Generally, personal injury cases are based on someone else being at fault for an accident. It can be a person, a company, or another legal entity that has fault.
You might think that someone else needs to have hurt you on purpose to get compensation. That isn’t true! Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. Negligence just means being careless in an unreasonable way. That’s one basis for a case, but there are several different grounds for personal injury compensation. Our lawyers will explore all the ways you may qualify.
The best way to know if you have a case is to ask us for a free no-obligation consultation!
It depends. Generally, the maximum time to file a personal injury case in South Carolina is three years. However, there are exceptions, and it can be much shorter. There are some circumstances where the timeline may be extended, too, but you should never count on this. If you miss the deadline that applies in your case, it usually means there is no way to pursue compensation.
There are things you can do right now to protect your rights and build your case. You should always contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Don’t assume that you can wait – and don’t assume you’ve waited too long, either. We’ll determine how much time you have and work quickly to pursue your case.
Your lawyer determines the value of your case with a multi-step process. First, they total your damages. These are the losses that you are allowed to claim by law. It starts with direct, financial losses like medical expenses, lost income, and property loss. But your damages are much more than that. You may also receive compensation for physical suffering, mental health injury and emotional anguish. Our lawyers look at all the categories.
There are other factors that may influence your compensation award. The strength of the legal case and ways to collect compensation are two examples. At your consultation, we can estimate the case value, plus explain what needs to happen for you to receive the maximum award.
Get medical attention right away. Take photos of the accident scene and gather witness information if you or someone else can. Report the accident as appropriate, like the police for a car accident or your employer if the injury happens at work. Keep records and bills related to the accident.
When you choose Smith & Jones Law, our lawyers will start immediately to protect your rights.