Car accidents frequently occur throughout the U.S. each year. Millions of people get injured, and thousands die due to negligence on the road. If you are the unfortunate victim of a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the law entitles you to pursue financial compensation.
Damages associated with car accidents aren’t cheap. Don’t unnecessarily put yourself into financial ruin due to another driver’s carelessness. Get the help you need with organizing your claim by contacting a Summerville car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Proving Fault In a Car Accident Claim
The Official Code of South Carolina Annotated (OCSCA) § 15-38-15 states that you need to be less than 50% responsible for your accident in order to file a claim. If you’re partially responsible, but less than 50%, you can file a claim, but your settlement will get reduced proportionately to the amount you’re responsible for.
The insurance company and the defense are going to try and pin the car accident on you. Even if what happened wasn’t your fault, you’re still going to need to prove it. That’s where our Summerville car accident lawyers come into play.
Why Should I Retain a Car Accident Lawyer?
After an accident, you should contact a car accident attorney immediately. The faster you get legal representation, the better chances you’ll have at recovering a settlement. Not only will our lawyers help you prove fault, but they can also bring various benefits to your claim:
- Understanding your legal options and the merits of your case.
- Calculating all your economic and non-economic damages accurately.
- Filing all your legal paperwork on time.
- Answering all your questions and providing sound legal advice.
- Handling your communications with the insurance company and all other parties involved.
- Representing you at trial or during negotiations.
As you can see, a seasoned car accident lawyer will do a lot on your behalf. While you focus on recovering from your car accident, our lawyers will handle your claim and win you your settlement.
Don’t Accept the Initial Settlement Offer
After your accident, you should expect contact from an insurance adjuster. Avoid speaking to this adjuster. Don’t sign anything or verbally agree to any offers made. You don’t want to accidentally admit fault to your own accident. Anything you say or do can get used against you and foil your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Insurance companies love to stall out the negotiations process and trick car accident victims into settling on their terms. They don’t want to pay you the maximum amount for your settlement. They’re perfectly content with paying you only the bare minimum.
Our car accident lawyers in Summerville won’t let the insurance companies bully you in this way. With millions recovered for our clients over the years, we know how to fight back against them. Retaining a lawyer is a critical investment you make to ensure that you don’t get cheated out of a settlement that reflects your damages properly.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Collect?
Depending on the circumstances of your car accident case, you can obtain various types of compensation. Available damages to collect after a car accident can stem from:
- Wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Vehicle repairs or replacements
- Miscellaneous property damages
- Medical expenses for treatment
- Prescriptions, medical equipment, physical therapy, etc.
- Substitute services
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
This list only has the most common damages associated with car accidents. Even if a damage you sustained isn’t listed, you can factor them into your settlement so long as your car accident was responsible for it.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim
You have three years from the date of your car accident to file a claim. Always keep the statute of limitations in mind. Believe it or not, many car accident victims forget about how much time they have and let the statute of limitations expire.
Once your case expires, there’s nothing you can do to move forward and collect a settlement. This is why it’s best to get started building your case right after your accident. If you’re confused about getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to our car accident attorneys in Summerville.
We Don’t Charge Anything Upfront
Other law firms may charge you upfront for various “legal fees”. We never seek to exploit our clients during this difficult time. You don’t have to pay for any of our services unless we win compensation for your claim. If we can’t win compensation for you, then you owe us nothing in return.
Get Your Free Case Review With Our Summerville Car Accident Attorneys
The Federal Reserve’s report on the economic well-being of American households showed that almost half couldn’t afford an expense of $400 or more. Car accidents cost way more than that in damages. Instead of paying out of pocket or borrowing money, hold the negligent driver responsible for their actions.
Our Summerville car accident attorneys can help you with your claim. Contact Miller, Dawson, Sigal, & Ward for a free consultation today.