in minor fender benders. However, for everyone else, there is a decent chance that at some point, you will be in a more serious accident.
Serious accidents can result in significant costs, both financial and personal. One of the best steps you can take to get your life back to normal after a wreck is to contact a car accident lawyer. At Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys, our team of Sullivan’s Island car accident lawyers can help get you the compensation you require to get your life back on track.
Identifying the Liable Party
Before you can begin to pursue damages after a car accident, you first have to know from whom you will be attempting to recover compensation. Identifying who is at fault for your injuries can often be tricky, but it is an essential first step. An experienced car accident attorney can help you identify all potentially liable parties.
What a Sullivan’s Island Car Accident Attorney Can Do for You
Identifying who is liable for your car accident is only one of the many things that a car accident lawyer can do for you. One of the first actions your attorney will take after you secure their services is to begin an independent investigation of your accident.
Any police investigation is solely concerned with potential criminal charges and will likely not yield the necessary information for a civil lawsuit.
How a Car Accident Attorney in Sullivan’s Island Will Investigate Your Case
The aim of your lawyer’s investigation will be two-fold. In addition to identifying who is liable for your damages, your attorney will gather all the information they can to support your case. Steps in their inquiry will likely include:
- Visiting the scene of your car wreck
- Speaking with any witnesses to the event
- Consulting with various s
- Reviewing all documentation related to the crash, such as the police report and your medical files
Your attorney will then evaluate your damages and calculate the full value of your claim. Next, they will prepare all necessary documents and either file a claim with an insurance company or file a lawsuit with the court.
From the moment you hire them until your case is closed, your attorney will be in continued negotiations with the legal counsel for the opposition. The aim of these negotiations is to reach an agreement regarding a fair settlement offer. If a settlement can not be reached, your attorney will represent you at trial.
Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim
One of the areas in which people who attempt to represent themselves often get tripped up is calculating the true value of the damages they have suffered. While damages like medical expenses and property damage can be easy to calculate, others can be far more difficult.
Attempting to figure out the full cost of lost earning capacity after an injury that keeps you from returning to work in your former position can be quite difficult. Additionally, attempting to argue the value of non-economic damages is incredibly challenging, as most legal professionals cannot even agree about how much victims should receive.
There are many damages that you may be able to claim after an accident. Making these calculations without an experienced lawyer will likely result in you greatly undervaluing your claim. The opposition will put pressure on you by attempting to convince you that your claim is worth far less than whatever number you calculate.
Our Sullivan’s Island Car Accident Lawyers Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Fighting a car accident lawsuit on your own is almost always going to be a losing game. Even if you do manage to recover compensation, it will likely be far less than what you would receive had you hired an experienced car accident attorney.
At Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, our Sullivan’s Island car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means that we only get paid if we are able to secure you compensation. The money we do receive will come out of your compensation package at a pre-discussed percentage.
Even after your lawyer has been paid, you will likely end up with far more money than you would have if you had attempted to go it alone.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Lawsuit in South Carolina?
The statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits in South Carolina is three years. In the majority of cases, this time frame will hold true. However, there are certain situations where you could end up with far less time to file.
Taking action immediately after an accident is the best way to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. As soon as possible after the incident, you should contact a car accident lawyer. An experienced lawyer can ensure that you meet all deadlines and do not miss your window to file.
Even if there are no restrictions on your right to file a claim, it is always best to get started as soon as you can. Otherwise, evidence could become lost or corrupted. Additionally, if you are relying on witnesses for your case, you need to keep in mind that their testimony will become less reliable with each passing day.
A Law Firm with a Proven Track Record
The Thumbs Up Guys have helped countless clients get fair compensation for their injuries after a car accident. Our team of Sullivan’s Island auto accident attorneys believes that everyone deserves access to the best possible legal representation.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free consultation. One of our lawyers will review your case, answer all your questions, and advise you of your options for pursuing compensation. Give us a call or fill out our online contact form to get started.