Car Accident Attorneys
Rock Hill Car Accident Lawyer
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 633 people were killed in car accidents on South Carolina roads in 2016. This was an average of 20.5 deaths per 100,000 people, making our state the third deadliest state in the country. any of these accidents were caused by distracted drivers, drunk drivers, and aggressive drivers, meaning that the majority of these crashes could’ve been prevented.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, it is important to understand that you are not alone. Immediately after the accident, insurance adjusters may begin circling, trying to offer you a quick and easy settlement. They may use an aggressive “take it or leave it” approach in an attempt to get you to sign the settlement quickly. Do not sign anything without first speaking to one of the experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys Law Offices of Wilkerson, Jones & Wilkerson. These initial settlements are a fraction of what you may need to fully recover and we can help protect your rights during this time.
Our Experience Injury Attorneys
Our car accident attorneys know that every car accident is slightly different and we begin building your case with this in mind. Rear end car accidents will result in different injuries than head on collisions, and car accidents that involve drunk drivers will need to be handled differently than those that involved a defective highway. From the moment you retain our services, we will begin building a case that is designed to obtain maximum compensation.
Car Accident Attorney
- Our attorneys have extensive experience handling all types of car accident cases, including:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Rear End Accidents
- Head On Collisions
- Side Impact Crashes
- Rollover Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- UM/UIM Accidents
- Rideshare Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Defective Highway Accidents
- Bad Faith Insurance Claims
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Immediately following a car accident, the steps you take can have a significant impact on your ability to file a claim and collect the money you need. After your car accident, take the following steps to protect yourself:
- 1. Call 911
- 2. File a Police Report
- 3. Seek Medical Help
- 4. Call an Attorney
- 5. Gather Evidence
- The other driver’s insurance information and driver’s license information
- Other car’s license plate information and description
- Eyewitness contact information
- Photos of the crash scene
- Written account
- Copy of police report
-
Collecting Damages after a Car Accident
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, South Carolina law allows you three years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim seeking damages. You can seek both economic damages and non-economic damages after an accident. Economic damages include any quantifiable expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings and car repairs. Non-economic damages are more difficult to determine because they’re subjective in nature. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and decreased quality of life. In some cases, injured accident victims may even be able to pursue punitive damages against a negligent party. -
UM/UIM Claims in South Carolina
In some car accidents, the at-fault driver may lack car insurance. If an underinsured or uninsured driver hits you and causes property damage or injuries, then you may need to file a UM/UIM claim through your insurance provider. South Carolina law requires insurance providers in our state to offer underinsured motorist coverage. However, you can opt out of this coverage for a lower premium. Make sure you have UM/UIM coverage on your policy, otherwise it could be difficult to recover compensation after a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver. -
Does It Cost Anything to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Car accident lawyers, including us, take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do now owe us certain fees unless we successfully obtain a car accident settlement or jury verdict. Additionally, many personal injury attorneys offer free consultations, including us. You can contact our Rock Hill car accident lawyers for a free consultation. We will explain your legal rights and possible options after a car accident. -
Modified Comparative Negligence in South Carolina
South Carolina law may prevent you from obtaining compensation if you are 51 percent or more responsible for causing a wreck. If you are less than 51 percent at fault, you may be able to still obtain compensation for your damages. Your damages would be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Speak to a Rock Hill accident attorney at the Law Offices of Wilkerson, Jones & Wilkerson to learn more about comparative negligence in South Carolina.
How Do I Get a Car Accident Report in South Carolina?
Car accident reports can be useful evidence when filing a claim or litigating your case. You can get a car accident report in South Carolina from the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are in Rock Hill, try using the links listed below:
Car Accident Attorney FAQs
Car accidents are a common reason why people file personal injury or wrongful death claims. Each year, an average of two million U.S. drivers suffer injuries during car accidents.
Some types of car accident injuries can lead to permanent disabilities. In some cases, survivors and their family members suffer millions of dollars in damages and may need to seek compensation.
However, the process for filing a car accident claim or lawsuit can be very time-consuming without the help of an attorney. That is what we created this FAQ page to help the people of South Carolina understand how car accident compensation works.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
You should seek medical attention right away if the accident was serious. Seek medical care even if you believe you did not suffer an injury. You are establishing a record of your injuries by going to the hospital, which can help with a car accident claim at a later date. However, you could also have injuries that may not cause symptoms right away. Some types of delayed car accident injuries are fatal or could lead to permanent disabilities.
You should also attempt to obtain contact information from witnesses. Understandably, this may not always be possible depending on the nature of your injuries following a crash. While it would also be helpful to take photographic evidence of the crash scene or your injuries, you may be unable to if you are seriously injured.
What Should I Not Do After a Car Accident?
There are a number of critical mistakes you could make that may jeopardize your ability to recover compensation after an accident.
You should never talk about your accident on social media, even if you have maxed out privacy settings. Even if you use the maximum privacy settings, posts, photos and videos could be uncovered during the discovery phase of a lawsuit. Depending on the content of those posts, photos and videos, you could have your compensation reduced or denied altogether.
You should also never talk to the other party’s insurance company. After the accident, insurance companies representing other people involved in the accident may call you to determine what happened. Whatever you say to the insurance adjusters working for these companies may seriously hurt your claim.
Finally, it is extremely important to keep your cool after a crash. Do not become confrontational with other people involved in the crash. Leaving the scene of a crash is perhaps the worst mistake you could make, as it is a crime in South Carolina.
What Compensation Can I Recover From a Car Accident Claim?
There are two types of compensatory damages you can recover from a car accident lawsuit. First, there are economic damages. These damages cover tangible things, like your hospital bills or lost income. Noneconomic damages are less tangible and may cover emotional anguish and pain and suffering.
How much compensation you can recover depends on the severity of the accident as well as your injuries and degree of fault. Generally, more severe injuries lead to larger settlements and jury verdicts. Certain types of injuries, such as a complete spinal cord injury, may result in millions of dollars in damages over a lifetime.
You should be careful while choosing a car accident attorney. South Carolina is a modified comparative negligence state. If you have a larger degree of fault than other parties involved in the accident, then you may be unable to recover compensation. An experienced attorney can work with medical experts and crash reconstruction specialists to help quantify your damages and determine your degree of fault (if any).
Can I Sue an Underinsured or Uninsured Driver?
Some accidents may involve underinsured or uninsured drivers. It may be difficult to recover compensation if you are hit by a motorist who lacks insurance or has inadequate insurance. Chances are, if this person could not afford insurance, he or she cannot afford to pay your damages. However, this does not mean you cannot recover compensation. Your car insurance policy likely has uninsured motorist coverage. You may be able to recover compensation under your policy.
However, you may not have underinsured coverage on your policy. Insurance companies must offer this coverage when you purchase mandatory liability insurance, but you can opt out in writing for a lower premium. You should make sure you have underinsured motorist coverage on your policy.
When you meet with your personal injury attorney, you can discuss the details of your case and find out which types of compensation are applicable in your situation.
What If I Am Injured In a Hit and Run Accident?
A hit and run is one of the worst-case scenarios that could occur during a crash. In many cases, a driver will flee the scene of an accident if they are afraid of the consequences of causing a crash or if they are breaking the law, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
There are no guarantees you will be able to track down the driver. Fortunately, video cameras are commonplace in South Carolina, and depending on where your crash occurred, it might be possible to locate the at-fault motorist.
How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Cost?
Personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, including the attorneys at the Law Offices of Wilkerson, Jones & Wilkerson. This means that you do not owe fees unless we recover a settlement or verdict.
It also does not cost money to talk to us after an accident. The South Carolina car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Wilkerson, Jones & Wilkerson offer free initial consultations.
Contact Our Rock Hill Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Lancaster, or anywhere in the state of South Carolina, you may be struggling with lifelong injuries, pain, and suffering. When this occurs, you need a Rock Hill car accident lawyer on your side to help you fight for compensation
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With offices conveniently located in Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Lancaster, we are here when you need us. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
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