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Have you been in an auto accident and you’re now trying to determine if you need a lawyer? It will cost you nothing to call us or meet for a free consultation to discuss your case and to determine whether hiring a lawyer will benefit you.


People involved in car accidents can suffer a wide variety of injuries including muscle strains, muscle sprains, whiplash, broken or dislocated bones, head injuries, brain injuries, burn injuries, paralysis, and wrongful death (loss of life). If your injuries are minor and require only one trip to the hospital or family doctor, you can most often resolve your claim without the assistance of a lawyer. We are always glad to talk to you, whether you believe your case may be big or small. We encourage you to call us regarding any questions you may have to help determine if you need the assistance of a lawyer.


If you have sustained more serious injuries that require therapy, ongoing treatment, or are permanent or disabling, the assistance of a lawyer can be helpful in obtaining the fullest compensation possible. An experienced lawyer can help investigate and establish liability, determine the possible sources of recovery, investigate the extent of your injuries, clarify and present all your injuries and damages fully and clearly, and work to minimize what must be paid for medical bills and health insurance liens. A lawyer can also help to relieve some of the stress and frustration that comes from dealing with insurance companies and their adjusters. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss all the ways we can help you and your family.


If you believe you need the assistance of a lawyer or just want to understand your rights, do not hesitate to contact us.

Some quick things to remember if you have been in an auto, motorcycle or trucking accident:

Take pictures of  the accident scene, the damage to all vehicles, and your injuries.

Pictures provide some of the best evidence for your case.

Do not resolve your claim until all your injuries have resolved.

Concussions, broken bones, muscular injuries and emotional injuries are often sustained by people who have been in an accident. Once you settle the case, you cannot come back and obtain further compensation. Thus, you must make sure you understand the full extent of your injuries so that when you do settle you are settling based upon all present and future damages that you have sustained. 

Avoid delays or gaps in treatment.

Delays and gaps in treatment are often used by insurance companies to argue that you really were not that injured or that you were injured by something that happened during the gap/delay. If you believe you need treatment, it is best for your case that you get treatment as soon as possible. Also make sure you are consistent with your treatment and that you are not canceling or missing scheduled visits.

Insurance companies often request recorded statements.

If you are thinking about hiring an attorney, it is best to speak with an attorney before doing a recorded statement. If you decide to give a recorded statement, you must be sure to listen carefully to the questions and to be completely accurate when describing what happened and the extent of your injuries. People often generalize their injuries or say they are okay when they think they are not that hurt. Never make your injuries sound any less or more than what they are. It is best to describe everything you are feeling from head to toe so that the insurance company cannot later claim that you said nothing about a particular injury. Many times it is the injury that is thought to be insignificant that seems to linger and is really never addressed until the more painful injuries are resolved.

You are limited in the amount of time to recover for injuries.

If you fail to bring a lawsuit or resolve your claim before the time period runs, you lose your right to be compensated for any injuries you suffered in an car, trucking or other accident. In South Carolina, the standard amount of time to bring an action to recover for your injuries is three years. This period can be shorter depending on who the at-fault party is, such as a government employee. It is always best to discuss your case with an attorney to best understand your rights and the amount of time you have to pursue your rights.

A lawyer can answer your questions, explain your rights, put some of your fears to rest, and help you decide if you would benefit from having representation. When in doubt, contact a lawyer. We will be glad to help you at Smith and Jones Law, LLC.

Trucking Accidents

Accidents involving tractor-trailers and other large trucks often cause horrific damage resulting in serious injuries and death. There are many laws and regulations in place to promote the safe operation of these vehicles and to protect the driving public. However, some drivers and companies ignore these laws and regulations for extra financial gain or out of indifference to the well-being of others. A lawyer can help to identify the laws and regulations that have been violated, address and present the full extent of your injuries and damages, and help obtain the fullest compensation possible.

Motorcycle Accidents

No matter how experienced a motorcycle rider is, a motorcycle is more susceptible to being in an accident due to size and having less stability than a car. Often, other drivers will fail to properly observe the roadway and will fail to see motorcycles due to their size. Having less stability means that a motorcycle has greater risk of being in an accident due to road defects or when coming into contact with another vehicle. The greater risk of being in an accident is only compounded by the greater risk of serious injury and death that comes with a motorcycle being in an accident. Motorcycles simply lack the structure and many of the safety features of a car. A lawyer can help to address and present the full extent of your injuries and damages and help obtain the fullest compensation possible.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles, much like motorcycles, are more susceptible to being in serious accidents due to size, having more instability than a car and having less structure and safety features of a car. Many people do not view bicycles like they do cars and motorcycles on the roadway. However, bicycles have as much right to be on the roadways as any other vehicle. South Carolina has laws for the operation of bicycles on public roadways and laws regarding the interaction of other drivers with bicycles on the roadway. If you have been injured in an accident while riding a bicycle, a lawyer can help. A lawyer can help identify traffic laws that apply to the situation and may have been violated. A lawyer can also help to address and present the full extent of the serious injuries that are more likely to occur due to a bicycle accident. Finally, a lawyer can help you to understand what compensation you are entitled to and help to obtain the fullest compensation possible.

Do not hesitate to call us if you think you can use our help.  Also, please call us if you have questions, concerns or worries regarding any legal matter. A lawyer can answer your questions, explain your rights, put some of your fears to rest, and help you decide if you would benefit from having representation.  We will be glad to help you at Smith & Jones Law, LLC, even if it is finding someone to assist you in any matter that we do not handle.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND HOW CAN THEY BENEFIT YOU?

By Jake Smith • February 2, 2023
What is liability coverage, uninsured coverage and underinsured coverage? Many people know what liability coverage and uninsured coverage are but don’t understand what underinsured coverage is and why they should have it. LIABILITY COVERAGE Liability coverage is coverage purchased to protect an at-fault driver in an accident by providing coverage that compensates the people they injure in an accident. In South Carolina the minimum liability coverage for automobile insurance is $25,000.00 per person or $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000.00 per accident for property damage per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140. With minimum limits coverage, no person who was injured will get more than $25,000.00 in compensation for their injuries, medical bills and/or lost wages and the liability insurance carrier will not pay more than $50,000.00, in total, for injuries, medical bills and lost wages regardless of how many people were injured in an accident. Also, under minimum limits coverage the liability insurance carrier will not pay more than $25,000.00 in property damage no matter the number of vehicles or amount of property damaged. Often, minimum limits coverage is insufficient to fully compensate those injured in auto accidents by an at-fault driver and can leave an at-fault driver exposed to being sued by injured parties seeking proper compensation from the at-fault driver’s personal assets. Those who wish to better protect themselves, especially people having significant assets, should consider purchasing higher limits of coverage. ________________________________________________ What if you are severely injured by a driver who had no coverage or insufficient coverage to fully compensate you? You can file a lawsuit and go after their personal assets, however often drivers with no coverage or minimum limits have very little in personal assets to help compensate you. So, what can you do? If they have no insurance you can look to your own uninsured motorist coverage on your policy. If they have coverage but it is insufficient to fully compensate you, you can look to underinsured coverage on your policy, if you have it. UNINSURED COVERAGE What happens when you are hit by a driver that has no liability insurance covering them or the vehicle they were operating? Uninsured coverage is required coverage per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-150 for every automobile insurance policy issued in South Carolina. Uninsured coverage is required in the same amounts as liability coverage. This coverage applies when someone is injured by someone not having liability coverage on the vehicle they are operating or covers them while operating such a vehicle. It is the injured person’s own coverage that compensates them. Uninsured coverage for property damage does allow for a deductible/exclusion of the first $200.00 in damage. There are rules on filing lawsuits related to uninsured coverage and making recoveries. There are also circumstances where an injured party may be able to “stack” uninsured coverage on different vehicles to allow greater compensation. To properly discuss these issues and how they may apply to you it is best to speak personally with an attorney. Please contact us at 803-996-3333 for a free consultation if you would like to speak personally with one of our attorneys. UNDERINSURED COVERAGE What happens when your injured by a driver who has liability coverage but it is not enough to fully compensate you for your injuries or damage to your property? Hopefully you have underinsured motorist coverage to help compensate you for your injuries and damages. Underinsured coverage is coverage that applies after an injured party has exhausted the liability coverage for an at-fault party. In South Carolina, the amount of your underinsured coverage is an additional amount of compensation above the liability coverage(s) that you can have that will allow you to try to fully compensate yourself for your injuries and damages. Underinsured coverage is an optional coverage that must be offered to you in South Carolina pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-160. Underinsured coverage is often not that expensive and offers you a better chance to protect/compensate yourself if you sustain serious injury. You must be offered this coverage, up to your liability limits, by your automobile insurance carrier, but it is usually possible to buy varying amounts of underinsured coverage. Underinsured coverage must be offered in a way that is “meaningful”. This means there are rules on how this coverage is offered and explained to you. If your carrier fails to give you a “meaningful” offer of underinsured coverage you may still have a right to such coverage if you are injured by a driver with insufficient coverage to fully compensate you. Like uninsured coverage, there are rules for making a recovery from underinsured coverage and possibly “stacking” underinsured coverage on different vehicles. Again, to properly discuss these issues and how they may apply to you it is best to speak personally with an attorney. Please contact us at 803-996-3333 for a free consultation if you would like to speak personally with one of our attorneys .

Permanent Disability In South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims

November 14, 2022
After receiving medical treatment, injured workers will often be entitled to some level of permanent disability due to on-the-job injuries. Unfortunately, injured workers in South Carolina are not entitled to pain and suffering as a result of on-the-job injuries. So, how is permanent disability calculated in South Carolina? The amount of permanent disability that an injured worker can recover depends on the severity of their injuries. There are generally three different methods of recovery for on-the-job injuries in South Carolina: scheduled member recovery, permanent partial wage loss recovery, and permanent and total disability The most common type of recovery in South Carolina workers’ compensation cases is scheduled member recovery. This recovery is based on a loss of use to a specific body part. The value for each body part in South Carolina is different. Awards are typically received based on a percentage loss of use of a specific body part. (Example: A 10% loss of use of the shoulder [valued at 300 weeks] would result in an award of 30 weeks of compensation). It’s important to note that impairment ratings given by a doctor are not disability, but instead disability is calculated by the Workers’ Compensation Commission based on individual circumstances. An experienced lawyer can help maximize your recovery for scheduled member injuries. More complex injuries, those involving two or more body parts or 50% loss of use to the back, may qualify for a wage loss recovery. Wage loss claims in South Carolina can be either permanent partial or permanent and total. There are exceptions for catastrophic injuries, such as paraplegia, quadriplegia, and brain injury, but injured workers are limited to a maximum recovery of 500 weeks of compensation for on-the-job injuries in South Carolina. Wage loss claims are often more complex than scheduled member claims and injured workers should strongly consider obtaining legal representation in dealing with the intricate difficulties that typically arise in wage loss claims. If you’ve been injured in a work accident and would like to speak with an attorney regarding your on-the-job injury, please do not hesitate to contact us at 803-996-3333.
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Personal Injury lawyers helping people throughout South Carolina

Call us or send us a message using our contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Call Now: 803-996-3333

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Personal Injury lawyers helping people throughout South Carolina

Call us or send us a message using our contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Call Now: 803-996-3333
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